Renomaera patricki sp. nov.

Material examined.

Holotype. Western Pacific • one brooding female (with 13 intra-marsupial individuals), BL = 9.3 mm; a seamount located near the Mariana Trench (tentatively named M 2 Seamount); 11°20'N, 139°17'E; depth 779.6 m; 15 Mar. 2016; MBM 288332.

Description.

Body (Figs 2, 3) elongate and laterally compressed. Pleonites 1–3 (Figs 2, 3) not toothed on posterodorsal margin. Urosomite 1 with two teeth on posterodorsal margin medially. Urosomite 2 with one tooth on posterodorsal margin medially. Urosomite 3 with one lateral tooth. Epimera 1 and 2 with acute posterodistal corner, posterior margin sinuous and smooth. Epimera 3 with acute posterodistal corner, posterior margin concave and smooth.

Head (Figs 2, 3). Rostrum present. Eyes absent. Lateral cephalic lobe rounded: antennal sinus absent; anteroventral corner rounded. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncle short, article 1 expanded, slightly longer than article 2, article 3 about 1 / 3 length of article 2; primary flagellum with 78 articles; accessory flagellum longer than peduncle, with 13 articles, article 1 slightly shorter than article 1 of primary flagellum. Antenna 2 peduncular article 4 subequal to article 5; flagellum with 31 articles.

Mouthparts (Fig. 3). Upper lip broader than long, bilobate. Mandible incisor well developed, with two large teeth, distal margin slightly serrated; right and left setal row with three and two robust setae, respectively and row of long simple setae; left lacinia mobilis similar to incisor heavily chitinous, distal margin with irregular teeth; right lacinia mobilis absent; molar absent; palp 3 - articulate, article 1 shortest, with one seta near distal margin, article 2 longer and broader than article 3, posterior margin with long setae, article 3 straight, not falcate, distal half of posterior margin and tip with long setae. Lower lip inner lobe large, not lobate, rounded; outer lobes slender, apical margin bearing minute short setae. Maxilla 1 symmetrical; inner plate small, with one long apical plumose seta; outer plate with eight smooth setae; palp 2 - articulate, article 2 longer than article 1, inner margin with 4–5 setae, distal margin with 11 robust setae. Maxilla 2 outer plate shorter than inner one, only with three long plumose setae apically; inner plate with 11 long plumose setae on medial and distal margins. Maxilliped with inner plates short, triangular, with 6 setae distally; outer plates reduced, hardly reaching to distal margin of palp article 1, with setae on apical and medial margins; palp slender, article 2 subequal to article 3, with long setae facially, article 3 distinctly broader than article 2, with setae facially and on medial margin, article 4 shortest, lacking robust seta (nail), with minute setae on medial margin.

Gnathopods and pereopods (Figs 2, 4). Coxae 1–4 subrectangular, coxa 4 not excavate posteriorly. Coxae 5 and 6 not lobate. Coxa 7 smaller than coxae 5 and 6, subrectangular. Coxal gills present on pereopods 2–7. Oostegites on pereonites 2–5.

Gnathopods 1–2 similar in shape, subchelate, but gnathopod 2 slightly longer. Gnathopod 1 basis with short setae on anterior and posterior margins; ischium posterior margin bearing several setae distally; merus shorter than carpus, posterior margin bearing row of setae; carpus shorter than propodus, posterior margin with rounded lobe bearing long setae, anterior margin bearing a group of setae distally; propodus sub-ovate, twice longer than wide, palmar margin obliquely convex, with dense robust setae; dactylus 7 / 10 length of propodus, curved. Gnathopod 2 symmetrical; basis longer than that of gnathopod 1, posterior margin bearing dense short setae; ischium to carpus similar to gnathopod 1; propodus slender, more than twice longer than wide, palmar margin obliquely convex, with dense robust setae; dactylus 4 / 5 the length of propodus, curved. Pereopod 3 slightly shorter than pereopod 4, basis linear, anterior margin bearing setae; merus slightly shorter than carpus, posterior margin bearing setae, anterior margin bearing group of setae distally; carpus shorter than propodus, posterior margin bearing setae; propodus slender, posterior margin bearing dense setae; dactylus slender, simple. Pereopods 5–7 slightly increasing in length, basis of pereopods 5 linear, those of pereopods 6 and 7 slightly expanded, subrectangular, not serrate; merus of pereopods 5 and 6 longer than carpus and propodus, carpus shorter than propodus, merus of pereopod 7 subequal to propodus, longer than carpus; dactylus slender, simple.

Uropods and telson (Figs 2, 4). Uropod 1 slightly extending beyond the end of uropod 2; peduncle shorter than rami, with spur on ventral margin, reaching to 1 / 3 length of inner ramus, with six robust setae; inner ramus subequal to outer ramus, with 11 marginal and two distal robust setae; outer ramus with ten marginal and one distal robust setae. Uropod 2 peduncle shorter than rami, with inner margin produced as acute tooth distally, dorsal surface bearing seven robust setae; inner ramus longer than outer one, with ten marginal and one distal robust setae; outer ramus with seven marginal and one distal robust setae. Uropod 3 with peduncle much shorter than rami, peduncle with one dorsal and two ventral robust setae; inner ramus with six marginal and two distal robust setae, inner margin serrated, bearing three long plumose setae; outer ramus slightly longer than inner one, with five marginal and two distal robust setae, inner margin serrated. Telson linguiform, cleft about 70 % of its length; each lobe bilobated apically; dorsal surface of each lobe bearing five robust setae in two rows.

Etymology.

This species is named after Patrick Star from the cartoon “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Because Patrick is SpongeBob’s best friend, and this new species was collected in association with a sponge.

Distribution.

Presently known only from a seamount located near the Mariana Trench at a depth of 779.6 m.

Remarks.

See remarks for the genus.