Mesanthura Barnard, 1914

Kensley, B. & Schotte, M., 2000, New species and records of anthuridean isopod crustaceans from the Indian Ocean, Journal of Natural History 34, pp. 2057-2121 : 2080

Genus Mesanthura Barnard, 1914

Mesanthura Barnard, 1914: 343 a; Poore and Lew Ton, 1986b: 90; MuÈller, 1993: 19.

Diagnosis. Eyes present. Persistent species-speci®c dorsal pigment pattern present. Antennular ¯agellum of three articles. Antennal ¯agellum short, of few articles. Mandibular palp of three articles. Maxillipedal palp of three articles; endite very short or absent. Pereopod 1, propodus subchelate, expanded. Pereopods 4±7, carpus roughly triangular, with anterior margin shorter than posterior. Pleon short, pleonites fused. Telson with two basal statocysts.

Remarks. Nine species of Mesanthura have been described from the Indian Ocean, separation of which, using clear key characters, is di cult due to lack of material and poor descriptions. Morphologically, aside from the dorsal colour pattern, species of Mesanthura are very similar. Table 2 attempts to provide some basis for distinguishing these species.