Asteropterygion romei Kornicker 1981

Asteropterygion romei

ETYMOLOGY.—The species is named for Dom Remacle Rome.

HOLOTYPE.—USNM 157703, ovigerous female, on slides and in alcohol.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Sta 105, off Tanzania.

PARATYPES.—From off Tanzania: USNM 157704, adult male, sta 111?; USNM 157705, A-1 male, sta 59; USNM 157506, ovigerous female, USNM 157712, 2 specimens, sta 80; USNM 157707, 1 specimen, sta 79; USNM 157708, 3 specimens, sta 107; USNM 157709, 1 specimen, sta 81; USNM 157710, 1 specimen, sta 9M; USNM 157711, 2 specimens, sta 54; USNM 157713, 1 specimen, Traverse Kunduchi; USNM 157714, 2 specimens, sta 64; USNM 157715, 4 specimens, sta 24.

NON-TYPES.—USNM 157413, 1 A-1? female, sta LK-29, off Mombasa; USNM 157718, 1 early instar, sta LK-28, off Mombasa; USNM 157804, 1 juvenile, sta 103, Bab el Mandeb.

DISTRIBUTION (Figure 131).—Continental shelf off Tanzania at depths of 0.71–6 m; continental shelf off Mombasa, Kenya, at depths of ⅓–4 m; Bab el Mandeb at 24 m.

DESCRIPTION OF ADULT FEMALE (Figures 150–152).—Carapace with rib paralleling dorsal margin, rib paralleling ventral margin, and horizontal rib starting on rostrum and branching near valve middle to form 2 ribs terminating near posterior margin of valve (lateral outline of carapace shown in Figure 150a).

Ornamentation: Similar to that of A-1 male described herein.

Infold: Similar to that of A-1 male and A-1? female illustrated herein.

Size: USNM 157703, length 3.17 mm, height 2.41 mm, USNM 157706, length 3.35 mm, height 2.56 mm.

First Antenna (Figure 150b): 1st joint with medial and lateral hairs. 2nd joint: ventral margin with long hairs; dorsal margin with proximal hairs and 5 bristles (4 proximal, 1 distal). 3rd joint: short ventral margin with 1 short bristle; long dorsal margin with 1 proximal and 2 terminal bristles. 4th joint: short dorsal margin with 1 terminal bristle; long ventral margin with 4 short terminal bristles. 5th joint: sensory bristle with 5 short proximal filaments, 2 long distal filaments, and 2 terminal filaments, including tip of stem. 6th joint with minute medial bristle and lateral hairs along distal margin. 7th joint: a-bristle about same length as 5th joint, clawlike with rounded tip; b-bristle about same length as sensory bristle of 5th joint, with 4 marginal filaments and bifurcate tip; c-bristle reaching just past tip of sensory bristle, with 6 short marginal filaments and bifurcate tip. 8th joint: d- and e-bristles bare with blunt tips, about same length as sensory bristle; f-bristle bent dorsally in proximal part, with 6 ventral filaments and bifurcate tip; g-bristle longer than c-bristle, with 8 marginal filaments and bifurcate tip.

Second Antenna (Figure 150c): Protopodite with hairs along ventral and dorsal margins and on medial surface near both margins, and with 1 spinous, distal, medial bristle. Endopodite: 1st joint with 11 or 12 bristles; 2nd joint elongate, weakly separated from 3rd joint; 3rd joint short, with subterminal bristle with blunt tip. Exopodite: 1st joint with medial spine on distal margin; bristle of 2nd joint long, with natatory hairs and ventral spines; bristles of joints 3–8 with natatory hairs and ventral spines; 9th joint with 5 or 6 bristles (3 with natatory hairs and ventral spines, 2 or 3 with only natatory hairs); no basal spines or minute spines along distal margins of joints.

