Leptognathiopsis Holdich & Bird 1986

Genus Leptognathiopsis Holdich & Bird, 1986

Leptognathiopsis Holdich & Bird, 1986: 87. Gutu & Sieg, 1999: 384 [classification]. Larsen & Wilson, 2002; 2, 12 [phylogenetic classification].

Leptognathia G.O. Sars, 1882 (partim): Holdich & Jones, 1983a: 72; Holdich & Jones, 1983b: 173 [misidentification of Leptognathia manca]. Kudinova-Pasternak, 1970: 359 –360 [for L. langi] Leptognathia incertae cedis (partim): Larsen & Shimomura, 2007: 15 [removal of L. langi from Leptognathia sensu stricto to incertae cedis]. Type species: Leptognathiopsis attenuata Holdich & Bird, 1986, by monotypy.

Species included (Japanese and trench species in bold): L. attenuata Holdich & Bird, 1986, British Isles, Faeroe Islands; L. langi (Kudinova-Pasternak, 1970) comb. nov.

Diagnosis (modified after Holdich & Bird 1986). Colletteid, female with body slightly tapering posteriorly, all pereonites shorter than broad; pleonites with epimera with long seta. Antennule four-articled, article 4 with large terminal aesthetasc. Antenna six-articled. Mandible molar acuminate, with terminal spines. Maxilliped endite with disto-medial cusp and disto-lateral setae. Pereopods 1–3 ischium with seta at least half as long as merus, merus with ventral spiniform seta over-reaching carpus. Pereopods 4–6 ischium with two setae, one at least half as long as merus, carpus with three spiniform setae and one rod-like seta, pereopods 4– 5 propodus with one dorso-distal spiniform seta, pereopod 6 with two setae. Pleopods present or absent in female; uropod biramous, exopod one-articled, endopod two-articled. Preparatory male (natatory male unknown, if present) as female, but antennule thicker, four-articled, and pleopods present (if absent in female).

Remarks. This genus was originally established for a British shallow-water species, L. attenuata that had previously been misidentified as Leptognathia manca G.O. Sars, 1882 in several British publications (e.g. Holdich & Jones 1983a, b). In a phylogenetic analysis Larsen & Wilson (2002) placed Leptognathiopsis in the new family Colletteidae. With the collection of new specimens that seem clearly identifiable as Leptognathia langi Kudinova-Pasternak, 1970 a redescription was made possible as well as a transfer of the species to the genus Leptognathiopsis.

A correction to the figures of the pereopods 4–6 of L. attenuata given by Holdich & Bird (op.cit.) is required, as the double dorso-distal propodal spiniform setae on pereopods 4–5 was incorrect (possibly due to an optical effect of a larger, single grooved seta). Only a single seta is present (Fig. 6 G), although two are present on pereopod 6 (Fig. 6 I). Also, one of the carpal setae is more slender than the other three, rather than being equally thick. A new record of L. attenuata has been obtained from outside of the British Isles, viz. the Faeroe Islands shelf, at 283 metres (BIOFAR project – Bird ined.).