Neoarcturus halei (Kensley, 1984) Poore, 2003

Poore, G. C. B., 2003, Revision of Holidoteidae, an endemic southern African family of Crustacea, and re-appraisal of taxa previously included in its three genera (Isopoda: Valvifera), Journal of Natural History 37, pp. 1805-1846 : 1822

Neoarcturus halei (Kensley, 1984) comb. nov.

(figure 6D, E)

Microarcturus halei Kensley, 1984: 243–245 , figure 14a–f.

Material examined

Nine males (one dissected), five ovigerous females, 20 juveniles, SAM A17809 . Two males, one female, NMV J47036 .

Diagnosis

Eyes pigmented. Dorsum irregularly weakly tuberculate and with dominant pairs of submedial and dorsolateral spines on pereonites 2 and 3 (especially female). Pereonites 2 and 3 of female with conical lateral projections (weaker in male); pereonite 4 tapering posteriorly, pereonites 5–7 and pleonites parallel-sided. Pleotelson dome with dorsolateral spines, apex almost right-angled, not apically produced as spine, posterolateral margins with well-defined angular flanges. Male pleonite 2 strongly elevated as paired dorsolateral bosses, pleonite 3 with lower dorsomedial boss. Posteroventral margin of pereonite 4 of male with bilobed flat plate. Male to 5.3 mm; female to 6.0 mm.

Remarks

The paired submedial and dorsolateral spines on only pereonites 2 and 3 are diagnostic. Kensley’s (1984) figures illustrate the variability in degree of tuberculation in this species, some larger individuals being smoother than others. The species has been collected off KwaZulu-Natal and Transkei, eastern South Africa, at 150–775 m depth .