Oxypleurodon sp. 2

(Fig. 4 A–C)

Material examined. 1 ovigerous female (14.0 × 9.7 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2011-2802), 1 ovigerous female (13.3 × 9.1 mm) (ZRC 2018.1479, ex. MNHN-IU- 2011-2802), stn CP3646, 06°45’S 147°49’E, 460–485 m, coll. BIOPAPUA Expedition, 24 August 2010.

Remarks. The overall carapace morphology of O. sp. 2 is similar to O. stimpsoni . Compared to a topotypic specimen of O. stimpsoni, however, the differences are obvious: the branchial plates are sharp anteriorly in O. stimpsoni (Lee et al. 2017: fig. 2) (versus rounded with an indented anterior border in Oxypleurodon sp. 2; Fig. 4A); the cardiac plate is ovate in O. stimpsoni (Lee et al. 2017: fig. 2) (versus with indented lateral expansions making it elliptical-shaped with irregular distal edges in Oxypleurodon sp. 2; Fig. 4A); and there is only one slender ovate mesogastric plate in O. stimpsoni (Lee et al. 2017: fig. 2) (versus with one ovate mesogastric plate, which is constricted in the lower part and with two large gastric granules in Oxypleurodon sp. 2; Fig. 4A). In O. alisae n. sp., the pseudorostral spines are long with both spines appressed (Figs. 1C, 2A) (versus distinctly bifid in Oxypleurodon sp. 2; Fig. 4A); and the branchial plate is more deeply indented in Oxypleurodon sp. 2 (Fig. 4A) than in O. alisae n. sp. (Figs. 1C, 2A).

It is likely that these specimens belong to a new species of Oxypleurodon, but with only two female specimens on hand, more material, in particular male specimens, should be acquired before the species is formally described.