“Parasterope whatleyi Kornicker, new species
Figures 64-66
ETYMOLOGY.—Named for Dr. Robin Whatley, University College of Wales, for his contributions to the study of Ostracoda.
HOLOTYPE.—NMV J36011, undissected adult female in alcohol.
TYPE LOCALITY.—Slope 53, 34°52.72'S, 151°15.04'E,New South Wales, 54 km ESE of Nowra; depth 996 m.
PARATYPES.—Slope 53: USNM 194012, adult female on slide and in alcohol plus male and female choniostomatid copepods in alcohol; USNM 194013, adult male on slide and in alcohol; NMV J36012, adult partly dissected female plus male choniostomatid in alcohol; NMV J37721, 2 undissected juveniles in alcohol.
DISTRIBUTION.—Slope 53,996 m.
DESCRIPTION OF ADULT FEMALE.— Carapace pear shape in lateral view.
Infold: Rostral infold with 5 bristles along list, 5 bristle between list and incisur, and 13 bristles dorsal to list, all bristles with single pointed tips. Anteroventral infold with 13 bristles between list and valve edge. Narrow list with anterior end ventral to incisur, narrow list continues along ventral margin then broadens along posteroventral corner of valve. Ventral infold with 10 bristles (posterior bristle in row lies near anterior end of broad list). Broad posteroventral list with about 25 wide flat triangular diaphanous bristles (some quite small); about 10 bristles between diaphanous bristles (not more than 1 or 2 bristles between each pair of diaphanous bristles); each valve with 1 bristle on infold between broad list and valve edge near dorsal end of broad list. Outer edge of posterior infold with about 8 broad pore canals and many narrow canals, all leading to valve edge.
Selvage: Narrow lamellar prolongation with long marginal hairs at inner end of ventral margin of incisur.
Vestment: Row of long spines at anterodorsal corner proximal to upper part of rostral infold.
Central Adductor Muscle Attachments: Each valve with about 14 oval attachments just anterior to midlength.
Carapace Size (length, height in mm): Slope 53: NMV J36011 (holotype), 1.54, 1.16, height 75% of length; USNM 194012, 1.55, 1.13, height 73% of length; NMV J36012, 1 partly dissected specimen, 1.56, 1.19, height 76% of length. Length range 1.54-1.56, height range 1.13-1.19; range of height as percent of length 73-76.
First Antenna: 1st joint with numerous spines on medial surface. 2nd joint with dorsal spines, row of short lateral spines along distal edge, 1 long dorsal bristle with long spines, and 1 bare distal lateral bristle. Combined 3rd and 4th joints quadrate, separated by slightly concave sutures on both lateral and medial sides; 3rd joint with few minute spines proximal to small bare bristle on short ventral margin, and 6 bristles (2 single then 2 pairs; medial of terminal pair with short spines, others with long spines) on long dorsal margin. 4th joint with slightly concave distal edge, with 1 long dorsal bristle with short spines, and 2 shorter bare ventral bristles. 5th joint with distal row of minute spines perpendicular to dorsal margin and small spines at distal dorsal corner; sensory bristle fairly short, with 6 terminal filaments. Medial bristle of 6th joint long spinous (proximal part shown). 7th joint: a-bristle claw-like, slightly shorter than bristle of 6th joint; b-bristle 1/3 longer than a-bristle, with 4 long marginal filaments (proximal filament slenderer than others); c-bristle about 1/3 longer than sensory bristle of 5th joint, more than twice length of a-bristle, with 5 short marginal filaments. 8th joint: d-bristle represented by minute peg; e-bristle reaching tip of sensory bristle of 5th joint, bare with blunt tip; minute lateral pore near bases of d- and e-bristles; f-bristle bent dorsally, tip missing on both limbs of USNM 194012, 3 short filaments on remaining part; g-bristle same length as c-bristle, with 6 marginal filaments, (b-bristle of 7th joint, and f- and g-bristles of 8th joint not shown.)
Second Antenna: Protopodite without spines, with small distomedial bristle. Endopodite distinctly 3-jointed with long terminal filament near distal dorsal corner. Exopodite: Bristle of 2nd joint reaching 7th joint, with numerous slender ventral spines; bristles of joints 3-8 with natatory hairs, some with few minute indistinct ventral spines; 9th joint with 3 bristles (1 long and 1 medium with natatory hairs, 1 short bare); joints 4-8 with minute basal spines (spine of 8th joint about 1/6 length of 9th joint); 9th joint with small lateral spine about 1/3 length of joint; 3rd joint with medial row of minute spines along distal edge; joints 3-7 with minute indistinct spines on distal dorsal corner.
