Agononida nielbrucei Vereshchaka, 2005

Ahyong, Shane T., 2007, Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae, Zootaxa 1593, pp. 1-54 : 11-13

Agononida nielbrucei Vereshchaka, 2005

( Fig. 6 B, C)

Agononida nielbrucei Vereshchaka, 2005: 137 –139, fig. 1, tab. 1 [type locality: NE of Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, 35°44’S, 178°30’E, 260–470 m].

Type material. NIWA 4066, H-879, ovigerous female holotype (15.6 mm), 35°44.51–44.35’S, 178°30.20– 29.75’E, 260–470 m, TAN 0107/01, 19 May 2001.

Other material examined. Norfolk Ridge: NMNZ, 1 female (16.3+ mm), W of Three Kings Islands, 34°09.14’E, 171°27.95’E, 542–554 m, TAN0308/006 #004, 12 May 2003; NMNZ, 1 male (15.2 mm), 5 females (15.5–16.8 mm), 33°23.60’S, 170°09.53’E, 605–622 m, TAN0308/125 #004, 31 May 2003; NIWA 28062, 2 males (20.8–21.6 mm), 5 females (8.2–27.3 mm), 33°23.41’S, 170°11.58’E, 469–526 m, TAN0308/ 126 #34, 31 May 2003; NIWA 28064, 11 males (15.4–25.0 mm), 16 females (11.7–26.5 mm), 33°22.61’S, 170°12.70’E, 514–540 m, TAN0308/132 #020, 1 Jun 2003; NMNZ, 2 males (13.7–17.6 mm), 2 females (10.4–15.9 mm), 33°23.60’S, 170°12.38’E, 469–490 m, TAN0308/136, 1 Jun 2003.

West Norfolk Ridge: NIWA 28061, 1 male (18.5 mm), 2 females (14.4–15.9+ mm), 32°36.49’S, 167°43.98’E, 699–707 m, TAN0308/107 #25, 29 May 2003; NMNZ, 7 males (10.1–13.2 mm), 8 females (7.7–16.6 mm), 34°17.09’S, 168°21.50’E, 785–800 m, TAN0308/141 #009, 2 Jun 2003; AM P73013, 3 females (15.1–18.8 mm), 34°37.81’S, 168°58.59’E, 508–560 m, TAN0308/149 #018, 3 Jun 2003; AM P73014, 50 males (8.0– 24.8 mm), 52 females (8.4–22.8 mm), TAN0308/154 #25; AM P73015, 8 males (8.4– 22.8 mm), 5 females (14.1–19.4 mm), TAN0308/154 #25; AM P73016, 5 males (8.2–11.2 mm), TAN0308/ 154 #080; NIWA 28063, 80 males (7.7–23.8 mm), 60 females (8.3–26.1 mm), TAN0308/154; NMNZ, 1 male (10.7 mm), 35°10.27’S, 169°29.24’E, 867–869 m, TAN0308/158 #019, 4 Jun 2003.

Remarks. Agononida nielbrucei was described on the basis of a single female specimen from northeastern New Zealand, so the present large series permits documentation of variation. The dorsal carapace spination usually consists of two median cardiac, two lateral cardiac and two (occasionally three) posterior marginal spines. In some specimens, a single median cardiac spine is present, and in females and subadult males, the posterior lateral cardiac spine may be minute or absent. Females are ovigerous by at least 15.5 mm carapace length. Sexual dimorphism of the chelipeds is evident by 22.4 mm carapace length whereby one or both chelipeds of males bears a distinct gape between the fingers and is more robust than in size-matched females. Chelipeds are generally longer in males than in females: 2.7–3.1 times carapace length (males); 2.4– 2.8 times carapace length (females). Colour pattern appears to vary allometrically in A. nielbrucei , with the carapace of specimens less than 10 mm carapace length being solid orange-red, becoming mottled or diffuse with increasing size ( Fig. 5 B, C).

Colour in life. Base colour translucent white. Pereopods with orange-red banding. Carapace solid orangered, becoming mottled or diffuse with increasing size ( Fig. 5 B, C).

Distribution. Northeastern New Zealand to the West Norfolk Ridge; 260– 800 m.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Munidopsis norfanz sp. nov., holotype male, 13.1 mm (AM). A, dorsal view. B, right lateral view. C, left antennule and antenna, ventral view. D, right third maxilliped, lateral view. E, sternum. F, right cheliped, lateral view. G, right pereopod 2. H, right pereopod 3. I, left pereopod 4. J, telson. Scales: A, B, F – I = 3.0 mm; C – E, J = 1.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. A, Agononida eminens (Baba, 1988), male, 20.7 mm, TAN 0308 / 043 (NIWA 28055). B, C, Agononida nielbrucei Vereshchaka, 2005, female 16.1 mm, male, 8.5 mm, TAN 0308 / 154 (NIWA 28063). D, Agononida marini (Macpherson, 1994), female, 19.0 mm, TAN 0308 / 126 (NIWA 28072). E, Agononida procera Ahyong & Poore, 2004, female, 21.4 mm, TAN 0308 / 89 (NIWA 28073).