Paraleptognathia weddellensis (Sieg, 1986) new combination (Figs 18, 19)

Synonymy: Akanthoporeus weddellensis Sieg, 1986

Material examined: Ten individuals. ZMH K­40600 RV ”Walther Herwig” St. 106, one female, ZMH K­40601 RV ”Polarstern” St. 91, one juvenile male, ZMH K­40602 RV ”Polarstern” St. 145, one female, one neuter, ZMH K­40603 RV ”Polarstern” St. 147, four females (one dissected), ZMH K­40604 RV ”Polarstern” St. 153, one female, ZMH K­ 40605 RV ”Polarstern” St. 147, one female .

Diagnosis: Cheliped carpal shield well developed, smooth. Propodus of pereopod 1 and 2 with spinules.

Description: non­ovigerous female. Body (Fig. 18a, b): long, about 7.5 times longer than broad. Body length 1.4 to 2.8 mm. Cephalothorax (Fig. 18a, b): about 1.3 times longer than broad. Pereon (Fig. 18a, b): pereonite 1 as long as pereonite 6; pereonite 5 as long as pereonite 3 and longer than 6; pereonite 2 and 4 subequal. Pleon (Fig. 18a, b): pleonite 1 and 3 longest, pleonites 2, 4, 5 subequal.

Antennule (Fig. 18d): article 1 longest, with one long and two short simple setae; article 2 with one long simple and one short simple setae; article 3 shortest, with two terminal simple setae; article 4 with four terminal setae.

Antenna (Fig. 18e): article 1 short, semifused to cephalothorax; article 2 as long as wide, with one dorsal short spiniform seta; article 3 with one simple seta distally; article 4 longest, with two distal simple long, two distal short and one short simple setae at midlength; article 5 with one simple long seta distally; article 6 shortest, with three terminal simple setae.

Labrum (Fig. 19d): hood­shaped, with row of setules on the apical margin.

Mandible (Fig. 19c): Well calcified; pars molaris bent ventrally; lacinia mobilis spiniform.

Maxillula (Fig. 19a): endite with four rows of ventral setules, and two short and seven simple terminal spiniform setae.

Maxilla (Fig. 19f): rectangular, naked.

Labium (Fig. 19e): of two lobes with one short simple seta at distal outer margin.

Maxilliped (Fig. 19g): endites not fused, with no special feature.

Epignath (Fig. 19b): with no special feature.

Cheliped (Fig. 18h): basis as long as carpus; merus with ventral simple seta; carpus with one ventral and one dorsal simple setae, carpal shield well developed rounded; propodus smooth, with three teeth at cutting edge; dactylus smooth.

Pereopod 1 (Fig. 18i): coxa naked; basis about three times as long as broad, with one setulose seta; ischium short, with one simple seta; merus as long as carpus, with one spiniform seta; carpus with two spiniform setae; propodus with a row of ventral spines and a spiniform distal seta; dactylus smooth; unguis as long as dactylus.

Pereopod 2 (Fig. 18j): as pereopod 1, except basis without setae; carpus with three spiniform setae; propodus with a short simple seta.

Pereopod 3 (Fig. 18k): as pereopod 2, except propodus smooth.

Pereopod 4 (Fig. 18l): basis about three times as long as wide, naked; ischium short, with two simple setae; merus with two spiniform setae; carpus with three spiniform setae; propodus with three spiniform setae and a terminal spine; dactylus with no special features.

Pereopod 5 (Fig. 18m): as pereopod 4, except basis with one simple seta; ischium with one simple setae.

Pereopod 6 (Fig. 18n): as pereopod 4, except propodus with four spiniform setae.

Pleopods (Fig. 18g): exopod with ten long simple setae; endopod with nine long simple setae.

Uropods (Fig. 18f): exopod half the length of article one of endopod. Article 1 with one simple seta; article 2 with two terminal simple setae. Article 1 of endopod naked, article 2 with four terminal setae.

Juvenile males body length 2.1 mm. Antennule (Fig 18c): first article longest, with one simple seta; article 2 naked; article 3 with one long distal seta; article 4 shortest, with two distal setae; article 5 with three terminal setae.

Manca body length 1.0 mm.

Distribution: Weddell Sea, Elephant Island, South Orkney Island, King George Island.

Remarks: among the representatives of Paraleptognathia of the southern oceans this species has the biggest carpal shield on the cheliped of the region.