Scherocumella weinbergae Petrescu 2018, sp. nov.

Fig. 45

Holotype ♀, 2.3 mm, P.90680, Australia, TAS, Freycinet Peninsula, Joes Bight, -42.278° 148.312°, 17 m, airlift, sandy boulders, 1 May 1991, R. T. Springthorpe, S.J. Keable, TAS-333, in AM. Paratypes: 1♀, P.90681; 2♀♀, P.90975; 1♀, MGAB CUM 1682.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Dr Medeea Weinberg, world specialist in Diptera Asilidae and other families, who work in the “GrigoreAntipa” (1954–1991), with exceptional results in the study of Romanian and foreign faunas (from U.S.A. to Australia), as a sign of great appreciation and eternal gratitude for her work and friendship.

Diagnosis. Carapace 0.36 body length, covered with densely small tubercles, 2 dorsal parallel rows of strong and long tubercles, 1 pair just behind each visual complex of lenses, 1 pair of tubercles on top of pseudorostral lobes; pereonites 2–5 and pleonites 1–4 with dorsal pairs of tubercles posteriorly directed, pleonite 5 with 2 tubercles, pleonites 3–5 with 1 dorsal carina, last pleonite with short dorsal serrate line; maxilliped 3 propodus 2nd longest article, 3.6 dactylus length; pereopod 2 dactylus 2 propodus length; uropodal peduncle 1.2 pleonite 6 length, 1.2 endopod length, exopod 0.59 of endopod length, endopod with 1 subterminal short stout seta.

Description. Carapace 0.36 body length, 1.8 as long as high; densely covered with small tubercles, 2 dorsal parallel rows of strong and long tubercles, a pair just behind each visual complex of lenses; pseudorostrum obliquely directed, 0.4 carapace length, 1 pair of tubercles on top of pseudorostral lobes; large antennal notch; anterolateral margin serrated in anterior part (Fig. 45 A, B). — Pereonites 2–5 and pleonites 1–4 with dorsal pairs of tubercles posteriorly directed, pleonite 5 with 2 pairs of tubercles, pleonites 3–5 with a dorsal carina, last pleonite with short dorsal serrate line. Pleonites 1–4 also with lateral tubercles. — Antenna 1 peduncle article 1 0.7 rest of article’s length, with 2 simple setae; article 2 1.5 article 3 length, with 3 pedunculate setae and 1 process; main flagellum 0.8 article 3 length; accessory flagellum with 1 article; aesthetascs 3.2 main flagellum length (Fig. 45 D). — Maxilliped 3 basis 0.8 rest of article’s length, with 3 plumose setae and 1 process; merus 2.1 ischium length, with 2 plumose setae; carpus as long as merus, with 1 plumose seta; propodus 1.4 carpus length, with 1 simple and 2 pappose setae; dactylus 0.3 propodus length, with 1 robust terminal seta; with exopod (Fig, 45 E). — Pereopod 1 basis 0.4 rest of article’s length, with hyaline crest; merus 2 ischium length, with 1 tooth; carpus 2 merus length, with hyaline crest; propodus 0.8 carpus length, with 1 simple seta; dactylus 0.6 propodus length, with 2 simple setae; with exopod (Fig. 45 F). — Pereopod 2 basis as long as rest of articles, hyaline crest and 1 simple seta; merus 7 ischium length, with 1 simple seta; carpus 1.5 merus length, with hyaline crest and 1 simple seta; dactylus 2 propodus length, with 6 simple setae; with exopod (Fig. 45 G). — Pereopods 3–5 with decreasing basis and increasing carpus; basis finely tuberculated; dactylus fused with terminal seta (Fig. 45 H–J). — Uropod peduncle 1.2 pleonite 6 length, with strong serrate margin, 1 serrate carina, 1.2 endopod length; exopod 0.59 endopod length, with 1 terminal simple seta; endopod with serrate margin and 1 serrate carina, with 1 subterminal short and 1 terminal longer simple seta (Fig. 45 K).

Remarks. The new species is close related with S. clavata (Hale, 1945), but with a dorsal carina on pleonites 3–6, missing in Hale’s species.

Distribution. Australia: TAS—Freycinet Peninsula, at 17 m; and NSW—Jervis Bay, at 10–18 m depth.