Alticuma, DAY, 1978

Haye, Pilar A., 2007, Systematics of the genera of Bodotriidae (Crustacea: Cumacea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (1), pp. 1-58 : 13

ALTICUMA DAY, 1978

Type species: Alticuma carinatum ( Zimmer, 1921 a) .

Body: Carapace shorter than abdomen and similar in length to peraeon; abdomen approximately as long as or shorter than carapace and peraeon together.

Cephalothorax: From dorsal view the carapace appears laterally compressed anteriorly. Carapace with mid-dorsal ridge or mid-dorsal serration, may have anterior transverse ridge. Pseudorostral lappets may extend beyond frontal lobe and meet in midline. Antennal notch as a depression, subacute or acute incision. Anterolateral corner with subacute or acute tooth. Frontal lobe 1/4–1/3 of the total carapace length; as wide as long or longer than wide; anteriorly linguiform or somewhat extended; without ocular pigment or eye lenses.

Antenna 1 with basal article of the peduncle geniculate or arcuate; as long as the other two articles together; males with a group of aesthetascs on distal margin of peduncle. Main flagellum uni- or bi-articulated; with one or two aesthetascs in distal-most article. Accessory flagellum uni-articulated; may have aesthetascs. Antenna 2 in males reaching end of pleon.

Maxilliped 3 with basis geniculate or arcuate; extended dorso-distally over ischium beyond the articulation of the ischium and merus. Ischium as long as merus. Merus extended dorso-distally over carpus. Carpus and propodus may be distally widened. Carpus length equal to or shorter than propodus and dactylus together.

Peraeon: First peraeonite well exposed or visible only above lateral midline. Peraeonites 2 and 3 may be fused. Peraeonite 2 may have ventrolateral expansion overriding peraeonites 3 or 1. Peraeonite 3 may have ventrolateral expansion overriding peraeonites 2 or 4. Peraeonite 4 may have ventrolateral expansions overriding peraeonites 5 or 3 and 5.

Peraeopod 1, with basis arcuate; may have row of setae. Carpus with variable length with respect to propodus. Peraeopod 2 with ischium; dactylus longer than propodus. Peraeopod 4 with ischium.

Pleon: Articular pegs may be present. Pleonite 6 longer than wide; shorter than peduncle of uropod; wide middle portion of distal end of pleonite 6 well extended past the insertion of the uropods and apex rounded. Anal plates may extend posteriorly beyond distal margin of pleonite 6.

Uropod endopod bi-articulated with proximal article longer than distal one. Uropod exopod with proximal article shorter than the distal one. Peduncle of uropods much longer than rami; rami approximately same length. Males with five pairs of pleopods.

Species included:

1. A. bellum Day, 1978

2. A. carinatum ( Zimmer, 1921 a) (Synonymy: Cyclaspis carinata Zimmer, 1921 a ; A. carinatum Day, 1978 )

Distribution: Commonly found off the East African coast (West Indian Ocean) at depths between 183 and 1300 m.