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INTRODUCTION
The amphipod genus Rhachotropis includes about
20 species in European waters, where they are present
at all latitudes and from the infralittoral to the
abysses. The size of the different species of the area
ranges from 5 to 50 mm. Some species like R. macro-
pus G.O. Sars, 1893 are locally very abundant. The
quality of the description of the different species is
variable and some taxonomical problems remain un-
solved, but the species occurring at less than 500 m
depth are usually assumed to be well known. Howe-
ver, when sorting samples of crustaceans from the
neighbouring of the Statfjord oilfield (northern
North Sea) at about 300 m depth, the third author
found a minute Rhachotropis (5 mm long) which she
was unable to identify. The largest specimen is an
ovigerous female, indicating that at least that speci-
men is adult. Afterwards the material was submitted
for expertise to the two first authors, who both con-
cluded that it was a new species, close to R. integri-
cauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948. The new species is described in
the present paper and illustrations of the holotype of
R. integricauda are published for the first time, after
pencil drawings made long ago by the late S. Ca˘ra˘us¸u.
In addition, we have tried to draw a synthesis of our
current understanding of the taxonomy of the genus
Rhachotropis in Europe, in proposing an identification
key and a brief checklist.
Since very few specimens were available for study
and since Rhachotropis are very brittle animals (irrepara-
ble damages could too easily happen), most figures have
been made from the animal in toto. Only the mouth-
parts of the holotype have been fully dissected.
Abbreviations used: A1, first antenna; A2, second antenna;
Coxae 1-7, coxal plates of the first to seventh pereiopods; Ep1-
Ep3, first to third epimeral plates; Md, mandible; Mx1, first
maxilla; Mx2, second maxilla; Mxp, maxilliped; Gn1, first
gnathopod; Gn2, second gnathopod; P3-P7, third to seventh
pereiopods; PL1-3, first to third pleopod; U1-U3, first to third
uropods; TL, total length; TMU, Tromsø Museum University;
TSZCr, Tromsø Samlinger Zoologi Crustacea; IOPAN, Instytut
Oceanologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk.
Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, 31, 2007 Botanica Zoologia: 31-49
ABSTRACT
A new species of Rhachotropis, R. northriana n. sp, is described after 4 specimens from the area of the oilfield Statfjord (61°26’N 001°55’E to
001°58’E, 270-283 m depth) in the North Sea. It is by far the smallest of Rhachotropis species from the North Sea and the only North-Euro-
pean species with an entire telson. It is close to Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948 from the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay,
but the rostrum of both species is different: in R. integricauda it points anteriorly, whilst in R. northriana n. sp. it is directed downwards. Illus-
trations of the holotype of R. integricauda are given for the first time. A new identification key to North-European Rhachotropis species is given.
Key-words: Rhachotropis, Amphipoda, Europe, North Sea, new species, taxonomy, identification key, checklist.
RIASSUNTO
Una nuova specie di Rhachotropis, R. northriana n. sp., viene descritta a partire da 4 esemplari provenienti dall’area della piattaforma pe-
trolifera di Statfjord (61°26’N 001°55’E to 001°58’E, 270-283 m di profondità) nel Mare del Nord. Si tratta di gran lunga della più pic-
cola specie del Mare del Nord e dell’unica specie nordeuropea con telson intero. La specie descritta è affine a Rhachotropis integricauda
Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948 del Mar Mediterraneo e del Golfo di Biscaglia, ma il rostro è diverso nelle due specie: in R. integricauda è diretto ante-
riormente, mentre in R. northriana n. sp. è diretto posteriormente. Per la prima volta sono date le illustrazioni dell’olotipo di R. integri-
cauda. È data infine una chiave di identificazione per le specie nordeuropee di Rhachotropis.
Parole chiave: Rhachotropis, Amphipoda, Europa, Mare del Nord, nuova specie, tassonomia, chiave dicotomica, checklist.
On a new diminutive Rhachotropis species from the North Sea,
with a key to European Rhachotropis (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Eusiridae)
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ1, WIM VADER1, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA2
(1Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles, Brussels, 2University of Tromsø, 3Instytut Oceanologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Sopot)
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
In the description, the term “tooth” is used for non-
articulated, pointed structures, the term “spine” for
stout, inflexible articulated structures, and the term “se-
ta” for slender, flexible articulated structures
TAXONOMY
Phylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Order Amphipoda
Family Eusiridae
Genus Rhachotropis S.I. Smith, 1883
Rhachotropis northriana n. sp.
