Lanceola falsa Vinogradov

Zeidler, Wolfgang, 2009, A review of the hyperiidean amphipod superfamily Lanceoloidea Bowman & Gruner, 1973 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea), Zootaxa 2000, pp. 1-117 : 52-53

Lanceola falsa Vinogradov

( Fig. 17)

Lanceola falsa Vinogradov, 1970: 391–393 , fig 5. Vinogradov et al. 1982: 60–61, fig. 10.

Type material. This species was described from two sexually mature females, with body length of 22 and 24 mm, caught in the Kurile-Kamchatka region of the North-west Pacific; Vityaz Stn. 5606 [46º10’N 153º13’E; 0–4000 m] and Vityaz Stn. 5612 [45º23’– 45º34’N 153º04’– 153º48’E; 0–5850 m]. The female of length 22 mm is described and figured by Vinogradov (1970) and is in the ZMMU (Mb–1044), on microscope slides .

Diagnosis. According to Vinogradov (1970). Only known from the two female specimens as detailed above. Habitus like L. sayana . Head with small, indistinct, hooked rostrum. Eyes small, reniform, without crystalline cones. Antennae 1 relatively short; terminal article slightly longer than preceding two combined. Antennae 2 length about 1.5x A1. Pereopod 3 similar to P4; basis length about twice merus; carpus slightly longer than merus; propodus slightly longer than carpus; dactylus short, length about 0.2x propodus. Pereopods 5–7 with stout articles with longitudinal ridges; the dactyls are stout and non-retractile and the propodus is without spoon-shaped formation. Pereopod 5 similar in length to P4; basis length about 1.8x merus; carpus slightly longer than merus; propodus length 1.2x carpus; dactylus short, stout, slightly curved. Pereopod 6; length 1.2x P5; basis length 1.5x merus; carpus length 1.4x merus; propodus length 1.2x carpus; dactylus as for P5. Pereopod 7; length 0.6x P6; basis length slightly more than twice merus; carpus length 1.7x merus; propodus length 1.3x carpus; dactylus as for P5. Uropoda with relatively broad rami, especially U3. Telson rounded; length 0.7x peduncle of U3.

Colour of living specimens not recorded.

Remarks. I have not seen any specimens of this species but accept its validity based on the observations of Vinogradov (1970).

This species is distinguished from all of its congeners by the non-retractile dactyls of pereopods 5–7, and in this character is atypical of the genus Lanceola . However, its removal from Lanceola is not warranted at this stage because it superficially resembles other species of Lanceola , such as L. sayana and L. pacifica . The loss or reduction of retractile and hooded dactyls is also seen in pereopod 5 of L. sphaerica , L. chelifera and L. gruneri sp. nov., but in these species retractile and hooded dactyls are maintained for pereopods 6 & 7.

Distribution. Only known from the Kurile-Kamchatka region of the Pacific Ocean, from two specimens as detailed above.