Vemathambema falciclava sp. nov. from south-eastern Australia, first Indo- Pacific record of the genus, with a review of diagnoses in the family (Isopoda, Asellota, Echinothambematidae)

Vemathambema falciclava sp. nov. is described from the mid-bathyal zone of southeastern Australia. It is the first record of the genus outside the Atlantic Ocean. The species differs from its 2 congeners, V. elongata and V. argentinensis, primarily by a strong upward pointing falciform projection on the first antennular article.

The various diagnoses presented in the literature of the family and the two known genera Echinothambema Menzies (1956) and Vemathambema Menzies (1962) differ somewhat from those of Menzies (l.c.). A review finds that Menzies’ diagnoses (1962, emended from Menzies, 1956 to cover the new genus Vemathambema) is correct. It is shown further that the uniramous long uropods in the family are bi-articulate with a tiny terminal setiferous article.

A key to species in the family is presented.