Family VEMANIDAE Lowry & Myers, 2017

Included genera. Vemana Barnard, 1964

Type species. Vemana compressa Barnard, 1964 (type by original designation)

Included species. Vemana contains seven species: Vemana compressa Barnard, 1964; V. cuspidata sp. nov.; V. geyserensis Ledoyer, 1986; V. hortonae sp. nov.; V. lemuresa Barnard, 1967; V. lizata Barnard, 1964; V. touzeti Ortiz & Winfield, 2022 .

Diagnosis. (modified after Lowry & Myers 2017)

[Antennae subequal] or antenna 1 shorter than antenna 2; callynophore well developed in both sexes; accessory flagellum short or minute. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent (but present in terminal male). [Gland cone prominent] except in V. lizata . Mandibular incisor dentate; molar large, triturative. Maxilla 1 inner plate setose along medial margin; palps asymmetric. Maxilla 2 inner plate with strong, oblique setal row. Maxilliped palps well-developed. [Gnathopod 1 simple]. Gnathopod 2 subchelate [except in V. touzeti Ortiz & Winfield, 2022 which lacks a palm], although described as possessing a transverse palm. Pereopods 1–4 coxae not acute ventrally. Coxa 4 subequal to or smaller than coxa 3. [Uropod 1 without apical spines]. Telson laminar, moderately cleft.

[divergencies are shown in square brackets]

Remarks. Maxilla 1 inner plate bears 13–22 setae on the medial margin in four of the five described species (unknown in V. lizata) but 42 in one of the new species described herein. Gnathopod 1 is here regarded as simple. Although the dactyl is shown as reflected to varying degrees in some illustrations, e.g. V. geyserensis, in no species is there any evidence for the existence of defining palmar spines. Gnathopod 2 has a strongly oblique palm in all species except V. touzeti and V. geyserensis . In V. touzeti, the palm is absent according to the illustration of Ortiz & Winfield (2022, fig. 4, also p. 587), although described as being present and transverse. The palm of V. geyserensis is short and oblique, but almost transverse (Ledoyer, 1986, fig. 404, also p. 1022). Coxa 3 is deeper than coxa 4 to a greater or lesser degree in all species of Vemana except V. lizata . Based on the shape of the coxae of pereopods 3 and 4 as shown by Barnard (1964, fig. 31J, K), it is probable that the labelling has been transposed and that coxa 3 is deeper than coxa 4 in that species also. Coxa 4 lacks a posterior excavation in all species except V. touzeti and the new species, V. hortonae . Vemana compressa is the only species with a rounded posteroventral corner of epimeron 3.