Aurivillialepas bocquetae

Aurivillialepas bocquetae (Newman, 1980) (Figs 14; 15)

Calantica calyculus – Bocquet-Védrine 1971: 761, figs 1-3 [non Aurivillialepas calyculus (Aurivillius, 1898)].

Scillaelepas (Aurivillialepas) bocquetae Newman, 1980: 387, figs 7, 8.

MATERIALEXAMINED. — SEAMOUNT 2, stn DW 225, 32°08.59’N, 28°10.73’W, 1030 m to 32°08.92’N, 28°10.50’W, 1035 m, 1 specimen, tl (cl) 9.0 (6.2) mm (MNHN Ci 2847). — Stn DW 256, 34°06.21’N, 30°16.03’W, 340 m to 34°06.47’N, 30°16.21’W, 345 m, 2 specimens, tl (cl) 5.2 (3.5) to 8.9 (6.2) mm (MNHN Ci 2848, MNRJ 13897). — Stn CP 257, 34°04.51’N, 30°15.05’W, 338 m to 34°03.21’N, 30°14.25’W, 330 m, 2 specimens, tl (cl) 9.9 (6.9) to 13.2 (9.3) mm (MNHN Ci 2846, MNRJ 13898).

REMARKS

The specimens ranged from 5 to 13 mm in length and the presence of males varied between the specimens. The smallest one did not have a male, probably because this specimen had not yet developed the space between the rostrum and subrostrum where the male cyprids attach nor- mally. The larger specimens had one or two males in the rostral position, but one of them did not have a male. I infer the life time of the males is significatively less than the females, therefore, the females acquire several male cyprids during their life.

The relative proportions of the capitulum of Aurivillialepas bocquetae change during growth. The smaller specimens are more slender with the height about twice the width, changing to about 1.5 times in the grown specimens.

Aurivillialepas bocquetae was recorded only from off France, between 44°- 48°N and 7°- 8°W and from 340 to 519 m (Newman 1980). These new records extend its distribution to the Azores region.