DESCRIPTION OF A KEW SPECIES OF SUBTEKRANEAI^
ISOPOD.
By W. P. Hay, M. S.,
Central High School, Washinijlon, 1>. C
Forty or fifty specimens of an interesting and apparently nndescribed
Isopod were obtained from an old well in Irvington, Marion County,
Indiana. They were evidently strictly aquatic. The pump in the well
drew water from the bottom, and the animals could be obtained only by
vigorous work. After capture they lived for some hours in a jar of
water, crawling about on the bottom, very much after the manner of
Asellus. While in the water the pleopods could be seen to be gently
moved up and down with a fanlike motion. Several of the females
carried eggs, six or eight of which were sufficient to till the brood
pouch.
The nearest relatives of this species are Kaplophthalmus mengii
(Zaddach) and H. danicus Budde-Lund, both of which are inhabitants
of moist situations, such as decaying leaves and wood, in various locali-
ties in Europe. It is also closely related to Scyphacella [Haplophthal-
musf) arenicola S. I. Smith, which has been found burrowing in the
sand in a number of localities along the Atlantic coast of North
America.
HAPLOPHTHALMUS PUTEUS, new species.
Male. — Body elliptical, length about three times the breadth, dorsal
surface strongly convex, covered with longitudinal rows of low tuber
cles and scattered sette. Segments of the perteon about equal in length,
the posterior pleural angle of all, except the first, more or less pro-
duced backwards. PleuriB of third, fourth, and fifth segments of the
pleon thin and directed backwards and outwards. Terminal segment
of abdomen notched behind and with the postero lateral margins con-
cave. Uropods exserted, short, outer ramus longer than inner; both
rami setose. Front margin of head very slightly produced. Antennae
longer than the greatest breadth of the body; first and second seg-
ments of medium length, third short, fourth and fifth long, flagelliim
sliort, pinniform, composed of three very small, closely articulated seg-
ments. Antenn;e geniculate between segments four and five. Anten-
nules minute, composed of three segments, entirely concealed by the
front of the head, sensory filaments five. Eyes small, simple. Upper
lip regularly rounded in front and with a median triangular patch of
Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXI— No. 1 176.
871
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