The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Isopoda, Aegidae (Crustacea)

of ischium–carpus with short RS. Pereopod 6 similar to
pereopod 7 (slightly longer with slightly more RS).
Pereopod 7 basis 2.9 times as long as greatest width,
inferior margins with 8 palmate setae; ischium 0.5 as
long as basis, inferior margin with 2 RS (as and ),
superior distal angle with 3 RS, inferior distal angle
with 4 RS; merus .2 as long as ischium, 3.6 times as
long as wide, inferior margin with 2 RS (set as and
), superior distal angle with 6 RS, inferior distal angle
with 5 RS; carpus . as long as ischium, 3.5 times as
long as wide, inferior margin with 3 RS (set as and
2), superior distal angle with 6 RS, inferior distal angle
with 7 RS; propodus 0.9 as long as ischium, 4.7 times
as long as wide, inferior margin with 3 RS (set as and
2), superior distal angle with 3 slender setae (2 slender,
plumose), inferior distal angle with 3 RS.
Penes opening flush with surface of sternite 7; penial
openings separated by 5% of sternal width.
Pleopod 1 exopod 2.2 times as long as wide, distally
narrowly rounded, mesial margin weakly oblique,
lateral margin straight, mesial margin strongly convex,
with PMS on distal half, with ~50 PMS; endopod 2.
times as long as wide, distally rounded, lateral margin
weakly concave, with PMS on distal one-third, mesial
margin with PMS on distal one-third, endopod with
~30 PMS; peduncle .6 times as wide as long, mesial
margin with 6 coupling hooks (and 2 PMS). Pleopod 2
exopod with ~65 PMS, endopod with ~38 PMS; appendix
masculina basally swollen (sinuate), .2 times as long
as endopod, distally acute. Pleopod 3 exopod with ~68
PMS, endopod with ~ 8 PMS. Pleopod 4 exopod with
~65 PMS, endopod with ~ 3 PMS. Pleopod 5 exopod
with ~55 PMS. Exopods of pleopods –3 each with
distolateral margin not digitate; endopods of pleopods
3–5 each with distolateral point; pleopods 2–4 peduncle
distolateral margin with prominent acute RS.
Uropod peduncle ventrolateral margin with 3 RS
(and single slender seta), posterior lobe about one-third
as long as endopod. Endopod apically not bifid, lateral
margin straight, without prominent excision, proximal
lateral margin with RS, distal lateral margin with
RS, mesial margin weakly convex, with 7 RS. Exopod
not extending to end of endopod, 3.0 as long as greatest
width, apically not bifid; lateral margin weakly convex,
with RS; mesial margin weakly convex, with 5 RS.
femaLe: Ovigerous females’ BL is twice as long as the
greatest width, with ovate lateral margins; otherwise
similar in appearance to males other than for the sexual
characters. Brood pouch of oostegites arising from the
coxae/sternite of pereopods –5.
size: Males 9.5– 4.8 mm (mean = 2.2 mm, n = 8);
ovigerous females 3.0– 6.0 mm (mean = 5. mm,
n = 7); non-ovigerous females .6– 6.0 mm (mean =
4.0 mm, n = 5).
Variation: Robust setae: (n = 20) pleotelson RS 4+4 (60%)
or 5+5 (30%) with 4+5 occurring twice; apical pair of
setae small; the pleotelson apex is often damaged.
Uropod exopod (n = 37) mesial margin with 4 (27%), 5
(49%) or 6 ( 9%) with 3 twice; lateral margin (27%)
or 2 (68%), one specimen with 3; uropod endopod
mesial (n = 38) margin varied from 5 to 8 RS with 6
(45%) or 7 (36%) the most frequent, lateral margin with
+ on all but one specimen. There is no discernable
difference between males and females, nor does the
number of RS increase with the size of the specimen.
remarks: The united eyes, truncate posterior margins
of coxal plates 2 and 3, noticeably slender pereopods,
relatively narrow frontal lamina with the posterior
margin forming a transverse ridge rather than a distinct
blade, distinctive long and sinuate appendix masculina
in the males and the setation of robust setae on the
uropods and pleotelson all allow ready identification
of A. kanohi.
The only similar New Zealand species with large
eyes is Aegiochus kakai sp. nov., and that species is immediately
distinguished by having far smaller eyes,
a wider frontal lamina, the clear space distal to the
palmate seta on the uropod endopod lateral margin is
straight (concave in A. kakai), the posteroventral angles
of pereonite and coxae 2–4 each with prominent and
acute points, and a straight appendix masculina.
Other similar species are Aegiochus coroo (Bruce,
983) from southeastern Australia and Aegiochus synopthalma
(Richardson, 909) from Japan. The former
lacks robust setae on the pleotelson, has more robust
pereopods, pleopodal exopods are strongly digitate
and the appendix masculina is shorter and straight. The
latter species, known only from the female holotype,
has a longer frontal lamina, the uropod endopod lateral
margin has 4 robust setae (compared to 2 in A. kanohi
sp. nov.) as well as having fewer robust setae on the
uropodal exopod lateral margin (8 v. 2).
prey: Not known.
distribution: Recorded from the Chatham Rise, off
eastern South Island, and east of Hawkes Bay, North
Island, New Zealand; also off southern New Caledonia;
at depths from to 4 3 to 064 metres.
etymoLogy: Kanohi is a Mäori word for ‘eye’; noun in
apposition.
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