Megalanceoloides remipes (Barnard) Zeidler, 2009

Zeidler, Wolfgang, 2009, A review of the hyperiidean amphipod superfamily Lanceoloidea Bowman & Gruner, 1973 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea), Zootaxa 2000, pp. 1-117 : 79

Megalanceoloides remipes (Barnard) comb nov. ( Fig. 28)

Lanceola remipes Barnard 1932: 255–257 , fig. 159.

Megalanceola remipes - Vinogradov 1964: 114–117, figs 4, 5. Vinogradov et al. 1982: 82–83, 85, fig. 26. Vinogradov 1999: 1147 (table), 1171, fig. 4.41.

Type material. The unique type is in the BMNH (1936.11.2.2510) as detailed above. Barnard (1932) records this specimen as a male but it has well-developed oostegites indicating that it is a mature, or almost mature, female.

Material examined. The holotype as detailed above.

Diagnosis. Based on the incomplete holotype and the description by Vinogradov (1964) of the only other known specimen, measuring 19 mm, sex not recorded. Body elongate, not massive; pereon and pleon highly sculptured with dorsal keel and lateral depressions. Head with short, rounded rostrum; with small medial depression and slightly longer one either side dorsally, on anterior part of head. Antennae 1 slightly shorter than head and first pereonite combined. Antennae 2 incomplete in known specimens but much longer than A1; fourth peduncular article with small, pointed lobe, partly overlapping following article medially. Gnathopod 1; carpus almost linear with straight distal margin; dactylus inserted subterminally. Pereopod 3 similar to P4; merus, carpus and propodus flattened and very broad; basis length 2.3x merus; carpus length 1.7x merus; propodus length 0.8x carpus; dactylus very small, retractile. Pereopod 5 subequal in length and similar in structure to P3 but articles even more broadened; merus triangular, slightly wider distally than long with sharp anterodistal corner, medial length only one-third basis; carpus length about twice merus, slightly longer than maximum width, with depression in lower posterior part into which fits the posterior proximal part of propodus; propodus length about 0.7x carpus, narrowing sharply distally, distal margin fringed with fine setae; dactylus very small, retractile. Pereopod 6 relatively slender with linear articles; length 1.2x P5; basis with small bulge anteroproximally, length 1.8x merus; carpus marginally longer than merus or propodus; distal margin of propodus fringed with fine setae; dactylus small, retractile. Pereopod 7; slightly shorter but similar in structure to P6. Peduncles and rami of urosome relatively slender; rami highly denticulate. Telson twice as long as width at base, reaching limit of peduncle of U3.

Colour according to Barnard (1932) is “salmon pink”.

Remarks. This is a very distinctive but rare species only known from two specimens.

Distribution. Only known from two records, the South Atlantic [41°43’S 42°20’W] and the Indian Ocean [03°11’N 67°02’E]; from catches at depths of 2000 m to the surface.