Acutiserolis Brandt 1988

Acutiserolis sp.

Figs 1g, h; 2 d

Material examined. E of South Island, New Zealand (45.0170°S, 177.4617°E to 45.0095°S, 177.4532°E), 2039– 1995 m, 6 May 2003 (NIWA stn TAN0307/98), NIWA 31205 (male, 31 mm).

Remarks. A single male collected at a much lower latitude than A. spinosa is similar to the Ross Sea specimens. Key features of the coxal plates, middorsal and pleotelson sculpture, and armature of coxal ventral plates 2 and 3 and pleonal sternites are for all practical purposes indistinguishable. However, the spine on the head is considerably longer than in A. spinosa, reaching to the posterior margin of pereonite 3. Coxal plate 6 exceeds the pleotelson by slightly more than its length, further than in A. spinosa. Pleonal epimera 2 and 3 are similarly longer. While the male pereopod 2 propodus of the two species has similar numbers of robust palmar setae, the propodus of the New Zealand specimen is more elongated than in A. spinosa (fig. 2d). In the absence of a larger sample and specimens from intermediate localities we are reluctant to describe this as a new species.