Epimeria ( Epimeriella) macronyx ( Walker, 1906)

Fig 131

Epimeriella macronyx Walker, 1906: 17.

Epimeriella macronyx – Walker 1907: 26, pl. 15. — K.H. Barnard 1930: 378; 1932: 178, pl. 1 fig. 3. — Andres 1985: 129, fig. 11H–I, 12A–D. — Andres & Lott 1986: 133, fig. 1 ( E. mac.). — Andres in Sieg & Wägele 1990: 137–138, fig. 271. — Coleman 2007: 57, fig. 32a–b, map 15 (rhomb).

Material examined

RV Polarstern cruises:

SOUTHERN OCEAN: 1 spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, 182-1, south east of Snow Hill Island, 64°47.21ʹ S, 56°41.90ʹ W to 64°46.02ʹ S, 56°42.50ʹ W, 0–200 m, rectangular mid-water trawl, formalinfixed, 17 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 121486); 2 specs, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 238-1, north of Livingstone Island, 62°22.65ʹ S, 61°17.63ʹ W to 62°20.89ʹ S, 61°19.82ʹ W, 0–200 m, rectangular midwater trawl, 8 Mar. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122943) [extraction ANT38 (largest specimen); Genbank nr, COI: KU870824, 28S: KU759597 and ANT39 (smallest specimen); Genbank nr, COI: KU870825, 28S: KU759598].

RV Aurora Australis cruises:

SOUTHERN OCEAN: 1 spec., cruise CEAMARC, sample CEAMARC 1295, stn 51AEV215, Adélie Coast, 66°44ʹ52″ S, 145°26ʹ40″ E, 525–553 m, beam trawl, 30 Dec. 2007, coll. IPEV-AAD-MNHN (MNHN-IU-2016-6559); 1 spec., cruise CEAMARC, sample CEAMARC 1317, stn 51AEV215, Adélie

Coast, 66°44ʹ52″ S, 145°26ʹ40″ E, 525–553 m, beam trawl, 30 Dec. 2007, coll. IPEV-AAD-MNHN (MNHN-IU-2014-4276) [extraction M19); Genbank nr, COI: KU870885, 28S: KU759668].

Colour pattern

Body and appendages whitish to colourless, semi-translucent; dorsal part of body orange; eyes orange; oral field and tip of gnathopods blood red.

Body length

Up to 28 mm.

Distribution

South Orkney Islands; South Shetland Islands; Antarctic Peninsula; eastern shelf of the Weddell Sea; Davis Sea; Adélie Coast, Ross Sea; 0–1200 m ( Coleman 2007; present data). As many records of E. macronyx come from pelagic nets ( De Broyer et al. 2007; present data), and as the species is very slender with large eyes reminiscent to those of hyperiids, it is obviously a true pelagic species.