Amsterdam Expeditions to the West Indian Islands, Report 6. Arubolana imula n. gen., n. sp., the first hypogean cirolanid isopod crustacean found in the Lesser Antilles

Arubolana imula, a new stygobiont isopod genus and species of the family Cirolanidae is described from Aruba (Netherlands Antilles). The new taxon has been discovered in an artificial tunnel, used for the production of industrial water, cut into calcareous rocks from marine origin which were rather recently uplifted above sea level (90,000-500,000 years B.P.). This is the first hypogean cirolanid that becomes known from the Lesser Antilles. The quite characteristic and simplified morphology of the posterior maxillae and maxillipeds, the subterminal position of the appendix masculina, and the prehensile nature of the first and second pereiopods, distinguish the new genus very clearly from all other hypogean genera in the family Cirolanidae. The feeble development of the retinacula on the endite of the maxilliped indicates a certain affinity to the epigean genus Eurydice.