Epimeria ( Hoplepimeria) quasimodo subgen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DA484D99-BC6E-4E9D-B06E-9D775DCB7FD1

Figs 198–207

Epimeria georgiana – Watling & Holman 1981: 211, in part, fig. 19. — Coleman 1991: 3, fig. 1A–C. Epimeria georgiana Clade C – Lörz et al. 2011: 3, fig. 1 (square), 12.3, 13 row 3, 14E, 14F, table 3. ‘Clade E georgiana-rimicarinata-rubriequies [sic] complex - GE1’ – Verheye et al. 2016a, supplement: 4

(online).

non Epimeria georgiana Schellenberg, 1931: 160.

Etymology

Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre-Dame, is a well-known character from the novel ‘Notre-Dame de Paris’ by Victor Hugo. The name, which is a noun in apposition, alludes to the humpbacked silhouette of the species.

Type material

Holotype

RV Polarstern cruises:

SOUTHERN OCEAN: ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 160-3, East of Joinville Island, 63°10.57ʹ S, 54°06.66ʹ W to 63°10.71ʹ S, 54°06.37ʹ W, 238–244 m, Agassiz trawl, 8 Feb. 2013 ( RBINS, INV. 122930A) [extraction K23; Genbank nr, COI: KU870857, 28S: KU759635].

Paratypes

RV Polarstern cruises:

