Chandraniscus costlowi, George, 2004

George, Robert Y., 2004, Deep-sea asellote isopods (Crustacea, Eumalacostraca) of the north-west Atlantic: the family Haploniscidae, Journal of Natural History 38 (3), pp. 337-373 : 344-346

Chandraniscus costlowi n. sp.

(figure 5)

Diagnosis. Chandraniscus with cephalon tapering anteriorly, and with a prominent apical spine. Pleotelson shield-like and slightly longer than the posterior three pereonites. Posterolateral angles of the pleotelson produced far beyond the rounded posterior apex of the pleotelson. Uropod with tip extending far beyond the posterior margin of the pleotelson but not reaching the tip of the posterolateral angles of the pleotelson.

Material examined. Holotype: female bearing empty brood pouch, length 2.0 mm and maximum width 0.9 mm. USNM Cat. No. 138676.

Type locality. R / V Eastward Sta. G-5811, site Beta over the Carolina lower slope .

Etymology. This new species is named in honour of the carcinologist Prof. John Costlow, former director of the Duke University Marine Laboratories from which this study was launched aboard R/V Eastward.

Description of female. Body oval, with lateral margin of pereonites somewhat straight. Cephalon about as long as the first two pereonites, tapering anteriorly without any posterolateral angles and terminating apically with a prominent sharp spine. Anterior three pereonites subequal. Pereonites 4 and 5 subequal and longer than other pereonites. Pereonites 6 and 7 subequal, and shorter than any others. Pleotelson shield-like with pronounced sharp posterolateral angles. Posterior apex of pleotelson rounded. Uropods uniramous, visible dorsally and not reaching as far as the tip of the posterolateral angles of the pleotelson.

Since the type specimen lacked antennae and all the pereopods on both sides, the appendages are not described. This species will need to be redescribed when further specimens are discovered.

Remarks. Chandraniscus costlowi n. sp. has a shield-like pleotelson as in the other new species, C. eastwardae , also known from study site Beta over the Carolina lower slope. However, the body shape and the configuration of the cepahalon are features that clearly distinguish these two sympatric species. The apical spine on the cephalon in C. costlowi is sharp and very produced, but in C. eastwardae the cephalic spine is blunt and triangular.