Metatanais progenitor Bird, 2015

Fig. 12F

Metatanais progenitor: Bird (2015): 392 –396, figs 21–25, 400, table 2; Bird (2019): 71, table 10.

Material examined. 1 manca-III, 1.2 mm, 2 non-ov. ♀♀, 1.5–1.6 mm, AMS P.105580, SWP2017-135-2; 1 non-ov. 2.0 mm, AMS P.103212, SWP2017-135.

Distribution. Denham Bay, Raoul Island, 3– 18 m.

Remarks. The previous records of this distinctive species also came from Raoul Island or other smaller islands in the group, at 10–27 m (ibid: 392, 396), although the new record is potentially from even shallower water. The body length of non-ovigerous females now extends to 2.0 mm, and the manca-III stage is now recorded. A similar species from Hawaii, M. spinipropodus Morales-Núñez, Pelleteri & Heard, 2016 adds to the species diversity of the genus, now recorded from Japan and Australia in addition to the Kermadecian and Hawaiian taxa. Metatanais progenitor remains the only described species to have females bearing pleopods.