Paranamixis dentidactylus sp. nov.

(Figs 16, 17)

Type material. Holotype male, 2.1 mm (OUMNH.ZC.2002.24.109) Outside Malakal Harbour, light trap sample, 190 feet deep; 07°16.366' N, 134°27.906'E; leg. S. De Grave & C. Burras, night 1st–2nd June 2002. Etymology. Named for the well developed spine on the dactylus of the gnathopod 2. Description. Based on male holotype, 2.1 mm.

Head head hood-like with a small triangular rostrum, lower margin with small spine. Antenna 1 about one third body length; peduncular article 1 stout equal in length to peduncular articles 2+3. Antenna 2 slender, shorter than antenna 1. Maxilliped fused basally; inner plates entire; dactylus elongate, equal in length with fourth palp article.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 absent, coxa 1 minute. Gnathopod 2 coxa longer than broad with sharply rounded anterodistal corner; basis elongate and slender broadening distally, without teeth, spines or serrations; propodus irregularly subovoid, palm with four rounded spines; dactylus elongate, posterior margin with well developed rounded spine at about two-thirds its length. Pereopods 3 – 4 slender; dactylus less than half length of propodus. Pereopod 5 basis posterior margin angular, broadest medially. Pereopod 7 basis subquadrate.

Pleon. Epimera 1 – 3 rounded. Uropod 1 longer than uropod 2. Uropod 3 missing in specimen, Telson entire, spoon-shaped.

Remarks. Paranamixis dentidactylus is closest to P. indicus Sivaprakasam, 1968 . The leucomorph stage is unknown. It differs from it; however, in a number of ways. The male coxa 2 in P. dentidactylus is longer than broad with smooth margins, whereas that of P. indicus is almost round with two ‘teeth’ on the anteroproximal margin. The basis of P. indicus bears a small spine, absent in P. dentidactylus . The propodus palm of P. dentidactylus has a series of four rounded spines whereas that of P. indicus has two spines. The basis of pereopod 7 in P. dentidactylus is quadrate whereas in P. indicus it is rounded.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.