Mandible: Coxale endite obscured on left limb of USNM 194012 and broken off on right limb as well as on both limbs of a second specimen. Basale endite with 4 subequal end bristles, 1 dwarf bristle, glandular peg, and 2 triaenid bristles (1 on each side of glandular peg) with small spines. Basale: ventral margin with 1 triaenid bristle (with 7 pairs of slender spines proximal to terminal pair) near endite and proximal to U-shaped boss; dorsal margin with 2 long terminal bristles (bare or with few spines); medial surface with rows of hairs in dorsal half. Exopodite about % length of dorsal margin of 1st endopodial joint, hirsute distally, with 2 small subterminal bristles. 1st endopodial joint with 3 ventral bristles (shortest with short spines, others with short proximal and long distal spines). 2nd endopodial joint: Ventral margin with 3 long terminal bristles with short spines; dorsal margin with 1 short proximal bristle and stout a-, b-, c-, and d-bristles; medial surface near dorsal margin with 1 short cleaning bristle adjacent to b-bristle, 2 or 3 short cleaning bristles (longest with stout distal spines) adjacent to c-bristle, and 1 long g-bristle adjacent to d-bristle; medial surface also with rows of spines; lateral surface near dorsal margin with long e-bristle between b-and c-bristles, and long f-bristle between c-and d-bristles. 3rd endopodial joint with stout slightly curved dorsal claw with proximal ventral spines, 4 stout spinous bristles, and 1 slender shorter spinous bristle.
Maxilla: Epipodite well developed, hirsute distally. Endite I with 4 bristles (3 long, 1 short); endite II with 3 long bristles; 1 minute bristle between endites. Basale with 1 medial bristle near dorsal margin, 1 long ventral proximal backward-pointing bristle, 1 shorter distal ventral bristle (not observed on illustrated right limb of USNM 194912), and 1 long spinous terminal ventral bristle; lateral side with 1 short proximal bristle near midheight. Endopodite: 1st joint with small alpha-bristle and long beta-bristle; 2nd joint with very long terminal bristle. (Distal part of illustrated right limb twisted.)
Fifth Limb: Comb with stout spinous exopodial bristle just reaching past tip of comb, 2 short slender bristles just ventral to base of stout bristle, and 4 lateral bristles set back from edge at comb midlength.
Sixth Limb: Slender medial bristle in proximal anterior corner. Anterior margin of stem with well-defined upper and lower sutures (especially lower) each with small bare bristle. Lateral flap with hairs but no bristles. Anterior tip of skirt with 2 small spinous bristles (anterior bristle longer and stouter); ventral and posteroventral margin with 17 or 18 spinous bristles (posterior 6 with long spines to tip, others with long proximal and short distal spines). Limb hirsute.
Seventh Limb: Each limb with 12 or 13 bristles (6 distal, 3 on each side; 6 or 7 proximal, 3 or 4 on each side); each bristle with 2-4 bells and spines on "clapper" of terminal bell. Terminal segment cone-shape; each comb with about 9 small teeth, some with proximal marginal spines.
Furca: Each lamella with 9 claws; 3 posterior claws bristle-like, recurved; claws 1-6 with teeth along posterior edge (not shown); claws 1-3 with few long slender teeth between rows of smaller teeth, and slender spines along anterior edge (not shown); right lamella anterior to left by width of base of claw 1; anterior edge of each lamella bare.
Bellonci Organ: Elongate, crenulate proximally, tapering to rounded tip.
Eyes: Lateral eyes absent Medial eye well developed, bare, with light amber color near middle.
Lips: Upper lip: Saddle between lobes with anterior spine; each lobe hirsute, with 2 anterior spines. Lower lip a hirsute flap on each side of mouth.
Genitalia: Light amber oval area on each side of body anterior to furca.
Posterior of Body: Posterodorsal comer just dorsal to posterior end of girdle with row of long spines and also shorter spines dorsal to row.
Y-Sclerite: Anterior end truncate.
Gills: 5 small amber-colored gills on each side of body.
Eggs: USNM 194012 with about 8 large unextruded eggs.
Parasites: USNM 194012 with adult male and female choniostomatid copepods in marsupium. NMV J36012, partly dissected adult female with male choniostomatid.
DESCRIPTION OF ADULT MALE.—Carapace oval in lateral view, with greatest height at midlength; incisur more open than that of female.
Infold: Not examined.
Central Adductor Muscle Attachments: Each valve with about 15 oval attachments at midlength.
Carapace Size (length, height in mm): USNM 194013, 1.41, 0.96, height 68% of length.
