Munidopsis marianica, WILLIAMS & BABA, 1989

Martin, Joel W. & Haney, Todd A., 2005, Decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps: a review through 2005, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (4), pp. 445-522 : 479-480

MUNIDOPSIS MARIANICA WILLIAMS & BABA, 1989

Type locality: western Pacific Ocean , hydrothermal vents of the Mariana back-arc basin ; 3600–3700 m.

Known range: Known only from the type locality ( Williams & Baba, 1989; Van Dover, 1997, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997).

Material: Western Pacific Ocean , Mariana Back-Arc Basin , Burke Field; 18°11′N, 144°43′E; 3680 m; Alvin dive 1837; 28 April 1987; USNM 240198 [holotype female (ovigerous)], USNM 240199 (paratypes, 2 ovigerous females, 1 male) ( Williams & Baba, 1989) .

– Ilium Vent Field; 18°15′N, 144°42′E; 3620 m; Alvin dive 1829; 14 April 1987; USNM 240200 (paratype, 1 ovigerous female) ( Williams & Baba, 1989) .

– Burke Field; 18°11′N, 144°43′E; 3727 m; Alvin dive 1847; 8 May 1987; USNM 240201 (paratype, 1 ovigerous female) ( Williams & Baba, 1989) .

Remarks: Because this species is known only from vent sites to date, Chevaldonné & Olu (1996) considered it an endemic. For reasons given earlier we are treating it as a probable vagrant. This large species (up to 52 mm carapace length; Van Dover, 1997, in Desbruyères & Segonzac, 1997) is found among dense carpets of actinians ( Williams & Baba, 1989; Hessler & Londsdale, 1991; Chevaldonné & Olu, 1996). Williams & Baba (1989) mentioned video sequences taken during Alvin dive 1845 (18°13′N, 144°42′E, 3716 m, 6 May 1987) that might be of this species.