dcsimg

Description

provided by NMNH Antarctic Invertebrates

“Genus Melinantipoda, new genus

Type Melinantipoda antarctica, new species

Dorsal hooks are absent. The fourth segment has a transverse, dorsal membrane with marginal serrations. Branchiae number four pairs and each is subulate, tapering distally. The thorax consists of 17 setigerous segments of which the first two have transverse rows of minute uncini; the third and fourth segments have similar rows of uncini and minute notosetae, and the first normal uncini are present from the sixth setiger, present on 16 thoracic segments. A broad, collarlike flange, representing the anterior edge of the first setigerous segment, partly conceals the ventral side of the peristomium. The oral cavity is largely occupied by a broad, fleshy membrane; to it are dorsally attached the long, longitudinal grooved oral tentacles. Thoracic uncini have three or four teeth in a single row. Melinantipoda differs from Melinnoides Benham, 1927, which lacks a crest and has two pairs of branchiae. Melinnides Wesenberg-Lund, 1950, has thorax with only 16 setigerous segments; Melinnopsis McIntosh, 1885, lacks a transverse dorsal membrane, and Melinnexis Annenkova, 1931, has a conspicuous proboscidial median oral tentacle.”

(Hartman, 1967)