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

sides of the one specimen. The pleotelson has – 6
RS (with the largest male having the least setae). Uropod
endopod mesial margin 7– 2 RS (mean 9), lateral
margin always 2 RS; uropod exopod mesial margin 5
or 6 RS, lateral margin 2 or 5 RS.
The robust setae on the inferior margin of the merus
are minute, and it was not possible to obtain accurate
counts under the stereomicroscope.
The holotype, the largest known specimen, was
described as having the penial openings flush with
sternite 7. There are three males in the present material,
the largest of these with the penes forming short
rectangular lobes, as illustrated. The smaller males
have the penial openings flush. Whether this is related
to age or sexual maturity is unclear.
remarks: Aegiochus beri is one of two species in the region
that have the apex of the pleotelson with a distinct
rectangular notch. Aegiochus beri is further characterised
by the following combination of characters: large
but separate eyes, elongate coxae on pereonites 6 and
7, the diamond-shaped frontal lamina with a distinct
posterior stem, the relatively long dactylus on pereopods
–3 (pereopod dactylus is .4 times as long as
the propodus) and the straight appendix masculina
which has a narrowly rounded blunt apex.
The most similar species is Aegiochus riwha sp.
nov. (p. 4 ), which is easily distinguished by having
a much shorter dactylus on pereopods –3 (pereopod
dactylus is .0 times as long as the propodus v. .4
times as long for A. beri), coxae without acute points,
the shorter coxae on pereonites 5–7 and males with a
weakly spatulate appendix masculina.
prey: Not known.
distribution: Previously recorded off southeastern
Australia. Present material from the Tasman Sea, east of
Lord Howe Island and from the Coral Sea off Queensland.
At depths between 748 and 406 metres.
Aegiochus bertrandi sp. nov. (Figs 46–48)
materiaL examined: All material from southwest of New
Caledonia, vicinity of Norfolk Ridge.
Holotype: ♂ ( 6.0 mm), Norfolk Ridge, 9°04.0’S,
63°27.50’E, 8 September 985, 260 m, MUSORSTOM
IV, stn 0 84 (MNHN Is. 5903).
Paratypes: 2 ♂ ( 2.3, 4.8 [dissected] mm), Norfolk
Ridge, 24°42.26’S, 68°09.52’E, 27 October 986, 230 m,
CHALCAL II, DW7 , coll. B. Richer de Forges (MNHN
Is.5907). ♂ ( 5. mm), 20°4 .80’S, 67°00.20’E, 4 February
989, 282 m, MUSORSTOM VI, DW399, coll. B.
Richer de Forges (MNHN Is.5906). ♂ ( 3.4 mm), Banc
Kaimon–Maru, Norfolk Ridge, 24°43’S, 68°09’E, 22
June 200 , 227–232 m, NORFOLK , DW 676, coll.
88
Lazouet, Bouchet, Richer de Forges, N.O. Alis (MNHN
Is.5902). ♀ (non-ovig. 2.8 mm), Banc Kaimon–Maru,
Norfolk Ridge, 24°44’S, 68° 0’E, 22 June 200 , 228–240
m, NORFOLK , CP 68 , coll. Lazouet, Boisselier,
Richer de Forges, N.O. Alis (MNHN Is.5900). ♂ ( 8.0
mm), Norfolk Ridge, 22°56.0’S, 67°20.0’E, 30 August
985, 300 m, MUSORSTOM IV, 0227 (MNHN Is.
5905). ♀ (ovig. 6.0 mm), Norfolk Ridge, 22°48.03’S,
67°29.03’E, 2 May 993, 299–302 m, BATHUS 2,
DW727, coll. B. Richer de Forges, N.O. Alis (MNHN
Is.5899). 2 ♂ ( 4.4, 5.8 [telson damaged] mm), Norfolk
Ridge, 23°4 .2’S, 68°00.5’E, 7 September 989, 280
m, SMIB 5, DW76, coll. B. Richer de Forges (NIWA
24007). ♀ (non-ovig. 5.2 mm), Norfolk Ridge, 23°38’S,
67°42’E, 22 May 989, 448 m, SMIB 3, DW 3, coll. B.
Richer de Forges (MNHN Is.5904). ♀ (ovig. 5.4 mm),
Norfolk Ridge, 23°4 .5’S, 67°59.4’E, 23 May 989, 338
m, SMIB 3, DW 8, coll. B. Richer de Forges, N. Vauban
(MNHN Is.590 ).
Other material (equivocal): ♀ (ovig. 5.6 mm),
Norfolk Ridge, 22°20.0’S, 68°42.3’E, 3 September
989, 255 m, SMIB 5, DW93, coll. B. Richer de Forges
(MNHN Is.5908). 2, Lagon du nord, DW 074, 9°50.8’S,
64°00.6’E, 28 m (MNHN Is.5909).
desCription: Body dorsal surfaces smooth or polished
in appearance, widest at pereonite 5, lateral margins
weakly ovate. Rostral point ventrally directed. Eyes
large, medially united, anterior clear field 21% length
of head, posterior clear field 79% length of head; each
eye made up of ~ 2 transverse rows of ommatidia,
each row with ~7 ommatidia; eye colour pale brown.
Pereonite 1 and coxae 2–3 each with posteroventral angle
right-angled. Coxae 5–7 with entire oblique carina;
posterior margins concave, posterolateral angle acute
(less than 45°). Pleon with pleonite visible in dorsal
view; pleonite 4 with posterolateral margins extending
to but not beyond posterior margin of pleonite 5;
pleonite 5 with posterolateral angles free, not overlapped
by lateral margins of pleonite 4. Pleotelson 0.9
times as long as anterior width, dorsal surface without
longitudinal carina; lateral margins weakly convex,
serrate, posterior margin converging to caudomedial
point, with 0 RS.
Antennule peduncle articles 3 and 4 .03 times as
long as combined lengths of articles and 2, article 3
2.7 times as long as wide; flagellum with 13 articles,
extending to posterior of pereonite . Antenna peduncle
article 4 .5 times as long as wide, 0.7 times as long
as combined lengths of articles –3, inferior margin 0
plumose setae, and 0 short simple setae (anterodistal
angle 5 simple + plumose); article 5 .5 times as long
as article 4, 2.3 times as long as wide, inferior margin
with palmate seta (at distal angle), anterodistal angle
with cluster of 3 short simple setae; flagellum with 19
articles, extending to pereonite 4.