Fageapseudes retusifrons Richardson 1912

Fageapseudes retusifrons (Richardson, 1912)

Apseudes obtusifrons Norman & Stebbing, 1886, 88–89; pl. 18, fig. 2. [Pre-occupied, non- Apseudes obtusifrons Haswell, 1882].

Apseudes retusifrons Richardson 1912, 584.

Fageapseudes retusifrons Sieg 1983, 99–100. Błażewicz-Paszkowycz et al., 2011, 16–22; figs. 10–12 (description of material from the GoC).

Material examined. Gulf of Cadiz—Mud volcanoes. Mercator MV: St. MSM 01-3 _ 241, 353 m, 1 ovigerous ♀, 2 neuters; St. MSM01-3_ 242, 350 m, 1 specimen; St. MSM01-3_ 287, 379 m, 4 specimens (DBUA0002005.01– 03); St. 64PE253_ 48, 376 m, 9 specimens; St. 64PE253_ 49, 360 m, 5 specimens (DBUA0002006.01–02). Gemini MV: St. 64PE253_ 15, 600 m, 1 specimen (DBUA0002006.03).

Gulf of Cadiz—Carbonate and coral mounds. Pen Duick Escarpment: St. 64PE237_05B, 535 m, 1 specimen; St. 64PE237_30A, 556 m, 3 specimens; St. 64PE237_30B, 550 m, 1 specimen (DBUA0002007.01–03); St. TTR16_ 602, 556 m, 6 specimens (DBUA0002008.01); St. 64PE253_ 53, 651 mm, 3 specimens DBUA0002006.04); St. 64PE253_ 56, 622 m, 1 specimen; St. 64PE253_ 59, 637 m, 2 specimens, (DBUA0002006.05–06). Mound B: St. 64PE268_11A, 489 m, 1 specimen; St. 64PE268_ 23, 498 m, 1 specimen; St. 64PE268_ 24, 495 m, 10 specimens; St. 64PE268_ 26, 485 m, 10 specimens (DBUA0002009.01–04). Mound D: St. 64PE268_ 42, 451 m, 1 specimen (DBUA0002009.05).

Gulf of Cadiz—Off mound and reference samples. El Arraiche area: St. 64PE253_ 33, 542 m, 1 specimen; St. 64PE253_ 36, 542 m, 1 specimen (DBUA 0002006.08). Carbonate Province: St. 64PE237_04B, 682 m, 1 specimen (DBUA 0002007.04); St. 64PE268_55, ca. 700 m, 4 specimens (DBUA0002009.06).

Other records in the GoC. See Błażewicz-Paszkowycz et al. (2011).

Distribution and ecology. Fageapseudes retusifrons is known from the Gulf of Cadiz (Błażewicz- Paszkowycz et al. 2011), straits of Gibraltar (Norman & Stebbing 1886) and Mediterranean Sea (Băcescu & Guţu 1971). Previous records situate F. retusifrons in muddy bottoms between 220 to 740 m depth. In the GoC, the species has been found between 350 and 700 m depth in the craters of Mercator and Fiuza MVs in carbonate mounds and muddy sediments. In Kidd MV, it appeared in samples from the flanks and a reference site near Kidd MV but not in the crater (see Błażewicz-Paszkowycz et al. 2011). The densities found in the MVs of the GoC are greatly variable, ranging for example from only one specimen to 256 individuals.m - 2 in the crater of Mercator MV.