Natatolana, Bruce, 1981

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 142

Key to species of Natatolana

Although some species can be identified using only female specimens, the key is written under the assumption that a fully adult male specimen is being used. Male specimens are preferable for identification because they have additional diagnostic characters (e.g., penes, appendix masculina) not found in females.

Due to uncertainty regarding many character states in N. anophthalma and N. pallidocula , they are not included in the key. Couplets to which they may key (based on their descriptions) are indicated using symbols † and ‡ respectively. Comparisons of these species to those identified in the marked couplets are given at the end of the key.

Diagnostic characters are highlighted in bold text in some of the longer couplets which utilize additional characters to aid in identification.

1 Uropod endopod, lateral margin with prominent deep excision (e.g., Fig. 30 ) .................................................................................................................................. 2

—— Uropod endopod, lateral margin without prominent excision ...................................................... 3

2 Coxae, all with furrows present; pleotelson with 4–6 robust setae on posterolateral margins; penes absent in males, vas deferens opening flush with the surface of sternite 7 ........................................................... N. variguberna

—— Coxae 2–5 without furrows; pleotelson with 10–14 robust setae on posterolateral margins; penes present in males .................................................... N. honu n.sp.

3 (a) Pleotelson with distinct dorsal depression (e.g., Fig. 47 ) ........................................................ 4

—— (b) Pleotelson without distinct dorsal depression; pereopod 7, basis with the distance between the medial carina and the anterior margin less than between medial carina and the posterior margin .......................................................... 15

Figures

Fig. 30. Natatolana honu, n.sp., holotype. Scales = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 47. Natatolana sinuosa n.sp., holotype. Scales = 0.5 mm.