Paralepas morula (Hoek, 1907) Figure 3

Alepas morula Hoek, 1907: 35, pl. IV, figs 9-12.

Heteralepas (Paralepas) morula . - Broch, 1922: 28, fig. 34.

Paralepas morula . - Newman, 1960: 109.

Material examined.

- Tanimbar Island: 45 specimens, MNHN-IU-2019-4878, Stn. CP 54, 08°21'S, 131°43'E, 836-869 m depth, 30 October 1991, attached to spine of sea urchin.

Diagnosis.

Capitulum globular with numerous tubercles on surface, scuta absent, orifice small, not protuberant, peduncular length more than half capitular length.

Description.

Capitulum and peduncle yellowish. Capitulum globular with thick, chitinous, large warts all over surface. Peduncle rather long, narrower than capitulum; surface bearing tubercles, smaller than those of capitulum. Cirrus I placed rather far from cirrus II; cirri II-VI similar, length and number of segments slightly increasing from second to sixth; cirrus VI with 7-segmented caudal appendage. Penis indistinctly segmented, few long hairs towards tip. Maxillule notched, two large setae on upper notch; mandibles with three major teeth, inferior angle considered as fourth tooth; labrum with continuous row of numerous short, strong, blunt teeth. Measurements of specimen: height of capitulum 5.14 mm, width 3.69 mm, thickness 1.81 mm; length of peduncle 5.08 mm, width 1.31 mm.

Distribution.

Flores Sea (Indonesia); Philippines; Bass Strait, N of Tasmania; attached to spines of echinoids, for example, Histocidaris elegans (Agassiz, 1879); 182-538 m depth (Jones and Hosie 2016). In this study, Paralepas morula was found at Tanimbar Island, Indonesia.

Type locality.

Bali Sea, North of Lombok; 538 m depth (Hoek 1907).

Remarks.

Most of the smaller specimens do not show the warts that are characteristic of this species.