(Figs 1-6)
Material examined
STATFJORD NORD, station F2-1, 61°26.425’N
001°57.623’E, 283 m depth, very fine sand (10% pelite, 69%
very fine sand, 19% fine sand), 10/VI/2005, 3 specimens: 1
ovigerous holotype female (mouthparts and some other parts
dissected and mounted on 9 slides, TMU, TSZCr 14556; rest
of body in alcohol, TMU, TSZCr 14555), 2 paratypes (sex in-
det.), 4.5 mm and 3 mm], TMU, TSZCr 14557.
STATFJORD NORD, station D3-2, 61°26.358’N
001°55.303’E, 270 m depth, finer sand (26% very fine sand,
67% fine sand, the rest of the sediment has not been analysed
but is presumably clay or silt), 09/VI/2005: 1 paratype speci-
men, IOPAN.
32
Fig. 1 - Rhachotropis northriana n. sp., station F2-1. Larger paratype,
anterior part. Scale bar: 0.21 mm.
Fig. 2 - Rhachotropis northriana n. sp., station F2-1. Larger paratype.
A, median part (basis of P7 slightly tilted); B, posterior part. Scale
bar: A, B, 0.21 mm.
B
A
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS 33
Fig. 3 - Rhachotropis northriana n. sp., station F2-1. A, smaller paratype; B-J, holotype. A, head; B, rostrum; C, upper lip; D, lower lip; E, right
Md; F, left Md; G, right Mx1 (palp seen on the edge); H, outer plate of left Mx1; I, right Mx2 (spines of inner plate not shown); J, inner plate
of right Mx2 (spines of upper row in black). Scale bar: B, 0.21 mm; A, C, D, 0.14 mm; E, F, 0.10 mm; G, H, I, J, 0.071 mm.
A
B
C
D
F
E
H
I
J
G
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
34
Fig. 4 - Rhachotropis northriana n. sp., station F2-1. Holotype. A, Mxp in dorsal view; B, inner plates of Mxp in ventral view; C, right Gn1 in
outer view; D, Gn2 in outer view; E, Gn2 in medio-oblique view. Scale bar: C, D, E, 0.21 mm; A, B, 0.10 mm.
DEC
A
B
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS 35
Fig. 5 - Rhachotropis northriana n. sp., station F2-1. Holotype. A, coxae 1-7; B, right P3; C, left P4; D, eggs; E, left Ep1; F, left Ep2 (posterior-
ly damaged or distorted; refer to fig. 2a for a correct depiction of the posterior border of Ep2); G, right Pleosomite 3; H, left PL1; I, coupling
hooks of left PL1. Scale bar: D, H, 0.42 mm; B, C, 0.30 mm; A, E, F, G, 0.21 mm; I, 0.10 mm.
A
B
C
E
H
I
F
G
D
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
Etymology
The adjective northrianus derives from Nor∂ri, a
dwarf of the Norse mythology associated with the
North cardinal point (Vøluspå 11). The letter “∂” has
been transliterated in “th” because the International
Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Art. 11.2) only
admits the 26 classical letters of the Latin alphabet.
The name (literally ‘relative to the dwarf of the
North’) alludes to the northern distribution of this
small species. Its affinities are mostly, as far as we can
see, to dwarf species with a somewhat more southern
distribution.
Description
Head: rostrum long, acute, pointing downwards;
anteroventral process short, semi-circular.
Eyes: present, very large, dark in alcohol, with very
distinct ommatidia.
A1: First article of peduncle distoventrally pointed;
second article with distal outer tooth; accessory flagel-
lum not seen (but this may result from its very small
size); major flagellum with 8-9 articles.
A2: flagellum with 8-12 articles.
Md: laciniae mobilis and incisor processes asym-
metrical; palp quite long and slender.
Mx1: second article of palp with capillary setae,
and on its distal third long to very long spiniform se-
tae; outer plate with 8 or 9 spines on two rows (bifid
or multifid spines on ventral side, entire spines on dor-
sal side); inner plate with one strong seta and an acces-
sory tiny setule.
