Laubierinia carinata (Griffin and Tranter, 1986)

(Fig. 6A–B)

Material examined. RV Hakuhō Maru KH-72-1 cruise, sta. 28 (Timor Sea; 09°34.4′S, 128°06.0′E – 09°33.5′S, 128°03.4′E, 295–296 m depth); 3 m beam trawl; June 24, 1972; 2 ♀♀ (NSMT-Cr 29265: CB 11.1 mm excluding branchial plate, CL 17.2 mm excluding pseudorostral spine; CB 9.7 mm, CL 15.2 mm).

Remarks. This species, originally described in the genus Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, was transferred to the genus Laubierinia established by Richer de Forges and Ng (2009), as the type species. The other congeners are L. globulifera (Wood-Mason, in Wood-Mason and Alcock, 1891) and L. nodosa (Rathbun, 1916) .

Laubierinia carinata is characteristic in having seven large circular islets on the hepatic, mesogastric, cardiac, epibranchial and intestinal regions; the epibranchial islets are replaced by large nodular projections in L. nodosa, and strong spines in L. globulifera .

Two females agree well with the description by Griffin and Tranter (1986a, as Rochinia) and the figures and photographs by Richer de Forges and Poore (2008, as Rochinia) and Richer de Forges and Ng (2009). However, it should be noted that there is possibly sexual difference in the development of the intestinal islet; the intestinal region is slightly protuberant, with a distinct tubercle apically in a full-grown male from the Solomon Islands (Richer de Forges and Ng, 2009, fig. 9A–B) and probably in the holotype (Griffin and Tranter, 1986a, pl. 12), whereas it is replaced by a large circular islet in the females examined (Fig. 6A–B).

Distribution. Western Australia, Timor Sea, Kai Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Norfolk Ridge seamounts, 173–411 m depth.