Hedgpethia Turpaeva, 1973

Sabroux, Romain, 2025, The genus Hedgpethia Turpaeva, 1973 (Pycnogonida: Colossendeidae): a review and a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 1026, pp. 147-170 : 149

Genus Hedgpethia Turpaeva, 1973

Type species

Colossendeis arcuata Loman, 1908 (by original designation).

Diagnosis of the genus (emended from Turpaeva 1973 and Takahashi et al. 2007)

Trunk four-segmented, lateral processes separated by twice their own diameter or less. Cephalon with pair of anterior projections on both sides of proboscis, on which palps articulate; anterior projection individualised, base segmented, apparently not movable. Proboscis massive, as long or longer than body, inflated around midpoint, constricted at base, tapering at tip. Abdomen small, ventralised and bent downward. Chelifores absent. Palps 9-articled. Ovigers 10-articled plus terminal claw. Legs slender. Propodus devoid of auxiliary claws.

Also includes Hedgpethia caudata Turpaeva, 1993 which does not match this diagnosis (see Discussion).

Remarks

Palps in species of Hedgpethia have been generally regarded as 10-articled. This number is due to the cephalic anterior projections, of which the base seems articled, is included in the count. This projection is likely homologous to that found in the closely related genus Colossendeis , which was demonstrated to be part of the cephalon, and not an article ( Cano-Sánchez & López-González 2016). The palps in Hedgpethia are therefore regarded as 9-articled in the present work.