Harpiniopsis aciculum Ren 1991

Harpiniopsis aciculum Ren, 1991

Ren, 1991 in Ren and Huang, 1991: 189, 271, 297, 312–313, fig. 53. De Broyer and JaŻdŻewski, 1993: 83.

Distribution: W (+Ba)

Bransfield Strait: 62°51.6’S 58°07.5’W, 654 m (bottom: sand, mud) (R&H 91).

Drake Passage: “Polarstern” ANT XV/3 48, Drake Passage, sta. 341, 61 °34.5’S 58°07’W, 429 m (gear: multiboxcorer) (MR unpubl.).

South Shetland Islands: King George Island, 62°19.4’S 58°43.4’W, 461 m (bottom: mud); 62°15.8’S 58°45.9’W, 510 m (bottom: sand, mud); 62°10.8’S 58°20’W, 520 m (bottom: mud) (R&H 91); “Polarstern” ANT XV/3 48, sta. 325, 62 °21.9’S 58°42.6’W, 805 m (gear: multiboxcorer); sta. 326, 62 °20.1’S 58°38.8’W, 606 m (gear: multiboxcorer) (MR unpubl.).

Depth range: 429– 805 m.

Type-locality: Bransfield Strait: 62°51.6’S 58°07.5’W, 654 m (bottom: sand, mud) (R&H 91).

Ecology: Collected from mud and sandy bottom.

Type material location: IOQ, Qingdao.

Remarks: Harpiniopsis aciculum was described and figured by Ren and Huang (1991); the species is closely related to H. petulans J.L. Barnard, 1966 from which it can be distinguished by the lateral lobe of head, the shape of epimeron 3 posteroventral corner and the length of cleft on telson.

Recently, Rauschert (unpubl. data) identified this taxon from South Shetland Islands, thus extending its geographical distribution in the area, and recorded the species for the first time from the Drake Passage.