Anoplodactylus vemae Child 1982

Anoplodactylus vemae

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Argentine Slope, E of Bahía Samborombon: Vema cruise 18, sta 9, 36°17′S, 53°21′W, trawl, 676 m, 4 Feb 1962 (1 holotype, USNM 181038; 2 paratypes, USNM 181039).

DESCRIPTION.—Trunk moderately slender, unsegmented. Lateral processes separated by slightly more than their diameter, without tubercles or setae. Anterior 2 lateral processes 3 times as long as their maximum diameter, those posterior of increasingly shorter lengths. Ocular tubercle a cone, twice as tall as wide, constricted above the eyes, which are large, unpigmented. Abdomen slender, carried almost erect, with 2 distal setae.

Proboscis almost cylindrical, slightly inflated at midpoint and distally. Lips inflated. Without trace of palp buds.

Chelifore scape slender, cylindrical, armed with 2 dorsolateral setae. Chela fingers longer than palm, overlap when closed, both armed with several lateral setae, without teeth.

Ovigers very long, slender, 2nd segment 7 times longer than its diameter, 3rd segment 14 times longer. Strigilis segments increasingly setose distally, with terminal segment having many recurved setae.

Leg lightly setose dorsally and ventrally, with 1 long dorsodistal seta on each leg segment. 2nd coxa long, 4 times longer than its maximum diameter. Femur curved slightly ventrally at its midpoint where cement gland originates. Conical cement gland points distally and contains a short tube that opens out internally into the gland just below the cone surface. Femur the longest segment. Tibiae of equal length. Tarsus very short, armed with 1 ectal and 2 endal setae. Propodus long, slightly curved, with low heel bearing 2 stout spines of unequal size. Sole with 8 or 9 spines and several setae flanking a long lamina almost half sole length. Claw very long and thin, auxiliaries small.

MEASUREMENTS OF HOLOTYPE (mm).—Trunk length (chelifore insertion to tip 4th lateral processes), 2.12; trunk width (across 1st lateral processes), 1.2; proboscis length laterally, 1.02; abdomen length laterally, 0.4; 3rd leg, coxa 1, 0.31; coxa 2, 1.08; coxa 3, 0.48; femur, 1.32; tibia 1, 1.2; tibia 2, 1.21; tarsus, 0.12; propodus, 0.71; claw, 0.53.

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from the type-locality, the Argentine Slope, east of Bahía Samborombon in 676 meters.

ETYMOLOGY.—Named for the research vessel Vema of the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University, New York, from which many pycnogonids and other marine fauna have been collected.