SOUTHERN OCEAN: 1 ♀, cruise PS14, ANT-VII/4, EPOS leg 3, stn 211, Elephant Island, 60°59.8ʹ S, 55°12.1ʹ W to 60°59.3ʹ S, 55°10.5ʹ W, 207–213 m, bottom trawl, 15 Jan. 1989, coll. C. De Broyer ( RBINS, INV. 132950); 3 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 604-1, Elephant Island, 61°20.52ʹ S, 55°09.72ʹ W to 61°20.11ʹ S, 55°07.26ʹ W, 286–407 m, bottom trawl, 19 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122467); 3 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 604-1, Elephant Island, 61°20.52ʹ S, 55°09.72ʹ W to 61°20.11ʹ S, 55°07.26ʹ W, 286–407 m, bottom trawl, 19 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122496); 2 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 604-1, Elephant Island, 61°20.52ʹ S, 55°09.72ʹ W to 61°20.11ʹ S, 55°07.26ʹ W, 286–407 m, bottom trawl, 19 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122500); 1 juv., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 604-1, Elephant Island, 61°20.52ʹ S, 55°09.72ʹ W to 61°20.11ʹ S, 55°07.26ʹ W, 286–407 m, bottom trawl, 19 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122508); 1 spec., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 605-1, Elephant Island, 61°20.35ʹ S, 55°29.16ʹ W to 61°19.98ʹ S, 55°32.67ʹ W, 146–151 m, bottom trawl, 19 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122504); 1 juv., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 605-1, Elephant Island, 61°20.35ʹ S, 55°29.16ʹ W to 61°19.98ʹ S, 55°32.67ʹ W, 146–151 m, bottom trawl, 19 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122506); 4 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 605-5, Elephant Island, 61°20.27ʹ S, 55°30.92ʹ W to 61°20.37ʹ S, 55°28.99ʹ W, 131–152 m, Agassiz trawl, 20 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122501); 1 spec., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 608-1, Elephant Island, 61°11.34ʹ S, 54°43.17ʹ W to 61°11.80ʹ S, 54°40.05ʹ W, 284–293 m, bottom trawl, 20 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122515); 3 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 608-1, Elephant Island, 61°11.34ʹ S, 54°43.17ʹ W to 61°11.80ʹ S, 54°40.05ʹ W, 284–293 m, bottom trawl, 20 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122498); 2 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 608-1, Elephant Island, 61°11.34ʹ S, 54°43.17ʹ W to 61°11.80ʹ S, 54°40.05ʹ W, 284–293 m, bottom trawl, 20 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert (MNHN-IU-2014-7334, removed from RBINS, INV. 122498); 1 spec., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 611-1, Elephant Island, 60°58.90ʹ S, 55°11.31ʹ W to 60°58.52ʹ S, 55°07.82ʹ W, 215–297 m, bottom trawl, 21 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122558); 1 spec., initially fixed with formalin, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 622-1, Elephant Island, 60°56.70ʹ S, 55°52.71ʹ W to 60°55.93ʹ S, 55°50.79ʹ W, 218–307 m, Agassiz trawl, 23 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122505); 7 specs, cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 654-6, Elephant Island, 61°22.80ʹ S, 56°03.84ʹ W to 61°23.35ʹ S, 56°04.89ʹ W, 341–342 m, Agassiz trawl, 29 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122499); 1 spec., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 668-1, north of King George Island, 61°49.32ʹ S, 58°34.74ʹ W to 61°50.05ʹ S, 58°30.67ʹ W, 152–193 m, bottom trawl, 31 Dec. 2006, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122503); 1 spec., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn; 688-1, north of Joinville Island, 62°32.27ʹ S, 54°57.55ʹ W to 62°33.59ʹ S, 55°0.22ʹ W, bottom trawl, 4 Jan. 2007, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122495); 1 very large spec., cruise PS69, ANT-XXIII/8, stn 692-1, north of Joinville Island, 62°21.76ʹ S, 55°36.96ʹ W to 62°23.62ʹ S, 55°36.42ʹ W, 263–277 m, bottom trawl, 5 Jan. 2007, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122497); 1 juv., cruise PS69, ANT- XXIII/8, stn 726-4, southwest of Snow Hill Island, 64°37.83ʹ S, 56°42.10ʹ W to 64°38.03ʹ S, 56°42.57ʹ W, 292 m, Agassiz trawl, 23 Jan. 2007, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and H. Robert ( RBINS, INV. 122507); 2 ♀♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 116-9, north of Joinville Island, 62°33.79ʹ S, 56°27.81ʹ W to 62°33.71ʹ S, 56°28.31ʹ W, 248 m, muddy bottom with stones, Pentapora -like bryozoans and a lot of life, Agassiz trawl, 26 Jan. 2013 ( RBINS, INV. 122920) [extractions K27 (largest specimen); Genbank nr, COI: KU870861, 28S: KU759639 and K28 (smallest specimen), Genbank nr, COI: KU870862, 28S: KU759640]; 1 juv., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 160-3, East of Joinville Island, 63°10.57ʹ S, 54°6.66ʹ W to 63°10.71ʹ S, 54°6.37ʹ W, 238–244 m, Agassiz trawl, 8 Feb. 2013 ( RBINS, INV. 122930B); 1 ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 160-3, East of Joinville Island, 63°10.57ʹ S, 54°6.66ʹ W to 63°10.71ʹ S, 54°6.37ʹ W, 238–244 m, Agassiz trawl, 8 Feb. 2013 ( RBINS, INV. 122933) [extraction K24; Genbank nr, COI: KU870858, 28S: KU759636]; 1 immature spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 162-7, east of James Ross Island, 63°58.78ʹ S, 56°46.24ʹ W to 63°59.02ʹ S, 56°46.26ʹ W, 214–216 m, muddy bottom with a lot of life, Agassiz trawl, 10 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122952); 1 very large spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 