Bresilia Calman, 1896

Komai, Tomoyuki & Yamada, Yusuke, 2010, A new species of the rare caridean genus Bresilia Calman (Crustacea: Decapoda: Bresiliidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, representing a family new to the North Pacific marine fauna, Zootaxa 2450, pp. 41-52 : 42

Genus Bresilia Calman, 1896

Remarks. The family Bresiliidae is presently composed of two genera, Bresilia (containing seven described species, including the new species described in this study) and Encantada Wicksten, 1989 (monotypic, including only E. spinoculata Wicksten, 1989 from the eastern Pacific). The six previously known species of Bresilia can be arranged in two groups based on the development of the epistomal process, the presence or absence of an exopodal flagellum on the first maxilliped and the structure of the third abdominal tergite. The first group, named here as B. atlantica group, is characterized by the lack of an epistomal process, the absence of an exopodal flagellum on the first maxilliped and the smooth, gently convex tergum of the third abdominal somite. Two species, B. atlantica and B. corsicana , are referred to this group. The second, B. antipodarum group, is characterized by the possession of an elongate epistomal process, the presence of an exopodal flagellum on the first maxilliped and the strongly produced, sometimes laterally compressed tergum of the third abdominal somite. This group contains four species, B. antipodarum , B. briankensleyi , B. plumifera and B. saldanhai . The new species described in this study is also referable to the B. antipodarum group. Bruce (2005b) suggested the possible taxonomic significance of the development of the epistomal process. It is remarkable that E. spinoculata shows similarity to the B. antipodarum group in the dorsally carinate third abdominal tergite and the presence of exopodal flagellum on the first maxilliped ( Wicksten 1989; Bruce 1990a). Future study may eventually reveal that these two groups warrant full generic status.