Natatolana prolixa Bruce, 1986

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 215-218

Natatolana prolixa Bruce, 1986

Natatolana prolixa Bruce, 1986: 64 , figs. 40, 41.– Brusca et al., 1995: 82.– Bruce et al., 2002: 152.

Type material. Holotype: 3, 21.0 mm, QM W6738 (examined). Type locality: off Hay Point , Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 21°17'S 149°18'E.

Diagnosis. Interocular furrow: moderately developed, distinct but not extending across the cephalon. Frontal lamina: lateral margins straight, parallel. Antenna: c. 1.5× as long as body, reaching to beyond pleotelson. Coxal plates: furrows variously developed, indistinct furrows on coxae 2–3 only. Pleonite 2: ventral posterolateral margin acute, formed into long curved process. Pleonite 4: posterodorsal margin strongly concave proximal to meeting posteroventral margin at apex; apex forming a narrow acute point. Pleotelson: broad, length 0.75× basal width; anterodorsal depression absent; anterolateral margins convex; posterolateral margins concave; apex produced into a large point; RS absent. Pereopod 2: propodus with 2 RS on palm. Pereopod 3: propodus with 2 RS on palm. Pereopod 7: basis of medium breadth, width 0.5× length; distance between anterior margin and medial carina less than between posterior margin and medial carina; posterior margin with setae along entire length. Penes: present (although the vas deferens are described as opening flush to the sternite surface by Bruce (1986), distinct penial processes are evident in the type material). Pleopod 2 appendix masculina: extending subequal with tip of endopod; slender; margins straight; apex not at angle to adjacent margins, acute. Uropods: exopod subequal to endopod, 0.95× the length of the endopod.

Sexual dimorphism. Unknown.

Size. Adults to 21 mm.

Remarks. The long antennae and sinuate margins of the pleotelson that lack robust setae separate Natatolana prolixa from all other species in the genus.

Distribution. Australia: Hay Point, Mackay, Queensland. At depths of 15– 21 m.