Anarthruropsis Lang, 1968

Bird, Graham J., 2007, Leptognathiidae Sieg, 1976 *, Zootaxa 1599, pp. 61-85 : 63

Genus Anarthruropsis Lang, 1968

Anarthruropsis Lang, 1968: 183 –184 (generic diagnosis), 184–188, figs 114–116 (description of A. galatheae ). Kudinova-Pasternak, 1976: 121 –123, fig 3 (description of A. langi ). Sieg, 1983: 292. Kudinova-Pasternak, 1984: 834 – 836, fig.3 (description of A. longus – now A. longa ). Kudinova-Pasternak, 1990: 102 –103, fig. 7 (description of A. similis ). Gutu & Sieg, 1999: 384 (classification). Larsen & Wilson, 2002: 12 (classification derived from phylogenetic analysis). Bird, 2004: 7 –8 (remarks). Larsen, 2005: 141–142 (revised generic diagnosis), 142–147 (description of A. edentula and key to species).

Type species: A. galatheae Lang, 1968 (by monotypy).

Species included (Japanese and trench species in bold): A. edentula Larsen (2005) , Gulf of Mexico, 1402– 2050 metres; A. galatheae , Guatemala Basin, 3570 metres; A. langi ; A. longa ; A. similis Kudinova-Pasternak, 1990 , Walvis Basin (SE Atlantic) 1038 metres.

Diagnosis. (Largely derived from Larsen (2005), via Lang (1972), but with some amendments).

Female/neuter. Anarthrurid with eyes and eye-lobes absent. Pleon with five free pleonites, at least as wide as pereon. Antennule with four articles. Antenna with five to six articles. Labrum elongate-conical, protruding from under carapace to reach antenna article 3, not an obvious siphon-shape. Mandibles reduced (type species) or absent; if present molar process weak, without chitinisation. Labium inconspicuous with one pair of lobes. Maxillule with five short, stout and blunt terminal setae. Maxilliped endites rounded and with one process (type species) or smooth; palp article 3 with three inner setae. Epignath elongate. Cheliped attached via large (three times larger than basis) pseudocoxa; without lateral propodal fold. Pereopods 1–3 with coxa. Pereopods 4–6 without coxa; carpus with three spiniform setae. Pleopods reduced or absent. Uropod endopod one-articled, exopod (fused to basal article), very short.

Male. Similar to female but with thicker (wider) antennule. Pleopods present, with mainly simple setae.

Remarks. This genus has not received as much attention as others in recent years, but Larsen (2005) critiqued the existing taxonomy as part of the account of the new Gulf of Mexico species, A. edentula . Using the type-species A. galatheae as a standard would possibly indicate that there is more heterogeneity in the genus than may be sustainable, especially with regard to chela shape, mandibular structure, pereopod setation and possibly maxillule-endite setation. Until more irrefutable material of Kudinova-Pasternak’s species are obtained, in lieu of missing or unobtainable type specimens, further revision of the genus is impracticable.