Leptognathioides

Bird, Graham J, 2007, Family incertae cedis *, Zootaxa 1599, pp. 121-149 : 146

Leptognathioides sp.KK#1

Figure 19

Material examined. 1 non-ovigerous female (1.74 mm), station XR12, 41°37.67’– 41°37.08’N, 146°54.19’– 146°52.72’E. 5473–5484 metres, 22–23 September 2001.

Remarks. Only a single individual was recorded. The body shape ( Fig. 19 A), cheliped ( Fig. 19 B) and uropod ( Fig. 19 D) structure strongly suggest that it belongs in the genus Leptognathioides Bird & Holdich, 1984 : the robust cheliped is characterized by a short posterior basal process beneath the attachment to the lateral sclerite and a large broad tooth on incisive margin fixed-finger; the uropod exopod is two-articled rather than one-articled in L. polita ( Hansen, 1913) , L. rectus Kudinova-Pasternak, 1993 , L. potens Bird & Holdich, 1984 and L. vicina ( Hansen, 1913) but has a very short article 2, that may represent a more plesiomorphic state from an earlier evolutionary stage.

Distribution. Kurile-Kamchatka Trench, 5473–5484 metres.

Figures

FIGURE 19. Leptognathioides sp. KK # 1. A, non-ovigerous female, habitus; B, right cheliped; C, pereopod 1; D, uropod. Scale bar = 1 mm for A, 0.11 mm for B-D.