Vertebroscalpellum brevecarinatum

Vertebroscalpellum brevecarinatum (Hoek, 1883)

Fig. 35

Scalpellum brevecarinatum Hoek, 1883: 82, pl. III, fig. 22; Zevina, 1964: 253.

Arcoscalpellum brevecarinatum: Newman & Ross, 1971: 53, fig. 21.

? Arcoscalpellum brevicarinatum (sic!): Zevina, 1981a: 352–353, fig. 272.

Material examined. Four syntypes NHM UK 2013.1129-1132. Shells only are left of two syntypes after the appendages were removed by Hoek for study. Stn 146 (1 specimen): Indian Ocean, Antarctic and Southern (Northeast of Prince Edward Island); 2514 m. Stn 147 (3 specimens): Indian Ocean, Antarctic and Southern (west of Crozet Islands); 2925 m. All the specimens are in one jar.

Diagnosis. Only Hoek’s (1883) diagnosis is available, which includes descriptions of the appendages.

Distribution. Indian Ocean, Antarctic and Southern. Known depth range 2514 to 4540 m.

Habitat. On gorgonian corals.

Remarks. This species was separated by Newman & Ross (1998) from Arcoscalpellum into a new subgenus Vertebroscalpellum. They also tentatively considered the specimens described by Zevina (1964, 1981a) to be a different species and, therefore, the only known description of V. brevecarinatum is the original description by Hoek (1883).