Philocheras Stebbing, 1900

Taylor, Joanne, 2010, The sand shrimp genus Philocheras (Caridea: Crangonidae) from the continental margin of Western Australia including the description of a new species and a key to Australian species *, Zootaxa 2372 (1), pp. 157-168 : 158-159

Key to species of Philocheras Stebbing, 1900 known from Australia (modified from Komai 2008)

1. Antennal scale with 1 tooth or serration on lateral margin........................................................................................... 2

– Antennal scale unarmed on lateral margin ................................................................................................................... 7

2. Antennal scale with 1 tooth on lateral margin; rostrum with setae extending onto orbital margin.............................. 4

– Antennal scale with serration on lateral margin; rostrum without setae....................................................................... 3

3. Carapace with median carina and pair of submedian and lateral carinae and 5 spines (1 median, 2 submedian, 3 lateral). ................................................................................................ P. japonicus [WA; Japan and Philippines to 42 m]

– Carapace with median carina and no spines ................................................................................................................... .......................................................... P.lowisi [NT, WA; Andaman Islands, Japan, Hong Kong; sublittoral to 120 m]

4. Rostrum triangular in dorsal view, terminating in acuminate tip; setae on rostrum and orbital margin short ............... ................................................................................................................................................ P. triangulus [NT, 7.3 m]

– Rostrum broad or narrow, but not triangular in dorsal view; setae on rostrum and orbital margin long...................... 5

5. Rostrum broad, terminating in deeply excavate convex tip with lateral horns; carapace without middorsal carina but with 3 middorsal spines; lateral spine on antennal scale positioned well below midpoint............................................. ...................................................................... P. incisus [WA; Gulf of Oman to Philippines; Japan; subtidal to 153 m]

– Rostrum narrow, terminating in convex, concave or truncate tip, with or without lateral horns; carapace with middorsal carina, with or without middorsal spines; lateral spine on antennal scale positioned at midpoint .................... 6

6. Rostrum terminating in convex tip with small lateral horns; carapace with middorsal carina interrupted at midpoint, with 1 middorsal spine ...................................................... P. angustirostris [WA; Arabian Sea to Indonesia, 13–83 m]

– Rostrum terminating in slightly concave or truncate tip without lateral horns; carapace with continuous middorsal carina, without middorsal spine .................................................................................................... P. brucei [Qld, 11 m]

7. Third and fourth abdominal somites with middorsal carina ......................................................................................... 8

– Third and fourth abdominal somites rounded dorsally................................................................................................. 9

8. Carapace with 3 middorsal teeth including epigastric tooth, middorsal ridge absent .................................................... ....................................................................................................................................... P. victoriensis [Vic, sublittoral]

– Carapace with 1 middorsal tooth (epigastric tooth); middorsal ridge present as an indistinct discontinuous ridge extending from mid-dorsal tooth to posterior margin ................................................ P. anthonyi sp. nov. [WA, 222 m]

9. Carapace with 1 or 2 middorsal teeth including epigastric tooth ............................................................................... 10

– Carapace with 3 middorsal teeth including epigastric tooth....................................................................................... 15

10. Carapace with longitudinal row of small teeth posterior to orbit..................................................................................... ........................................................................................................ P. intermedius [Gulf of St Vincent, SA, sublittoral]

– Carapace without longitudinal row of small teeth posterior to orbit .......................................................................... 11

11. Carapace with 2 middorsal teeth including epigastric tooth [rostrum broad with concave lateral margins, distal margin truncate in dorsal view]................................................................................................ P. obliquus [Vic, sublittoral]

– Carapace with 1 middorsal tooth (epigastric tooth).................................................................................................... 12

12. Carapace with postorbital carina .................................................................. P. modestus [ Indonesia; WA, 296–457 m]

– Carapace without postorbital carina ........................................................................................................................... 13

13. Rostrum broad with distal margin broadly truncate; carapace with 1 tooth posterior to branchiostegal tooth .............. ....................................................................................... P. planoculminus [Flat Top Bank, Timor Sea; WA, 30–49 m]

– Rostrum medium to narrow with distal margin convex (rounded); carapace with 2 teeth posterior to branchiostegal tooth ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14

14. Rostrum narrow; carapace with pair of carinae extending from below orbital margin to mid-dorsal point .................. ........................................................................................................................................... P. flindersi [Vic, sublittoral]

– Rostrum medium; carapace smooth, without dorsal carinae. ......................................................................................... ................................................................................................ P.plebs [WA; Port Blair, Andaman Islands, 3.6–101 m]

15. Carapace with 2 teeth posterior to antennal tooth.... P. pilosus [NT; Indian Ocean, New Caledonia; shallow subtidal]

– Carapace with longitudinal row of 5 teeth posterior to antennal tooth......................... P. poorei [Albany, WA, littoral]