Achelia megova (Hilton 1943)

Achelia megova (Hilton)

Ammothea megova Hilton, 1942g:95–96.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Alaska, Port Etcher, coll. W.H. Dall, sta 669 (1140), 22–33 m, 1874 (1, holotype, USNM 81492); Aleutians, Amchitka Island, Constantine Harbor, coll. W.H. Dall, sta 305 (1049), 5 Aug 1873 (7 with eggs, 1, 3 juv, non-types).

DISTRIBUTION.—Known from Amchitka Island in an unknown but shallow depth, and “Port Etcher” (probably Port Etches, Prince William Sound, Gulf of Alaska, 60°20′N, 146°37′W), in 22 to 33 m. The species apparently has not been taken since these specimens were reported by Hilton. He listed another male from Attu Island that is actually a specimen of A. alaskensis.

DESCRIPTION.—Species fairly small, leg span about 11 mm. Trunk oval in dorsal view, lateral processes closely crowded except distally, armed, as cephalic segment anterior and dorsal abdomen, with field of short dorsodistal spines each on raised button tubercle. Ocular tubercle very low, wider at base than tall, eyes prominent. Proboscis egg-shaped, quite inflated. Abdomen moderately long, extending to tip of first coxae, fourth leg pair.

Palp segments short, with many lateral and dorsal spines, none longer than segment diameters, distal 5 segments with many short ventral setae. Chelifores small, slender, scape armed with few short lateral and distal setae, chelae bulbous, with single seta each.

Legs moderately slender, very spinose with only few spines longer than their segment diameters. First coxae with lateral line of short spines and dorsodistal group of spines on low button tubercles. Second coxae of posterior 4 legs with short ventrodistal sexual spur. Cement gland pore very tiny, on low rounded dorsodistal tubercle on femur. Propodus robust, slightly curved, with 3 heel spines, 8–9 short sole spines, and rows of lateral and dorsal spines. Claw robust, fairly short, auxiliary claws little more than half main claw length.

MEASUREMENTS (in mm).—Trunk length (chelifore insertion to tip 4th lateral processes), 1.56; trunk width (across 2nd lateral processes), 1.36; proboscis length (ventral), 1.26; abdomen length, 0.7; third leg, coxa 1, 0.44; coxa 2, 0.51; coxa 3, 0.4; femur, 0.88; tibia 1, 0.78; tibia 2, 0.79; tarsus, 0.18; propodus, 0.6; claw, 0.28.