Natatolana endota Bruce, 1986

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 174

Natatolana endota Bruce, 1986

Natatolana endota Bruce, 1986: 63 , figs. 38, 39.–Springthorpe & Lowry, 1994: 44.– Brusca et al., 1995: 80.– Bruce et al., 2002: 150.

Type material. Holotype: 3, 12.8 mm, AM P32172 (examined) . Paratypes: AM P10693, P10689 (examined); TM G1505 (not examined). Type locality: off Sow and Pigs Shoal, Port Jackson, NSW, Australia, 33°20'S 151°16'E, 10 m.

Diagnosis. Interocular furrow: moderately developed, distinct but not extending across the cephalon. Frontal lamina: lateral margins straight, parallel. Antenna: c. 1.3× as long as body, reaching to beyond pleotelson. Coxal plates: furrows variously developed, indistinct furrows on coxae 2–4 only. Pleonite 2: ventral posterolateral margin acute, formed into long curved process. Pleonite 4: posterodorsal margin strongly concave proximal to meeting posteroventral margin at apex; apex forming a narrow acute point. Pleotelson: broad, length 0.76× basal width; anterodorsal depression absent; anterolateral margins almost straight and angling posteriorly toward the midline; posterolateral margins straight, contiguous with anterolateral margins; apex narrowly rounded; with 4 RS. Pereopods 1–6: males with the RS on the merus of pereopods 1–3, and carpus of pereopods 4–6 shorter, than the propodus. Pereopod 2: propodus with 8 RS on palm. Pereopod 3: propodus with 8 RS on palm. Pereopod 7: basis of medium breadth, width 0.52× length; distance between anterior margin and medial carina less than between posterior margin and medial carina; posterior margin with setae on proximal half. Penes: present (although Bruce (1986) describes the vas deferens as opening flush to the surface of the sternite). Pleopod 2 appendix masculina: extending subequal with tip of endopod, 1× length of endopod; slender; margins very slightly curved laterally; apex not at angle to adjacent margins, acute. Uropods: exopod subequal to endopod, 1× the length of the endopod.

Size. Adults to 13.9 mm.

Remarks. The antennular flagellum of Natatolana endota was described by Bruce (1986) as being longer than the peduncle but the illustration provided and examination of specimens indicates that it is shorter. Natatolana endota is readily distinguished from other species in having antennae that reach beyond the pleotelson and a pleotelson with straight lateral margins that converge to a narrowly rounded apex that has four robust setae.

Distribution. Australia: Port Jackson, New South Wales; northern Tasmania At depths of 9– 23 m.