Robustochelia robusta ( Kudinova-Pasternak, 1970 )

Bird, Graham J, 2007, Family incertae cedis *, Zootaxa 1599, pp. 121-149 : 147

Robustochelia robusta ( Kudinova-Pasternak, 1970)

Leptognathia robusta Kudinova-Pasternak, 1970: 365 –366, fig. 16. Kudinova-Pasternak, 1977: 125. Tanaissus robustus: Kudinova-Pasternak, 1975: 223 .

Robustochelia robusta: Kudinova-Pasternak, 1983: 1171 . JóŸwiak & B³a¿ewicz-Paszkowycz, 2007: 27–31, figs 4–6.

Remarks. The genus Robustochelia was placed in the subfamily Akanthophoreinae by Sieg (1986a) but was subsequently removed to the incertae cedis category by Larsen & Wilson (2002). A generic diagnosis was also given by Larsen (2005), with four known species. A very recent paper by Jóżwiak, & BłaŻewicz-Paszkowyc (2007) has updated the taxonomy, redescribed the type species R. robusta , added a further new species and removed R. solida Larsen (2005) from the genus. The cheliped and pereopod morphology, and shape of the mandibular molar (and other mouthparts) suggest a close relationship with Leptognathioides (see above) and Monstrotanais Kudinova-Pasternak.

The species Robustochelia robusta was originally described from material collected from the Kurile- Kamchatka Trench at 4945–5240 metres ( Kudinova-Pasternak 1970), but has not been recorded in the present study. It is also reported from the more southerly Izu-Ogasawara Trench, 6770–6850m ( Kudinova-Pasternak 1977) and doubtfully from the south Atlantic, at 2600 metres ( Kudinova-Pasternak 1975).