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

Figure 70. Aegiochus laevis (Studer, 883). NIWA 23763. A–C, pereopods , 2 and 7 respectively; D, uropod.
with close correspondence of the frontal lamina, antennule,
antenna, pereopods, pleopods and uropods. The
holotype was described as lacking robust setae on the
posterior margin of the pleotelson, whereas one New
Zealand specimen has two robust setae; it is common
for such setae to be missing from old specimens and
this is not here regarded as being definitive in the holotype.
The North Cape specimen (BMNH) has a ‘rubbed’
pleotelson that lacks robust setae, though indentations
suggest that it too may have had two robust setae. An
abbreviated description is given here to allow ready
identification.
There are four other New Zealand species with
digitate pleopods — A. insomnis sp. nov., A. nohinohi
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sp. nov., A. gordoni sp. nov. and A. coroo (Bruce, 983)
(and also Aegiochus bertrandi sp. nov, which is within
the northern reaches of the New Zealand chart area).
Of these, A. coroo has large medially united eyes, and
all except A. nohinohi have relatively weak or minute
robust setae on pereopods –3. Aegiochus nohinohi has a
more slender body shape, larger eyes, the robust setae
on pereopods –3 are smaller and the posterior margin
of the pleotelson lacks robust setae.
prey: Not known.
distribution: Northern New Zealand, northwards to
Queensland, Australia; potentially widespread in the