Mandible (Figure 151a): Coxale endite: no bristle present near base of ventral branch; ventral branch with proximal hairs and spines forming about 8 oblique rows; tip with 3 or 4 minute spines; ventral margin of dorsal branch with 4 or 5 low nodes proximal to small main spine; tip of dorsal branch with minute spine ventral to posterior bristle; margin between main spine and tip serrate; dorsal margin of branch with few serrations. Basale endite: tip with about 5 end-type bristles; ventral margin with 7 triaenid bristles with 1 pair of teeth much longer than others; 4 or 5 dwarf bristles present (distal of these much longer than others). Basale: ventral margin with 5 triaenid bristles (all but distal of these with 1 pair of teeth much longer than others), 1 long, spinous, distal bristle, and 4 small distal bristles; medial surface with 1 or 2 small proximal bristles near ventral margin, and long hairs forming rows near dorsal margin; dorsal margin with 7 short proximal bristles (these have bases on lateral side) and 4 distal bristles (2 long, 2 short). Exopodite hirsute, reaching distal end of 1st endopodial joint, with 2 ventral bristles (distal of these shorter than other). Endopodite: ventral margin of 1st joint with 6 bristles (2 long, proximal, 4 shorter, distal); ventral margin of 2nd joint with bristles forming 2 distal groups, each with 2 bristles; dorsal margin and medial surface near dorsal margin with numerous bristles; some of the cleaning bristles with broad marginal spines; medial surface with spines forming rows; 3rd joint with 3 long claws (2 of these with ventral spines), 1 long lateral bristle, and 2 small ventral bristles.

Maxilla (Figure 151b): Hirsute tip of epipodial appendage reaching distal bristles on dorsal margin of basale. Endite I with 3 long stout bristles and 1 minute bristle; endite II with 2 long and 2 shorter bristles; endite III with 1 long stout bristle and about 13 shorter bristles in vicinity of base of stout bristle. Basale: dorsal margin with 11 proximal bristles with bases on medial side and 6 or 7 distal bristles; medial side with 4 distal bristles (only 1 of these near ventral margin); ventral margin with 10 short bristles and 1 long terminal bristle. Exopodite with 3 bristles (1 longer than others). Endopodite: 1st joint with 3 anterior bristles and 1 long spinous beta-bristle; end joint with 5 bristles.

Fifth Limb (Figure 152): Dorsal margin of comb with 5 proximal and 6 distal bristles; hairs along middle part of dorsal margin longer than those along anterior margin; lateral side with 1 long, stout, spinous, exopodial bristle, 5 bristles near ventral margin proximal to base of stout bristle, and 2 distal bristles near ventral margin.

Sixth Limb: Anterior margin with distinct suture separating trunk and skirt, and 2nd faint suture dorsal to skirt; anterior margin of trunk dorsal to upper suture with spinous bristles forming 2 rows (10 bristles in inner row; 18 or 19 longer bristles in outer row, distal of these longer than others); margin between sutures with 4 bristles in inner row and 5 in outer row (distal of these longer than others); anterior margin of skirt just ventral to lower suture with 5 or 6 slender spinous bristles forming row parallel to anterior margin; anterior tip and ventral margin of skirt with numerous bristles; posterior tip of skirt protracted, hirsute; medial side of skirt with numerous minute bristles; 1 small spinous bristle in place of epipodial appendage. Limb similar in shape to that of adult male.

Seventh Limb: Each limb with 65 bristles, 28–38 on each side; each bristle with up to 7 bells; most joints with 2 bristles, 1 on each side, but distal joints with 4 bristles, 2 on each side, rarely with 5 bristles; the 2 bristles on 1 side of joint generally consisting of 1 long and 1 short bristle; terminus consisting of opposing combs, each with about 22 spinous teeth of various types (Figure 151c).

Furca (Figure 151d): Each lamella with 3 main claws followed by 6–10 secondary claws; main claws with teeth forming medial and lateral row along posterior margin; teeth consisting of large teeth separated by several smaller teeth; secondary claws with few teeth along anterior margin in addition to teeth along posterior margin; long medial hairs present on lamella near bases of main claws; hairs also present along edge of lamella following main claws.

Rod-shaped Organ (Figure 151e): Elongate with distinct suture proximal to widened middle part; tip narrow subrounded.

Eyes: Medial eye bare, with black pigment (Figure 151e). Lateral eye about same size as medial eye, with black pigment and about 17 ommatidia (Figure 151f).

Upper Lip: Each lobe hirsute and with anterior spines; hirsute lateral flap present on each side of mouth; middle saddle obscure on USNM 157703.

Posterior of Body (Figure 151g): Hirsute, with tapering dorsal process with long hairs at tip.

Y-Sclerite (Figure 150d): Typical for genus.

Eggs: USNM 157703 with 24 eggs in marsupium; USNM 157706 with 26 eggs in marsupium.

DESCRIPTION OF ADULT MALE (Figures 153, 154).—Carapace similar to that of adult female except for tapering posterodorsal margin (Compare male outline Figure 153a, with that of female outline, Figure 150a).

Size: USNM 157704, length 2.68 mm, height 1.94 mm.

