Larsmentia, Bamber, Roger N. & Marshall, David J., 2015

Bamber, Roger N. & Marshall, David J., 2015, Tanaidaceans from Brunei, V. The Leptocheliidae (Crustacea: Peracarida: Tanaidacea), with four new species, Zootaxa 3948 (3), pp. 342-360 : 359

Genus Larsmentia gen. nov.

Leptochelia elongata Larsen & Rayment, 2002: 19 –22, figs 2–4.

Diagnosis: Female: Catenariin with eyes present, pigmented. Antennule proximal flagellar segment not fused to distal peduncle article. Antenna articulated distal spine (?) on peduncular article 3. Maxilliped endite spines blunt. Cheliped carpus with naked dorsal margin. P4–6 claw. Uropod exopod two-segmented.

Type species. Leptochelia elongata Larsen & Rayment, 2002 .

Etymology. A concatenation from the names of the original authors of the species, thus Lars - (Larsen) and - ment - (Rayment) with a euphonious ending.

Gender. Feminine.

Remarks. When describing Catenarius, Bamber (2008) discussed the possible affinity of Leptochelia elongata Larsen & Rayment, 2002 , again distinguished from Catenarius by the maxilliped endite spination. It is now apparent from Ektraleptochelia and Brunarus that the maxilliped spination is not a phylogenetically characterizing feature of the Catenariinae . With an adult female antennule identical with that of Catenarius , the removal of L. elongata to the Catenariinae is now appropriate.

Larsmentia elongata comb. nov. is moved to the new genus, as it is distinguished from Ektraleptochelia in not having the antennular flagellar segments fused and having a two-segmented uropod exopod; it is distinct from Catenarius in having blunt maxillipedal endite spines, in having the dactylus and unguis of the posterior pereopods fused into a claw, and an apparently naked dorsal margin to the cheliped carpus. The setation of the pereopod ischia appears somewhat confused in the original description. The spination of the third segment of antennular peduncle of this species is unclear: Larsen & Rayment (2002) describe it as having a “seta”, which in their terminology simply means that it is articulated, but they show nothing on their figure of the antenna ( Larsen & Rayment 2002, fig. 3B).