Colossendeis spicula Child, 1994

Staples, David A., 2007, A new species of Colossendeis (Pycnogonida: Colossendeidae) together with records from Australian and New Zealand waters, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 64, pp. 79-94 : 90

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.24199/j.mmv.2007.64.8
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D928B222-4E2A-FFE8-89C9-9034FBC4FA4F
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Colossendeis spicula Child, 1994
status

Treatment

Colossendeis spicula Child, 1994 View in CoL

Figure 4E–H View Figure 4

Colossendeis spicula Child, 1994: 14 View in CoL . Fig. 6 View Figure 6 (A–B)

Material examined. Victoria. 85 km S of Point Hicks 38°31.41'S, 149°21.10'E, 1986 m, to 38°30.58'S, 149°21.50'E, 1360 m, 3.5 Beam trawl, RV GoogleMaps Franklin, G.C.B. Poore et al., 26 Oct 1988 (stn SLOPE 72 ), NMV J54504 About NMV (3 specimens) .

Diagnosis. Leg span to about 285 mm. Lateral processes shorter than their diameters, fringed distally with a few scattered, short, spines; 2nd and 3rd lateral processes separated by about one-third basal widths, 1st pair not conspicuously raised. Anterior margin of cephalon with pair of small but prominent apophyses over base of palp insertions. Ocular tubercle low, two eyes, unpigmented. Proximal quarter of proboscis narrow, inflated in mid-region, tapering distally to a rounded tip, width marginally less than basal diameter. Palps conspicuously spiny, segment 3, 1.4 times segment 5; segment 7 greater than twice length of segment 6. Abdomen articulated, clavate, little less than 30% of trunk length. Oviger 10-segmented, terminal claw gently curved and articulated with segment 10. Legs about 9 times length of trunk; femur marginally longer than tibia 1; tibia 1, 1.3 times tibia 2. Tarsus 1.8 times propodus, claw 36% of propodus. Spines in rows, straight or curved slightly, longer spines equal to, or longer than width of segment.

Distribution. West and east Pacific (Tasman Sea and off the Oregon coast), Depth 1360–2832 m.

Type locality. Off the Oregon coast, USA .

Remarks. This collection consists of one large and two smaller specimens about half the size of the larger specimen. Although having fewer spines, they are presumed to be sub-adults of this species. The ocular tubercles of the smaller specimens terminate in an apical cone which was not present in the larger form. The larger specimen is of the same size as the holotype and agrees in almost all respects with Child’s description. Differences are principally confined to spination of oviger segments 4–6 which carry numerous long, sharp, simple spines not present on the holotype. Another minor difference is found in the proportions of the femur and tibia 2. Internal ganglia and smooth cuticle in the area where two eyes are usually positioned, suggests that the apparent absence of eyes in the holotype may be a legacy of preservation. Well-defined lateral sensory organs were present on the dorsolateral surface of the ocular tubercle. Palp and oviger gland openings are not evident. Child (1994, fig. 4A) clearly figures a 10-segmented palp; however his description overlooks the small 1st segment. His reference to the 2nd palp segment being longest should in fact be the 3rd segment; the 4th segment should be the 5th and so on. Spines on all longer segments are straight and often longer than the corresponding segment. Child describes the three distal segments as being progressively shorter but in this specimen the 10th segment is 1.2 times longer than the 9th, otherwise all segments agree with the holotype in their proportions. Coxal pellicula and genital pores are not evident in this material.

Numerous gastropod egg capsules were attached to the dorsal surface of the trunk of the larger specimen and ventral surface of one or more legs of all specimens. Most of these capsules were vacated. This species has also much in common with C. ensifer Child, 1995 but that species is distinguished by the presence of strong, hooked spines on the palps and on the longer leg segments.