Verum australicum (Hoek, 1883) Figure 27

Scalpellum australicum Hoek, 1883: 118, pl. V, fig. 11. - Weltner 1922: 63. - Nilsson-Cantell 1938: 7.

Verum australicum . - Zevina, 1981: 223-224, fig. 160. - Jones et al. 1990: 5. - Jones 1992: 156-160, figs 7-8. - Jones 2012: 371, 376. - Shalaeva and Boxshall 2014: 52, fig. 36.

Material examined.

- Tanimbar Island: 1 specimen, MNHN-IU-2019-4930, Stn. CP 86, 09°26'S, 131°13'E, 223-225 m depth, 4 November 1991.

Diagnosis.

Capitulum with 13 plates closely locked together, surface smooth with slightly prominent ridges; carina simply bowed with flat roof; upper latus trapeziform; inframedian latus elongate, narrow; carinal latus with umbo projecting beyond carina.

Description.

Capitulum elongate-oval, flat with distinct ridges and furrow. Scutum slightly convex, umbo apical, occludent margin arched. Tergum triangular, umbo apical, distinctly recurved. Rostral latus irregularly quadrangular; infra median latus narrow, umbo near base; carinal latus quadrangular. Peduncle slightly conical, short, scales near capitulum larger than those near base. Cirrus I unequal, anterior ramus oval, posterior ramus more slender; cirri II to VI very long, rami subequal, segments elongate; cirrus VI with caudal appendages. Maxillule not notched, large spine on upper side, cutting edge almost straight; mandible with three large teeth excluding inferior angle. Measurements of specimen: height of capitulum 10.33 mm, width 6.09 mm, thickness 2.08 mm; length of peduncle 4.62 mm, width 2.24 mm.

Distribution.

Indian Ocean, Western; Pacific Western Central and Southeast; Zanzibar; known depth range 463-2,561 m (Shalaeva and Boxshall 2014). In this study, Verum australicum was found at Tanimbar Island, Indonesia.

Type locality.

between New Guinea and Australia (12°08'S, 145°10'E): Challenger station 184: depth: 2,561 m: bottom temperature: 1.8 °C; substrate grey ooze (Hoek 1883).