Natatolana curta ( Richardson, 1910 )

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 170

Natatolana curta ( Richardson, 1910)

Cirolana curta Richardson, 1910: 7 , fig. 6.– Nierstrasz, 1931: 156. Natatolana curta .– Bruce, 1981: 958.– 1986: 53, 74, 222.– Brusca

et al., 1995: 80.

Type material. Holotype: 3, 18 mm, USNM 41013 (examined). Type locality: between Jolo and Tawi Tawi, Dammi Island, [ Philippines, 5°48'N 120°36'E], 441 m, [ Albatross Station 5565].

Diagnosis. Interocular furrow: moderately developed, distinct but not extending across the cephalon. Frontal lamina: lateral margins straight, narrowing posteriorly. Antenna: c. 0.39× as long as body, reaching to between the posterior of pereonite 3 and one-quarter of the way along pereonite 4. Coxal plates: furrows strongly developed, clearer on anterior coxae than posterior but all complete, on all coxae. Pleonite 4: apex forming a broad acute point. Pleotelson: broad, length 0.71× basal width; anterodorsal depression absent; anterolateral margins convex; posterolateral margins broadly rounded; apex not produced, lateral margins converging smoothly to a point; with 11 RS. Pereopod 2: propodus with 4 RS on palm. Pereopod 3: propodus with 3 RS on palm. Pereopod 7: basis broad, width 0.6× length; distance between anterior margin and medial carina less than between posterior margin and medial carina; posterior margin with setae completely absent along entire length. Penes: absent. Pleopod 2 appendix masculina: just shorter than endopod, 0.92× length of endopod; margins very slightly curved laterally; slender; apex not at angle to adjacent margins, bluntly rounded. Uropods: exopod short, 0.68× the length of the endopod.

Sexual dimorphism. Unknown, but the male holotype has indistinct tubercules on the dorsal surface of pereonites 1 and 3 that may be absent in females.

Size. Adults to 18 mm.

Remarks. A description of the penes and appendix masculina of Natatolana curta have not previously been given. Natatolana curta is most similar to N. albicaudata and N. amplocula , see remarks for these species.

Distribution. Philippines. At depths of 441 m.