Key to species of the genus Rhabdosoma White, 1847

1. Telson acute terminally, distinctly longer than U2, reaching beyond U 3 in adults. Female with gills on pereonites 2–6. Body size 60–150 mm ...................................................................................... 2

- Telson rounded terminally, distinctly shorter than U2. Female with gills on pereonites 5 & 6. Body size rarely exceeds 30 mm .................................................................................................... 3

2. Gnathopod 1; carpal process with additional tooth on posterior margin. Uropods 2 & 3 with minute exopoda...................................................................................... R. armatum (Milne-Edwards, 1840)

- Gnathopod 1; carpal process simple, without additional tooth. Uropods 2 & 3 with relatively well developed exopoda........................................................................................... R. whitei Bate, 1862

3. Telson; length much less than half of double urosomite, not reaching limit of U2. Antennae 1 of female with small article terminally on callynophore...................................................... R. brevicaudatum Stebbing, 1888

- Telson; length slightly more than half of double urosomite, reaching limit of U2. Antennae 1 of female consists only of basal article and callynophore................................................................ R. minor Fage, 1954