First Antenna: 1st joint bare. 2nd joint with dorsal spines, short lateral row of small spines along distal edge near dorsal margin, dorsal bristle with long spines, and lateral bristle with short spines. 3rd joint with 5 or 6 long spinous bristles on long dorsal margin and small bare bristle on short ventral margin. 4th joint short oblique, with long dorsal bristle with short spines and 2 short bare ventral bristles. 5th joint short oblique (longer on medial side); sensory bristle with abundant narrow filaments (not shown) and very stout stem. 6th joint long, with long bare medial bristle; sclerotized edge of ventral margin of joint broader in proximal half. 7th joint: a-bristle about same length as bristle of 6th joint, claw-like with few indistinct proximal spines along dorsal edge; b-bristle about 1/3 longer than a-bristle, with 5 marginal filaments; c-bristle about twice length of stem of sensory bristle of 5th joint, with 9 marginal filaments with broad proximal part followed by 5 slender marginal filaments. 8th joint: d-bristle represented by minute peg; e-bristle same length as a-bristle, bare with blunt tip; f-bristle about 1/2 length of c-bristle, with 8 slender marginal filaments; g-bristle about 2/3 length of c-bristle, with 9 marginal filaments (proximal 3 filaments slightly broader in proximal 1/3).
Second Antenna: Protopodite with short distal medialbristle. Endopodite 3-jointed: 1st joint bare; 2nd joint broad distally, with 3 bare lateral bristles near ventral margin; 3rd joint reflexed on 2nd joint, with long proximal filament and narrow tip with 2 small ridges on inner edge. Exopodite: Bristles of joints 2-9 with natatory hairs; 9th joint with 4 bristles (2 long, 1 medium, 1 short dorsal); joints 2-8 with small basal spines; spine of 8th joint about 1/6 length of 9th joint; lateral spine of 9th joint 1/3 to l/2 length of joint; joints 2-8 with minute spines on distal dorsal comer and long hairs along distal dorsal margin.
Mandible: Coxale endite broken off on both limbs of USNM 194013; small ringed bristle at base of ventral branch. Basale endite similar to that of adult female; each triaenid bristle with 6 pairs of slender spines proximal to terminal pair. Basale and exopodite similar to those of adult female. 1st endopodial joint with 3 ventral bristles (shortest with few long proximal spines followed by short spines; longest with long spines, other with short proximal and long distal spines). 2nd endopodial joint: Ventral margin with 3 long terminal bristles with short spines; dorsal margin with 2 proximal bristles (1 short and 1 medium) and a- to g-bristles similar to those of adult female; medial surface with 1 or 2 short cleaning bristles adjacent to b-bristle, 3 cleaning bristles adjacent to c-bristle (longest with stout distal spines), and rows of spines. 3rd endopodial joint similar to that of adult female except left limb of USNM 194013 with 3 instead of 4 stout bristles.
Maxilla and Fifth Limb: Similar to those of adult female.
Sixth Limb: Ventral and posteroventral margin with 14-16 bristles. Limb otherwise similar to that of adult female.
Seventh Limb: Each limb with 11 bristles (5 distal, 2 or 3 on each side; 6 proximal, 3 on each side); each bristle with 2-4 bells. Terminal segment similar to that of adult female.
Furca: Similar to that of adult female except claw 1 without teeth along posterior edge.
Bellonci Organ, Lips, Posterior of Body, and Y-Sclerite: Similar to those of adult female.
Genitalia: Copulatory limbs coalesced proximally, separating distally into 2 lobes, each with 1 bristle.
Gills: About 6 small gills on each side of body.
COMPARISONS.—The 6th limb of the female P. whatleyi bears a total 17 or 18 bristles along the ventral and posteroventral margin compared to 25 on P. longungues Poulsen (1965, fig. 127a). The small teeth of the terminal combs of the 7th limb and the small gills of P. whatleyi resemble those of P. longungues; Poulsen (1965:387) interpreted the slight development of the teeth of the combs of the 7th limbs of the specimen that he described as indicating it to be the last juvenile stage. He also interpreted the lack of endite bristles on the 6th limb of his specimen to indicate a last juvenile stage; however, on another member of the subfamily both endite bristles already appeared on the A-4 instar (Hiruta, 1979:117), so I think it likely that if the endite bristles are lacking on the A-l instar of P. longungues, they also are lacking on the adult. A bristle is present on each of the 2 endites of the 6th limb of P. whatleyi. No previously described species of Parasterope other than P. longungues have a 7th limb with a cone-shaped tip and small weakly developed comb teeth similar to those of P. whatleyi. Previously described species herein also differ from P. whatleyi in having lateral eyes.”
(Kornicker & Poore, 1996, p.115-120)
