Natatolana bowmani Bruce, 1986

Keable, Stephen J., 2006, Taxonomic Revision of Natatolana (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58 (2), pp. 133-244 : 157-158

Natatolana bowmani Bruce, 1986

Natatolana bowmani Bruce, 1986: 60 , fig. 37.–Springthorpe & Lowry, 1994: 40.– Brusca et al., 1995: 80.– Bruce et al., 2002: 150.

Type material. Holotype: 3, 13.8 mm, AM P33555 . Paratypes: AM P31573–P31576, P31905. All examined. Type locality: east of Port Jackson, NSW, Australia, 33°36'S 152°05'E, 1090–1125 m .

Material examined. New South Wales: 5, AM P47296, northeast of Coffs Harbour , 30°10.94'S 153°32.27'E, 1000 m, 11–12 Aug. 1993, SEAS NSW-862; 210, AM P44364, off Wollongong, 34°33.41'S 151°21.35'E, 1000 m, 6–7 May 1993, SEAS NSW-788 . Tasmania: 29, AM P47297, east of Fortescue Bay , 43°08.96'S 145°15.36'E, 1000 m, 8–9 April 1994, SEAS TAS-403 .

Diagnosis. Eyes: vestigial. Interocular furrow: moderately developed, distinct but not extending across the cephalon. Frontal lamina: lateral margins straight, parallel, or lateral margins concave but not medially constricted, broadening anteriorly. Antenna: c. 0.38× as long as body, reaching to slightly beyond the posterior of pereonite 3 to half way along pereonite 4. Coxal plates: furrows strongly developed, on all coxae. Pleonite 4: apex forming a broad acute point, or apex slightly rounded. Pleotelson: broad, length 0.82× basal width; anterodorsal depression absent; anterolateral margins convex; posterolateral margins convex; apex not produced, lateral margins converging smoothly to a point, or produced into a small point; with 4–8 RS. Pereopod 2: propodus with 1 RS on palm. Pereopod 3: propodus with 1 RS on palm. Pereopod 7: basis narrow, width 0.38× length; distance between anterior margin and medial carina less than between posterior margin and medial carina; posterior margin with setae on distal third. Penes: present. Pleopod 2 appendix masculina: extending beyond tip of endopod, 1.03× length of endopod; slender; margins very slightly curved laterally; apex not at angle to adjacent margins, bluntly rounded. Uropods: exopod slightly shorter than endopod, 0.8× the length of the endopod.

Sexual dimorphism. Females have the pereon slightly broader than males.

Size. Mancas to 5.8 mm, males to 13.8 mm; females to 14.0 mm.

Remarks. Examination of the holotype of Natatolana bowmani indicates that the anterior apex of the frontal lamina is more angled than illustrated by Bruce (1986). The margins of the pleotelson of the holotype and some paratype material appear worn and damaged. On some of the paratypes and other specimens examined there are eight robust setae on the posterolateral margins of the pleotelson, not four as described by Bruce (1986). The vestigial eyes, presence of penes, shape of pleonite 4 and morphology of the appendix masculina are the most useful characters in differentiating N. bowmani from similar species.

Distribution and ecology. Australia: between Coffs Harbour and Port Kembla, New South Wales; and east coast of Tasmania. At depths of 880–1200 m. Scavenger.