Cyclaspis elegans Calman 1907

Diagnosis. Female. Carapace granulated, with many stout ridges, quadrilateral depression on sides bounded by strong ridges, rising into prominent tubercles at corners; 0.7 as high as long; eyelobe with lenses; antennal notch oblique; anteroventral corner smooth. Pereonite 1 only visible from side. Pereonite 2 produced dorsally as large tooth directed posteriorly. Pleon with lateral articular pegs. Uropod peduncles shorter than pleonite 6; endopod subequal to exopod; endopod with with single seta medially; exopod with plumose setae medially. Male. Carapce with similar pattern of ridges as in female, but less strongly pronounced, tubercles at corners of depression smaller; 0.5 as high as long. Pereonite 1 entirely concealed. Appendages with more setae than in female. Uropod peduncles longer than pleonite 6; endopod slightly shorter than exopod.

Remarks. This is the most strongly ornamented of the Cyclaspis currently described from New Zealand. The most similar species is C. similis, which can be differentiated by the carapace ornamentation being much less strongly marked, with a similar depression on the sides but without tubercles at the corners of the depression.