KEY TO THE WORLD SPECIES OF PROTOAEGINELLA LAUBITZ & MILLS, 1972

1. Abdomen with two pairs of abdominal appendages. Basis of the male gnathopod 2 with abundant tubercles................................................................ P. verrucosa n. sp.

— Abdomen with a pair of abdominal appendages. Basis of the male gnathopod 2 without tubercles.................................................................................................... 2

2. Abdomen five-segmented, with minute appendages. Body densely tuberculate........................................................................................................................ P. muricata

— Abdomen less than five-segmented, with appendages well developed, those of the male with several large apical teeth. Body smooth or with sparse tubercles.............. 3

3. Abdomen three- to four-segmented. Abdominal appendages of the male with nine to 10 apical teeth. Body smooth................................................................ P. spinipoda

— Abdomen two-segmented. Abdominal appendages of the male with three to five apical teeth. Body with tubercles............................................ P. paraspinipoda n. sp.