Natatolana nukumbutho Bruce & Olesen, 1995

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 208-209

Natatolana nukumbutho Bruce & Olesen, 1995

Natatolana nukumbutho Bruce & Olesen, 1995: 212 , figs. 1–4.

Type material. Holotype: 3, 12.3 mm, ZMUC CRU580 (not examined) . Paratypes: 3, 13.2 mm, ZMUC CRU581 ; 9, ZMUC CRU582 (Bruce & Olesen (1995) list 13 specimens: 233 and 11♀♀) (not examined); 3, AM P43423, (Bruce & Olesen (1995) list one male and one female) (examined). Type locality: off Lauthala Bay , Suva, Fiji, 18°13'S 178°29'E, [baited trap], 470 m, [Institute of Marine Research, University of the South Pacific, 23 Jan. 1981] .

Diagnosis. Eyes: well developed; elongate, length c. 2× height. Interocular furrow: well developed, extending across the cephalon. Frontal lamina: lateral margins medially constricted. Antenna: c. 0.4–0.43× as long as body, reaching to between the posterior of pereonite 3 and three quarters of the way along pereonite 4. Coxal plates: furrows strongly developed, on all coxae. Pleonite 4: apex forming a broad acute point. Pleotelson: broad, length 0.89× basal width; anterodorsal depression absent; anterolateral margins convex; posterolateral margins straight, markedly angled to anterolateral margins and meeting at an acute angle; apex not produced, lateral margins converging smoothly to a point; with 10–12 RS. Pereopod 2: propodus with 2 RS on palm. Pereopod 3: propodus with 2 RS on palm. Pereopod 7: basis of medium breadth, width 0.5× length; distance between anterior margin and medial carina less than between posterior margin and medial carina; posterior margin with setae completely absent along entire length. Penes: absent, vasa deferentia opening flush to surface of sternite 7 (Bruce & Olesen (1995) were unable to discern the openings of the vas deferentia as the internal structure of the specimens appeared somewhat decomposed but distinct penes are absent). Pleopod 2 appendix masculina: much shorter than endopod, 0.7–0.87× length of endopod; margins straight; slender; apex not at angle to adjacent margins, bluntly rounded. Uropods: exopod slightly shorter than endopod, 0.86× the length of the endopod.

Variation. The illustration of pereopod 7, provided by Bruce & Olesen (1995), indicates the setae on the anterior margin of the ischium are plumose. Examination of paratype specimens ( AM P43423), however, indicates that these setae are slender, without setules. Bruce & Olesen (1995) stated that pleonite 3 does not extend posteriorly beyond the posterior margin of pleonite 5. In the paratype material examined here, however, the posterodistal margin of pleonite 3 does extend beyond the posterior margin of pleonite 5 .

Size. Males 11.2 to 13.4 mm, non-ovigerous females 12.2 to 17 mm.

Remarks. Natatolana nukumbutho is very similar to N. carlenae but differs in having complete coxal furrows on all coxae, a slightly narrower basis on pereopod 7 and slightly narrower posterolateral margins on pleonite 4.

Distribution and ecology. Fiji at a depth of 470 m. Scavenger.