Ceratothoa transversa (Richardson, 1901)

Hadfield, Kerry A., Bruce, Niel L. & Smit, Nico J., 2016, Redescription of poorly known species of Ceratothoa Dana, 1852 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae), based on original type material, ZooKeys 592, pp. 39-91 : 66-67

Taxon classification Animalia Isopoda Cymothoidae

Ceratothoa transversa (Richardson, 1901) species inquirenda Figure 11

Meinertia transversa Richardson, 1900: 221 [nomen nudum].

Meinertia transversa Richardson, 1901: 529-530, figs 12-13; 1905: 243, figs 250-252.- Menzies and Frankenberg 1966: 9.- Schultz 1969: 156, fig. 234.- Menzies and Kruczynski 1983: 39.

Ceratothoa transversa .- Brusca 1981: 178.- Trilles 1994: 128.

Material examined.

Holotype. United States National Museum, USA (USNM 9728) - immature specimen (17 mm TL; 7 mm W) collected from the Gulf of Mexico, Albatross Station 2395, U.S.F.C., 347 fms (635 metres), host unknown.

Distribution.

Between the Mississippi Delta and Cedar Keys, Florida ( Richardson 1900, 1901, 1905, Menzies and Frankenberg 1966, Schultz 1969).

Hosts.

Unknown.

Remarks.

Ceratothoa transversa was originally noted as having a cephalon only slightly immersed in pereonite 1; long antennae extending past pereonite 1; uropods slightly longer than the pleotelson; and a sub-triangular pleotelson.

Richardson (1900) mentioned the name Meinertia transversa without differentiating characters or figures, without type locality, type deposition or type host, referring only to an "in press" paper and as such that name is a nomen nudum. Richardson (1901) later gave a short description of the species with figures of the cephalon and pleon were given. Schultz (1969) commented that this species is probably based on a young individual and Menzies and Kruczynski (1983) further stated that this species has never been adequately illustrated and probably also represents an Aegathoa -stage specimen as uropodal rami and pleotelson are shown with setae by Richardson (1900, 1901, 1905).

Examination of the holotype confirmed that it is an immature specimen. The antennae extend into the middle of pereonite 1, the pleon is almost as wide as the pereon, there are a few setae on the uropods and pleotelson, the pleopods overlap and the appendix masculina is absent. Without an adult female to characterise the species, and no known hosts to assist in directing the collection of a new specimen, the identity of this species is uncertain and therefore Ceratothoa transversa is hereby placed into species inquirenda.