Natatolana boko Bruce, 1986

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 156

Natatolana boko Bruce, 1986

Natatolana boko Bruce, 1986:59 , fig.35, 36.–Springthorpe & Lowry, 1994: 40.– Brusca et al., 1995: 79.– Bruce et al., 2002: 149.

Type material. Holotype: 3, 5.2 mm, AM P32173 . Paratype: AM P30382. All examined. Type locality: east of Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland, Australia, 23°44'S 152°49'E, 357–384 m.

Material examined. Tasmania: 15, NMV J18419 -21 , all off Freycinet Peninsula, 41°57.5'– 42°2.2'S 148°37.7'– 148°38.7'E, sled, coarse shell or shelly sand, 400–800 m, M.F. Gomon et al., 27 Jul. 1986 .

Diagnosis. Eyes: vestigial. Interocular furrow: well developed, extending across the cephalon (described by Bruce (1986) as submarginal furrow); smoothly convex. Frontal lamina: lateral margins straight, parallel. Antenna: c. 0.25–0.3× as long as body, reaching to posterior of pereonite 2. Coxal plates: furrows completely absent on all coxae. Pleonite 4: apex forming a broad acute point. Pleotelson: broad, length 0.67× basal width; anterodorsal depression absent (although described by Bruce (1986) as having a depression, this is not distinct and abrupt as in species such as N. pellucida ); anterolateral margins convex; posterolateral margins concave; apex not produced, lateral margins converging smoothly to a point; RS absent. Pereopod 2: propodus with 0–2 RS on palm. Pereopod 3: propodus without RS on palm. Pereopods 5–7: propodus short and robust on each pereopod. Pereopod 7: basis broad, width 0.54× length; distance between anterior margin and medial carina less than between posterior margin and medial carina; posterior margin with sparse setae on proximal half. Penes: present (although the vas deferens are described as opening flush to the sternite surface by Bruce (1986), distinct penial processes are evident in the type material and other material examined). Pleopod 2 appendix masculina: extending subequal with tip of endopod, 1.03× length of endopod; slender; margins very slightly curved laterally; apex not at angle to adjacent margins, bluntly rounded. Uropods: exopod short, 0.6× the length of the endopod; lateral margin without RS.

Size. Adults to c. 5.2 mm.

Remarks. Natatolana boko can be readily distinguished from other species by the sinuate lateral margins of the pleotelson and uropod endopod, both of which also lack robust setae.

Distribution. Australia: off Lady Musgrave Island, Queensland; Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania. At depths of 357– 800 m.