Genus Bougisia Laval, 1966

Bougisia Laval, 1966: 217 .

Type species

Bougisia ornata Laval, 1966 by monotypy. Type material in MOM and collections of the Zoological Station, Villefranche­sur­Mer, France: in spirit.

Diagnosis

The characters of the family are also those of the genus.

Monotypic.

Sexual dimorphism

The sexes are very similar, but as with other Phronimoidea, males are distinguished by the filiform, multi­articulate antennae. Females have a slightly broader pereon, uropod 2 is relatively shorter than in males, and the telson is longer, about two­thirds the length of the peduncle of uropod 3, whereas in males the telson is slightly shorter than half of the peduncle of uropod 3.

Remarks

Bougisia is a very distinctive genus. It seems to be extremely rare and has been recorded only three times in the literature (Larval 1966; Vicencio­Aguilar & Fernández­ Alamo 1995; Zeidler 1998).

The morphology of the mouthparts, and the male antennae, are most similar to members of the family Hyperiidae .

The small eyes are a unique character amongst the Phronimoidea and indicate that this may be a deep­water form, occasionally caught near the surface as a result of upwelling.