Polycheles alis, Ahyong & Galil, 2006

Ahyong, Shane T. & Galil, Bella S., 2006, Polychelidae from the southern and western Pacific (Decapoda, Polychelida), Zoosystema 28 (3), pp. 757-767 : 759-760

Polycheles alis n. sp.

( Figs 2 ; 3 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Austral Islands. BENTHAUS, stn

CP 1911, E of Rapa, 27°37.9’S, 144°15.2’W, 900-

Ahyong S. T. & Galil B. S.

1300 m, 10.XI.2002, ovigerous ♀ holotype cl 34.7 mm (MNHN-Pa 1799).

ETYMOLOGY. — Named for the RV Alis, from which the holotype was collected ; noun in apposition.

DISTRIBUTION. — Known only from the type locality, east of Rapa, at 900-1300 m depth.

DIAGNOSIS. — Carapace gastro-orbital region with spines; frontal margin with two rostral spines; inner and outer angle of orbital sinus unarmed. Dorsal orbital sinus U-shaped. Lateral margins of carapace with spine formula 5-6:3:5; anterior two spines of posterior division separated from posterior three by long, smooth margin. Cervical and postcervical incisions with smooth margins. Postcervical groove with antrorse spine on posterior margin between median carina and branchial carina. Branchial carina unarmed and branchial groove unarmed. Median carina of tergites 2-5 with antrorse median spine. Antrorse median spine of tergite 5 short, slightly higher than those of tergites 2-4 but not overreaching anterior margin of tergite 4. Basal antennular segment with two spines on outer proximal margin.

DESCRIPTION

Figures

FIG. 2. — Polycheles alis n. sp., ovigerous ♀ holotype cl 34.7 mm, E of Rapa, BENTHAUS CP 1911: A, anterior; B, dorsal carapace; C, abdomen; D, antenna, antennule and anterolateral portion of carapace, right ventral view.

FIG. 3. — Polycheles alis n. sp., ovigerous ♀ holotype cl 34.7 mm, E of Rapa, BENTHAUS CP 1911: A, right third maxilliped; B, right pereopod 2; C, right pereopod 3; D, right pereopod 5. Scale bar: 5 mm.