Chuneola major Vinogradov

Zeidler, Wolfgang, 2009, A review of the hyperiidean amphipod superfamily Lanceoloidea Bowman & Gruner, 1973 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea), Zootaxa 2000, pp. 1-117 : 85

Chuneola major Vinogradov

( Fig. 31)

Chuneola major Vinogradov, 1957: 201 , figs 9,10. Vinogradov 1960b: 249 (map); 1964: 118; 1970: 384 (table), 393–394. Vinogradov et al. 1982: 94–96, figs 33, 34.

Type material. This species was described from two specimens measuring 19 and 21 mm, from the Northwest Pacific [39°58’N 164°55’E and 44°31’N 170°06’E], taken at depths of 0–5300 m and 0–1000 m respectively. The latter specimen, a syntype, is in the ZMMU (Mb–1054), on microscope slides.

Material examined. South Atlantic: Male, 16.9mm ( USNM), east of South Georgia (57°17’– 57°22’S 27°22’– 27°03’W); Eltanin Stn. 578, 1464– 1867 m, 19 Apr. 1963 . South-East Pacific: Male, 13.3mm ( USNM), off the tip of S. America (57°06’– 56°57’S 78°56’– 78°37’W); Eltanin Stn. 868, 997– 1230 m, 25 Nov. 1963 .

Diagnosis. Known from only sexually immature specimens 13–25 mm. Body robust, relatively elongate; pereon slightly flattened dorsoventrally, without keels or spines. Head with broad, rounded rostrum, almost covering A1; with faint furrow mid-dorsally. Eyes absent or indistinct. Antennae 1 stout, with broad peduncle and broad, rounded callynophore; slightly longer than head. Antennae 2; vesicular peduncular article with straight dorsal margin and convex ventral margin, almost twice as long as wide; less than half-length A1; terminal article elongate, length almost 0.4x peduncular article. Gnathopod 1 similar to G2 but slightly shorter; basis relatively broad, maximum width about 0.6x length; slightly shorter than carpus and propodus combined. Pereopod 3 is almost identical to P4 but marginally longer; basis length about 2.3x merus; carpus length 1.4x merus; propodus marginally longer than carpus, with well-developed spoon-shaped formation for fully retractile dactylus. Pereopods 5–7 similar in structure with retractile, fully hooded dactyls. Pereopod 5; length 0.8x P4; basis length 2.3x merus; carpus length 1.3x merus, subequal in length to propodus. Pereopod 6; marginally longer than P5; relative lengths of articles like P5, except propodus slightly longer than carpus. Pereopod 7 marginally shorter than P6; relative lengths of articles like P6. Uropod 1; peduncle slightly longer than inner ramus, reaching middle of peduncle of U2; outer ramus length 0.7 x inner. Uropod 2; peduncle slightly longer than inner ramus; outer ramus marginally shorter than inner. Uropod 3; peduncle slightly longer than broad; inner ramus marginally shorter than outer. Telson slightly shorter than width at base; slightly shorter than peduncle of U3.

Colour of unfixed specimens is reddish-pink ( Vinogradov et al. 1982).

Remarks. This is a very rare species, previously known from only six specimens. It is readily distinguished from all its congeners by the vermiform body shape, the broad rostrum and the relatively large first antennae. Fully mature specimens are not known.

Distribution. Previously recorded from the north-western part of the Pacific Ocean (north of 40°N) and the Indian Ocean, off the northern tip of Sumatra. It is here recorded from the southern hemisphere for the first time, from the southeast Pacific and the south Atlantic. The latter is the first record of this species from the Atlantic Ocean. Both records are south of 57°S indicating that this species may prefer colder waters as the Indian Ocean record (one specimen) is the only one from warmer waters. It has been found in catches from depths of 0–400 m, 0–1000 m, 0–5300 m and 3500–5000 m.