“Natatolana nammuldi n. sp.
Material examined. Crib Point, Western Port, Vic., CPBS Stns: 21N, 4 mancas (5.0, 6.0, 6.5, 6.9 mm); 22N, 2 females (20.2 ovig., 21.8 mm); 300/865, female (15.5 mm); 300/1270, female (12.6 mm); 31N/1, female (13.6 mm); 31N/770, female (17.9 mm); 31N/867, female (24.5 mm); 31S, 2 female (19.9, 18.5 mm); 32N, 4 mancas (5.0, 6.9, 6.9, 7.0 mm).
Types. Holotype, female (20.2 mm) NMV J1718. Paratypes NMV J1719-J1722, J1753; AM P32363-P32365; USNM 190722.
Type locality. Western Port, Vic., 38°27'S, 145°14'E.
Description of female. Body about 3 times as long as wide, sides subparallel. Cephalon with small median rostral point; impressed line behind anterior margin, 2 further lines run from dorsal surface of each eye. Pereonites 1, 5 and 6 subequal in length and longer than pereonites 2-4 and 7; pereonite 1 with lateral impressed lines, the lower of which runs entire length of segment; pereonites 2-7 with short impressed line running from centre of each segment. Coxae each with impressed line, running 0.75 length of coxae; coxae extending beyond posterior border of pereonite except for pereonites 6-7. Pleonites all visible; posterolateral margins of pleonites 2-4 with impressed line; lateral margins of pleonite 4 produced posteriorly, dorsal side of projection gently rounded, ventral side nearly straight. Pleotelson narrows smoothly to point, on either side of which lie 4 spines, set amongst fringing setae.
Antennule short, extending posteriorly to middle of eye, peduncle article 2 shortest, article 3 as long as combined lengths of articles 1 and 2; article 2 with large sensory seta; flagellum of about 12 articles, provided with numerous aesthetascs. Antenna peduncle article 5 little longer than article 3-4, posterior margin of article 4 with 3 setae; posterodistal margin of article 5 with 2 large sensory setae; flagellum extends to posterior of pereonite 2 composed of about 23 articles.
Frontal lamina medially constricted, widening anteriorly, forming gently rounded point. Maxilliped endite with 2-3 coupling hooks.
Pereopod 1 basis with group of setae on posterodistal angle, setae along anterior margin; ischium anterodistal margin without spines; merus with 6 blunt and 3 small acute spines on posterior margin and single robust spine at anterodistal angle; carpus with 2 spines on posterior margin; propodus with setae on anterodistal margin, palm with 4 long acute spines and distal serrate spine opposing dactylus, further groups of stiff setae lie submarginally on lateral surface. Pereopods 2-3 similar to 1, but increasingly spinose; carpus becomes progressively longer, palm of propodus without spines. Pereopod 4 with ischium, merus and carpus armed with numerous stout spines, propodus with spines on posterior margin. Pereopod 6 longer than 5 and 7. Pereopod 7 basis greatly expanded; anterior margin with proximal two thirds slightly concave, entire length of margin with plumose setae; lateral surface with medial row of setae; posterior margin with short setae, except distal angle which has long plumose setae; posterior margins of ischium and merus with spines and setae, anterior margins with setae only; distal angles of ischium, merus and carpus with groups of spines, propodus with 2 groups of spines on posterior margin, and third group opposing dactylus.
Uropods extend very slightly beyond telson apex. Exopod narrow, slightly shorter than endopod, lateral margin very slightly concave, provided with 5 spines set amongst continuous fringe of setae, medial margin with 3 spines and continuous fringe of setae. Endopod lateral margin with setae extending distal two thirds of its length, armed with 4 spines and sensory seta, medial margin slightly convex, with 6 spines set amongst marginal setae. Ventrolateral angle of peduncle with 2 stout spines.
Male. Not known.
Colour. Preserved specimens are deep salmon or pale tan.
Size. Largest specimen 24.5 mm, largest manca 7.0 mm.
Remarks. Natatolana nammuldi is distinguished from N. woodjonesi by having more acute uropodal rami, a longer uropodal exopod, less acute posterolateral margins of pleonite 4, and by having 8 marginal spines on the pleotelson (not 4 as in N. woodjonesi). Natatolana wowine is also very similar, but the present species can be separated by the far more acute telson and uropods and by the difference in shape of the lateral margins of pleonite 4, which in N. wowine are broadly rounded.
Distribution. Known only from Western Port, Vic.
Etymology. Nammuldi is an Aboriginal word meaning hidden, and alludes to the fact that this species was "hidden" within N. woodjonesi.”
(Bruce, Niel, 1986: 113)
