Megalanceola Pirlot, 1935

Zeidler, Wolfgang, 2009, A review of the hyperiidean amphipod superfamily Lanceoloidea Bowman & Gruner, 1973 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea), Zootaxa 2000, pp. 1-117 : 75-76

Genus Megalanceola Pirlot, 1935

Megalanceola Pirlot, 1935: 1 . Pirlot 1939: 8. Bowman & Gruner 1973: 20–21. Vinogradov 1964: 114. Vinogradov et al. 1982: 81–82. Vinogradov 1999: 1171.

Type species. Lanceola stephenseni Chevreux, 1920 , designated by Pirlot (1935). The unique type, a male measuring about 12 mm in the curled position, is in the MOM (37 1081), on microscope slides. The type locality is the North Atlantic, near the Azores [36°17’N 28°53’W]; Princesse Alice II Stn. 1849, 0–3000 m, 8 Sept. 1904.

Diagnosis. Body length of females up to 95 mm, of males up to 56 mm. Pereon broadened dorsoventrally. Eyes relatively large, oval. Antennae 1 with large callynophore; terminal three articles subequal in length or marginally progressively longer. Antennae 2 relatively strong; length about 2.5x A1. Mandibles with massive palp; length about 1.8x mandibular body; third article of palp shorter than second; mandibular body relatively narrow, especially above insertion of palp towards incisor. Maxillae 1; palp with feathered setae on outer distal corner; inner lobes narrow, papilliform. Maxillae 2; outer lobe armed with six long setae terminally; inner lobe with four long setae. Maxilliped with relatively large, broad inner lobes, about half-length outer lobes or slightly less. Pereopods 3 & 4 with moderate, curved, non-retractile dactylus. Pereopods 5–7 with retractile and hooded dactyls with spoon-shaped process.

Monospecific.

Sexual dimorphism. Males differ from females mainly in the shape and size of the first antennae, which are relatively larger in males ( Fig. 27). Mature males also have distinct genital papillae, medially near the base of the seventh pereopods. Females also tend to achieve a much larger size than males.

Remarks. This is a relatively distinctive genus bearing some resemblance to Lanceola . It contains one of the largest species of Hyperiidea , exceeded only by some species of Cystisoma (Cystisomatidae)

This genus was established by Pirlot (1935) to accommodate his new species, M. terra-novae , which he later (1939) concluded to be synonymous with Lanceola stephenseni Chevreux, 1920 . Only one other species, Lanceola remipes Barnard, 1932 , was previously included in this genus, but it is here removed to a new genus, Megalanceoloides gen. nov. Thus, the genus is now monospecific. Its relationship to Megalanceoloides gen. nov. is discussed under that genus.