Parapontocaris caribbaea (Boone, 1927)

(Fig. 1 A–B)

Aegeon Caribbaeus Boone, 1927: 125, fig. 28.

Parapontocaris caribbaea — Bullis & Thompson 1965: 8.— Dardeau & Heard 1983: 10.— Chace 1984: 30 (Key).— Chan 1996: 319.— Cruz et al. 2002: 189.— Campos et al. 2005: 86, figs. 49, 50.— Felder et al. 2009: 1060.— Cardoso 2013: 88, fig.2.— Vázquez-Bader & Gracia 2013: 369.

Material examined. 1 OvigerOus female (TL: 98 mm), POtiguar Basin, #ARMT– 65, 480 m, 04º 33' 21'' S, 036º 53' 45'' W, 0 8 December 2009, MOUFPE: 15.178.

Diagnosis. See CardOsO (2013).

Geographic distribution. Western Atlantic: Bahamas, Straits Of FlOrida, Gulf Of MexicO, Caribbean Sea, HOnduras, COlOmbia, Surinam, French Guiana and Brazil: (Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia, EspíritO SantO, RiO de JaneirO) (Fig. 2) (Chace 1984, 1956; Dardeau & Heard 1983; Cruz et al. 2002; CampOs et al. 2005; Felder et al. 2009; CardOsO 2013; VázQuez-Bader & Gracia 2013).

Bathymetric distribution. Occurring frOm 251 tO 885 m depth, at POtiguar Basin at 480 m (BOOne 1927; Bullis & ThOmpsOn 1965; Chace 1984; 1956; Dardeau & Heard 1983; Cruz et al. 2002; CampOs et al. 2005; Felder et al. 2009; CardOsO 2013; VázQuez-Bader & Gracia 2013).

Remarks. The material analyzed here fits well with all diagnOstic characters described by BOOne (1927), Dardeau & Heard 1983, Chan (1996), CampOs et al. (2005) and CardOsO (2013), which presents rOstrum shOrt and brOad nOt exceeding the eyes (Fig. 1 B); dOrsal surface Of carapace with carina shOwing fOur teeth (Fig. 1 B); secOnd abdOminal sOmite with twO pair Of lateral ridges and a dOrsal spine, fOllOwed by a dOrsal carina (Fig. 1 B); abdOminal sOmites 3–4 with a dOrsal carina unarmed (Fig. 1 B); abdOminal sOmite 5 with One pair Of ridges that cOnverge anteriOrly (Fig. 1 B); abdOminal sOmite 6 with One pair Of ridges fOrming dOrsally an elOngate-Oval image (Fig. 1 B) and telsOn with One pair Of ridges fOrming a central sulcus (Fig. 1 B). AccOrding tO CardOsO (2013) and VázQuez-Bader & Gracia (2013) this species inhabits muddy substrate alOng the cOntinental slOpe, but as Observed by VázQuez-Bader & Gracia (2013), the Occurrence Of P. caribbaea in depth samples is rare as cOmpared tO Other species, as was Observed in POtiguar Basin thrOugh Only One specimen.