162-7, east of James Ross Island, 63°58.78ʹ S, 56°46.24ʹ W to 63°59.02ʹ S, 56°46.26ʹ W, 214–216 m, muddy bottom with a lot of life, Agassiz trawl, 10 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122952); 1 very large spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 164-4, south of Dundee Island, 63°37.28ʹ S, 56°9.11ʹ W to 63°37.29ʹ S, 56°9.58ʹ W, 102–114 m, non-muddy bottom with a lot of life, including Molgula, big red ophiuroids, and a lot of Glyptonotus, 11 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122923) [extraction K29; Genbank nr, COI: KU870863, 28S: KU759641]; 1 very large ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 164-4, south of Dundee Island, 63°37.28ʹ S, 56°9.11ʹ W to 63°37.29ʹ S, 56°9.58ʹ W, 102–114 m, non-muddy bottom with a lot of life, including Molgula, big red ophiuroids, and a lot of Glyptonotus, Agassiz trawl, 11 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122925) [extraction K30; Genbank nr, COI: KU870864, 28S: KU759643]; 1 ♀, cruise PS81, ANT- XXIX/3, stn 185-3, south east of Dundee Island, 63°51.34ʹ S, 55°41.11ʹ W to 63°51.52ʹ S, 55°41.43ʹ W, Agassiz trawl, 238–244 m, not muddy bottom with a lot of life (sponges, starfishes, ophiuroids, crinoids, Pentapora -like bryozoans), Agassiz trawl, 19 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122921A) [extraction K26; Genbank, COI nr: KU870860, 28S: KU759638] [the station given by Verheye et al. (2016a) is incorrect]; 1 adult ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 185-3, south east of Dundee Island, 63°51.34ʹ S, 55°41.11ʹ W to 63°51.52ʹ S, 55°41.43ʹ W, Agassiz trawl, 238–244 m, not muddy bottom with a lot of life (sponges, starfishes, ophiuroids, crinoids, Pentapora -like bryozoans), Agassiz trawl, 19 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye, dissected and photographed ( RBINS, INV. 122921B) [extraction P35; Genbank nr, COI: KU870893, 28S: KU759679]; 2 immature spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 185-3, south east of Dundee Island, 63°51.34ʹ S, 55°41.11ʹ W to 63°51.52ʹ S, 55°41.43ʹ W, Agassiz trawl, 238–244 m, not muddy bottom with a lot of life (sponges, starfishes, ophiuroids, crinoids, Pentapora -like bryozoans), Agassiz trawl, 19 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122921C) [extraction P37; Genbank nr, COI: KU870894, 28S: KU759681]; 1 spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXI/3, stn 185-4, south east of Dundee Island, 63°51.53ʹ S, 55°40.74ʹ W to 63°51.53ʹ S, 55°40.43ʹ W, 253–255 m, extremely fine sand mixed with some mud and gravel, Rauschert dredge, 19 Feb. 2013 coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 132971) [extraction I20; Genbank nr, COI: KU870846, 28S: KU759623]; 1 ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 197-5, Bransfield Strait, 62°44.73ʹ S, 57°26.79ʹ W to 62°45.05ʹ S, 57°26.68ʹ W, 258–273 m, Agassiz trawl, 25 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122867) [extraction ANT41; Genbank nr, COI: KU870827, 28S: KU759600]; 1 ♀, cruise PS81, ANT- XXIX/3, stn 197-6, Bransfield Strait, 62°45.05ʹ S, 57°26.68ʹ W to 62°45.09ʹ S, 57°26.47ʹ W, 210–222 m, black gravel mixed with sand and a little bit of mud, Rauschert dredge, 25 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122954); 1 juv., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 197-6, Bransfield Strait, 62°45.05ʹ S, 57°26.68ʹ W to 62°45.09ʹ S, 57°26.47ʹ W, 210–222 m, black gravel mixed with sand and a little bit of mud, Rauschert dredge, 25 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122954); 1 spec., cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 205-1, Bransfield Strait, 63°2.35ʹ S, 58°3.63ʹ W to 63°2.67ʹ S, 58°6.46ʹ W, depth unrecorded [Google Earth coordinates for these positions: 155–178 m (accessed 27 Sep. 2016], rectangular midwater trawl (which presumably hit the sea floor, as it was supposed to sample between 0 and 200 m depth), 28 Feb. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122970); 1 ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 224-3, Bransfield Strait, 63°0.53ʹ S, 58°35.67ʹ W to 63°0.58ʹ S, 58°36.11ʹ W, 257–261 m, mud, Agassiz trawl, 4 Mar. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122924) [extraction K22; Genbank nr, COI: KU870856, 28S: KU759634]; 1 very large ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 224-3, Bransfield Strait, 63°0.53ʹ S, 58°35.67ʹ W to 63°0.58ʹ S, 58°36.11ʹ W, 257–261 m, mud, Agassiz trawl, 4 Mar. 2013, red colour, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122926) [extraction K21; Genbank nr, COI: KU870855, 28S: KU759633]; 1 ♀, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 224-3, Bransfield Strait, 63°0.53ʹ S, 58°35.67ʹ W to 63°0.58ʹ S, 58°36.11ʹ W, 257–261 m, mud, Agassiz trawl, 4 Mar. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122953); 3 large specs, cruise PS81, ANT-XXIX/3, stn 224-3, Bransfield Strait, 63°0.53ʹ S, 58°35.67ʹ W to 63°0.58ʹ S, 58°36.11ʹ W, 257–261 m, mud, Agassiz trawl, 4 Mar. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 122957); 1 ♀, cruise PS81,ANT-XXIX/3, stn 234-5, north of Livingstone Island, 62°17.36ʹ S, 61°12.06ʹ W to 62°17.31ʹ S, 61°12.63ʹ W, 248–251 m, mud with a lot of specimens of a small reddish ophiuroid with very long and flexible legs, Agassiz trawl, 7 Mar. 2013, coll. C. d’Udekem d’Acoz and M. Verheye ( RBINS, INV. 132970) [extraction I14; Genbank nr, COI: KU870840, 28S: KU759616].

