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

0 acute RS (2 simple setae); carpus similar in size to
that of pereopod , inferodistal angle with 2 RS (set
on inferodistal lobe). Pereopod 3 similar to pereopod 2;
propodus without large club-shaped distal RS.
Penes low, mutually adjacent tubercles.
Pleopod 1 exopod 2.6 times as long as wide, distally
narrowly rounded, mesial margin weakly oblique,
lateral margin straight, mesial margin strongly convex,
with PMS from distal half; endopod 2.6 times as long
as wide, distally narrowly rounded, lateral margin
sinuate, with PMS from distal one-third, mesial margin
with PMS on distal one-third; peduncle .8 times as
wide as long, mesial margin with 9 coupling hooks.
Pleopod 2 appendix masculina basally swollen, .04
times as long as endopod, distally acute (with acute
scales mid-length).
Uropod peduncle ventrolateral margin with 3 RS,
posterior lobe about one-third as long as endopod.
Uropod rami not extending beyond pleotelson, marginal
setae in single tier, apices acute. Endopod apically
sub-bifid, mesial process prominent, lateral margin
sinuate, without prominent excision, proximal lateral
margin with RS, distal lateral margin with 3 RS,
mesial margin straight, with 7 RS. Exopod extending
to end of endopod, 3.2 times as long as greatest width,
apically sub-bifid, mesial process prominent; lateral
margin weakly convex, with 2 RS; mesial margin
convex, with 6 RS.
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remarks: A full description of Aegiochus glacialis has
been given by Brandt ( 99 ). The species is readily
separated from A. antarctica, the only other Antarctic
species, by the far larger eyes, the inferior margin of
the carpus of pereopods 2 and 3 being lobate and the
distal margin of the palm of pereopod being weakly
lobed (compared to not lobed in A. antarctica); adult
A. glacialis are also somewhat larger than A. antarctica
with an adult size exceeding 30 mm (maximum here
of 37 mm), while A. antarctica has not been recorded
at a size greater than 24 mm.
Aega australis Richardson, 906 is not a synonym
of Aegiochus glacialis, contrary to the synonymy given
by Brandt ( 99 ) for Aegiochus glacialis, but a junior
homonym of Aega australis Whitelegge, 90 , a valid
species, and a junior subjective synonym of Aegiochus
antarctica [Brandt ( 99 ) did not give a synonymy for
A. antarctica].
distribution: Multiple records from the Ross Sea and
the Weddell Sea; the most northerly record is at approximately
72° South (Brandt 99 —though not all
station data are provided for Brandt’s material); depth
range 5–700 m (Brandt 99 ).