Anthosomidae Yamaguti 1963

This family as defined by Yamaguti (1963, p. 142) contains eight genera. Of these Anthosoma Leach, 1816, Epachthes Nordmann, 1832, Norton Nordmann, 1864, Caetrodes Wilson, 1906 and Lernanthropodes Bere, 1936, are all clearly distinguishable, and each is represented by a single species. Of these only Anthosoma crassum is represented in the present collection.

The remaining genera, Lernanthropus Blainville, 1822 and Sagum Wilson, 1913, together with Aethon Kroyer, 1836, and Paralernanthropus which is described below, are, clearly, closely related. Whether all should be united in the single genus Lernanthropus must be largely a subjective decision, but since this genus already contains some 90 species I feel that any unequivocal character which can be used to separate some members of the group should be accepted. In a group with, as yet, no records of its fossil history and very little obvious evidence of its phylogeny some recourse to utility in taxonomy is, I feel, acceptable.

I would, therefore, suggest the following separation of the females of these related genera.

1.	Egg strings trailing from body, sublinear—Lernanthropus Blainville, 1822.
2.	Egg strings coiled and concealed by dorsal plate of fourth segment.—3.
3.	Third thoracic segment expanded into wing-like posterolateral plates which fuse with plates of fourth segment and the third pereiopods; third pereiopods ending in a whip-like distal section—Sagus Wilson, 1913 *.
4.	Plates of third segment absent, or where present, not fused with plate of fourth page 2segment; distal part of third pereiopod rounded, or narrowed but not whiplike.—5.
5.	Second pereiopod biramous, each ramous one-jointed; fourth pereiopod well developed, visible in dorsal view—Paralernanthropus n.gen.
6.	Second pereiopod bifurcate but lacking joints; fourth pereiopod small, hidden by third pereiopods—Aethon Krøyer, 1836.

The males of Sagum and Aethon are unknown. I am unable to separate, at the generic level, the male of Paralernanthropus described below, from described males of Lernanthropus.