Lophomeniinae sp. (NHM_027)

Wiklund, Helena, Taylor, John D., Dahlgren, Thomas G., Todt, Christiane, Ikebe, Chiho, Rabone, Muriel & Glover, Adrian G., 2017, Abyssal fauna of the UK- 1 polymetallic nodule exploration area, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, central Pacific Ocean: Mollusca, ZooKeys 707, pp. 1-46 : 27

Lophomeniinae sp. (NHM_027)

Material examined.

NHM_027 NHMUK 20170079.1-2, collected 2013-10-09, 13.8372 -116.55843, 4336 m. http://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/319fd186-b07f-4be7-986c-b96c20f63723

Description.

Voucher specimen NHM_027, small, probably juvenile, solenogaster specimen (Fig. 26). Main epidermal sclerites are very long hollow acicular spicules with simple pointed tips. Spicules slender, s-shaped and thin-walled; tips long and thin. Leaf-shaped pedal scales present. Data and material, including a permanent preparation of sclerites (1 slide), made available for future study.

Genetic data.

GenBank NHM_027 COI-MF157500.

Remarks.

Forms a unique monophyletic clade distinct from other AB01 specimens (Fig. 27). No genetic matches on GenBank. Body shape and sclerites are characteristic for the family Pruvotinidae and indicative of the subfamily Lophomeniinae . Placement as sister to Hypomenia , another pruvotinid species, in the phylogenetic analysis (Fig. 27) confirms the family-level affiliation.

Ecology.

Specimen collected from an epibenthic sledge tow across region of sediment and polymetallic nodules.