1 Pereon segments 5–7 and pleon segments 1–3 dentate dorsally.. V. multidentata
– Pereon segments 5–7 and pleon segments 1–3 smooth dorsally....... 2
2 Gnathopod 2 propodus robust, expanded, with concave palm, dactyl not reaching palm edge (figure 6)............... V. macrodactyla
– Gnathopod 2, propodus not as above.............. 3
3 Gnathopod 2, carpus elongate (length more than twice breadth), slender, distinctly longer than propodus (figure 3)................. 4
– Gnathopod 2, carpus not elongate (length less than twice breadth) or slender, only slightly longer than propodus (figure 9).............. 6
4 Gnathopods 1 and 2, propodus with palms strongly oblique, urosome 1 tooth reduced, distal article of uropod 3 outer ramus very short (1/13 of proximal article) V. ruffoi
– Characters not as above................... 5
5 Gnathopod 2, propodus tapering distally, palm transverse, dactyls on pereopods 3–7 curved (figure 1).................. V. dentata
– Gnathopod 2, propodus not tapered, palm oblique; dactyls on pereopods 3–7 elongate, straight (figure 3).............. V. longidactyla
6 Urosome 1 tooth distinctly curved; pereopod 5 basis broad, expanded not tapering, pereopod 6–7 basis broad with slight tapering (figure 11)..... V. minuta
– Urosome 1 tooth straight or weakly sinuous; pereopod 5 basis narrow, not tapering (see Lincoln and Thurston, 1983: figure 3d). Pereopod 6–7 basis broad; pereopod 7 basis tapering................... V. lincolni