Description

ROSTRUM. Medium-sized, overreaching tip of article 1 of peduncle of antenna 1, anteriorly slightly curved, ventrally straight, blunt-tipped in lateral view; broad and with proximally nearly straight converging borders in frontal view.

EYE. Fairly large, broadly elliptic.

PEREION– PLEOSOME TOOTH PATTERN. Pereionite 1 smooth; pereionites 2–3 with weak posterior bump; pereionites 4 to pleonite 3 with low, non-toothed, very broad carina (very reduced in pereionites 2–3), those of pereionite 7 and pleonites 1–3 with very shallow concavity on anterior 0.4; posterodorsal angle of pleonite 3 broadly rounded; dorsolateral ornamentation absent.

COXAE 1–3. Scarcely carinate and apically tapering and blunt (coxae 1–2) or subacute (coxa 3).

COXA 4. Anterodorsal border nearly straight (very weakly sigmoid), anteroventral border weakly concave, these two borders being joined by blunt but very distinct angle (anterior corner), which is distinctly projecting forward; ventral corner forming a sharp squared angle (ventral projection short); lateral carina present not sharp; broad hollow surface between carina and posteroventral border of coxa; posteroventral border distinctly concave.

COXA 5. Broad, with surface smooth, with posteroventral corner forming a rounded lobe, weakly expanded laterally, forming a broadly rounded obtuse (nearly squared) angle which is very distinct in dorsal view.

COXA 6. With posteroventral corner rounded, with projection arising from its surface (broadly triangular in dorsal view).

COXA 7. Posteriorly rounded.

EPIMERAL PLATES 1–3. Posteroventral angle: forming an angle with a trace of tooth in plate 1, produced into a small tooth in plate 2 and into a medium-sized tooth in plate 3.

UROSOME TOOTH PATTERN. Urosomite 1 with very low dorsal process, regularly convex on both sides; urosomite 3 with dorsolateral borders nearly straight (inconspicuously convex), with tip bluntly angular.

TELSON. Cleft on 0.4; lobes broad becoming apically broadly and bluntly triangular, notch narrowly V-shaped.

GNATHOPODS 1–2. Carpus and propodus very broad; propodus expanding distally, palm distinct.

PEREIOPODS 5–7. Merus, carpus and propodus of medium width; dactylus medium-sized; basis of pereiopods 5–6 of normal width, with posteroproximal process present, tooth-like, parallel to axis of basis, with posterodistal corner bluntly angular, very weakly pointing in posterior direction; basis of pereiopod 7 broad with posterior border weakly convex, with distinct notch in distal 0.8, forming a blunt-tipped squared or acute angle, with posterodistal corner rounded and not projecting backwards.

Colour pattern

Red-coloured with the red pigmentation forming an irregular, finely mottled/dotted pattern; or whitish with very irregular and diffuse red patches, in which the red pigmentation is forming an irregular finely peppered pattern. Eyes reddish.

Body length

Up to 50 mm.

Distribution

Elephant Island to tip of Antarctic Peninsula, 131– 407 m.

Biology

Examination of the stomach content of fifteen specimens indicates that the species is carnivorous ( Coleman 1991, as Epimeria georgiana).

Remarks

A juvenile E. quasimodo sp. nov. is illustrated herein ( Fig. 207) to show the notch of the basis of pereiopod 7, which is much shallower than in adults. Epimeria quasimodo sp. nov. is a very common species, which was previously confused with E. georgiana. The latter is presumably endemic to South Georgia.