First Antenna (Figure 153b,c): 1st joint with hairs along ventral margin. 2nd joint: ventral margin with distal hairs; dorsal margin with 5 spinous bristles. 3rd joint: short ventral margin with 1 short bristle; dorsal margin with 1 midbristle and 2 terminal bristles. 4th joint: ventral margin with 3 terminal bristles; dorsal margin with 1 terminal bristle. 5th joint: triangular; sensory bristle extremely stout, with abundant narrow filaments with rings near base. 6th joint long, narrow, with small medial bristle near dorsal margin. 7th joint: a-bristle clawlike, about same length as ventral margins of combined joints 6–8; b-bristle about twice length of a-bristle, with 5 marginal filaments and bifurcate tip; c-bristle about three times length of a-bristle, with 14 marginal filaments and bifurcate tip. 8th joint: d- and e-bristles long bare (tips broken off on USNM 157704); f-bristle bent slightly dorsally, longer than b-bristle, with about 11 marginal filaments and bifurcate tip; g-bristle similar to c-bristle.

Second Antenna (Figure 154a): Protopodite with short, distal, medial bristle, otherwise bare. Endopodite 3-jointed: 1st joint with 3 short proximal bristles; 2nd joint elongate with 5 distal bristles; 3rd joint elongate, sclerotized, with 1 long proximal filament and tip with about 7 ridges. Exopodite: 1st joint elongate with small, straight, medial spine on distal margin; 2nd joint only slightly longer than 3rd joint; bristle of 2nd joint long, with natatory hairs and few small, slender, ventral spines; bristles of joints 3–8 with natatory hairs and few small, slender, ventral spines; 9th joint with 5 bristles (3 long with natatory hairs and few ventral spines, 1 medium, and 1 short with only natatory hairs); joints 2–8 with long hairs along inner distal margin.

Mandible (Figure 153d,e): Coxale endite: no bristle present near base of ventral branch; ventral branch with spines forming 8 oblique rows, and tip with 3 minute teeth (Figure 153e); ventral margin of dorsal branch with 6 low nodes and small main spine; tip of dorsal branch ending in small spine ventral to posterior bristle; dorsal margin of branch with few serrations; margin between main spine and tip of dorsal branch serrate. Basale endite: tip with about 4 end-type bristles; ventral margin with about 7 triaenid bristles with 1 pair of teeth much longer than others; 2 dwarf bristles present (distal of these longer than other). Basale: ventral margin with 4 triaenid bristles, 1 long, spinous, distal bristle, and 3 small distal bristles; dorsal margin with 2 or 3 small proximal bristles and 3 distal bristles (2 long, 1 short). Exopodite hirsute, reaching just past distal end of 1st endopodial joint, with 2 ventral bristles (distal of these shorter than other). Endopodite: 1st joint with 6 or 7 ventral bristles; ventral margin of 2nd joint with distal bristles forming 2 groups, each with 2 bristles; dorsal margin and medial side near dorsal margin with numerous bristles; medial surface with faint spines forming rows; end joint with 3 stout claws, 1 long lateral bristle, and 2 short ventral bristles.

Maxilla and 5th Limb: Not examined in detail.

Sixth Limb (Figure 154b): In general, similar to that of female.

Seventh Limb: Each limb with about 30 bristles, 11–19 on each side; each bristle with up to 7 bells; many joints with 2 bristles, 1 on each side; terminus consisting of opposing combs, each with about 14 spinous teeth of various types.

Furca: Each lamella with 3 main claws followed by 6 secondary claws, otherwise similar to that of adult female.

Rod-shaped Organ (Figure 153f): Elongate, with suture proximal to widened middle part; tip rounded.

Eyes: Medial eye bare, pigmented black, with indentation in middle of anterior margin (Figure 153f). Lateral eye larger than medial eye, pigmented black, with about 24 ommatidia (Figure 153g).

Upper Lip (Figure 153h): Each lobe hirsute and with anterior spines; middle saddle with anterior spines; hirsute lateral flap present at each side of mouth.

Posterior of Body (Figure 153i): Similar to that of adult female.

DESCRIPTION OF A-1? FEMALE (Plates 149–152).—Carapace similar to that of adult female.

Ornamentation (Plates 150–152a,b): Similar to that of A-1 male described herein.

Infold (Plate 152c,d): Normal for genus.

Size: USNM 157413, length 2.31 mm, height 1.75 mm.

Posterior of Body: Fingerlike dorsal process cylindrical.