Mx2: outer plate with long strong setae restricted to
its tip and with capillary setae on its surface; inner plate
with two marginal rows of spiniform setae on distoven-
tral area (rows consisting of few setae).
Mxp: palp with rather slender setae which are irregular-
ly disposed (not forming rows); inner plates with all spines
pointing forward, hence without interlocking spines.
P1: coxa anteriorly elongate, with small posteroven-
tral tooth; carpal process long; cutting edge of propo-
dus with 2 rows or regular-sized curved spinules.
P2: coxa subquadrate, with small posteroventral
tooth; carpal process long; cutting edge of propodus
with 2 rows or regular-sized curved spinules.
P3: coxa subquadrate, with small posteroventral
tooth, with or without small anterior notch.
P4: coxa with 1-4 notches or denticles (number
probably increasing with size).
P5 slightly shorter than P6, which is considerably
shorter than P7. Carpus, propodus and dactylus of P5-
P7 missing in all specimens.
P5: coxa with 0-5 notches or denticles (number
probably increasing with size); basis broad, with poste-
rior border denticulate and posterodistal area forming a
right angle; merus with spiniform setae on both sides.
P6: coxa with 1-2 notches or denticles (number
probably increasing with size); basis broad, with poste-
rior border denticulate and posterodistal area forming a
right angle; merus with spiniform setae on both sides.
P7: coxa with 3 posterior denticles; basis broad,
with posterior border denticulate and posterodistal area
forming a large triangular point directed downwards;
anterior border of basis with spinules; merus with spini-
form setae on both sides.
Pleosomite 1: one mediodorsal posterior tooth
flanked on each side by a dorsolateral tooth; pleuron
regularly rounded with minute ventral tooth, with pos-
terior border smooth, with 1 ventrolateral spine.
36
Fig. 6 - Rhachotropis northriana n. sp., station F2-1. Holotype. A,
posterior part of body in dorsal view; B, right posterior part of body
in oblique view. Spines of U1 and urosomite 1 in black. Parts of U1
not overlapped by other appendages shadowed with dots. Scale bar:
A, B, 0.21 mm.
AB
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS
Pleosomite 2: one mediodorsal posterior tooth
flanked on each side by a dorsolateral tooth; pleuron
with weak posterior and posteroventral crenulations or
denticulations, with 3-4 ventrolateral spines.
Pleosomite 3: one mediodorsal posterior tooth
flanked on each side by a dorsolateral tooth; pleuron
with strong denticulations on all posterior border and
extending to posterior part of ventral border, with 1-2
ventrolateral spines.
Urosomite 1: one strong mediodorsal posterior
tooth, with large triangular lateral tooth just above in-
sertion of U1, with one ventrolateral distal spine.
U1: peduncle with 8-14 short outer dorsal spinules,
with about 3 short medial dorsal spinules; outer ramus
with 5-9 spinules all along its outer border; inner bor-
der with 5-7 spinules all along its medial border.
U2: peduncle with 3-4 short outer dorsal spinules;
outer ramus with 2-5 spinules all along its outer border;
inner border with 2 spinules on proximal half.
U3: peduncle with large and sharp tooth on disto-
medial corner, with 1 distal outer spine and 1 subdistal
medial spine; outer ramus with about 5 spinules along
its outer border; inner border with about 2 spinules on
its proximal third.
Telson: entire, apically blunt; pair of rather short
proximal plumose setae
Length. Up to 5 mm (ovigerous female).
Ecology
Apparently an upper bathyal species; found between
270 and 283 m.
Distribution
Northern North Sea. Its biogeographical affinities
remain unknown but its closest relative R. integricauda
has southern affinities.
Remarks
The discovery of a new and very characteristic Rha-
chotropis species in the North Sea is a surprise, since
the fauna of this sea is supposed to be well known. It is
likely that the species has been previously collected but
not properly examined and assumed to be juveniles of
other larger Rhachotropis species. Furthermore the
species is brittle and presumably not common, which
renders the probability of capture rather small. R.
northriana n. sp. has an entire telson, just like the
South-European species R. caeca Ledoyer, 1977 and R.
integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948. The differential charac-
ters between these species are given in the key hereafter
which also includes all other European Rhachotropis
species known so far.
Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948
(Figs 7-10)
Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948: 460; Ledoyer, 1977:
363, fig. 16; Ledoyer, 1982a: 242 fig. 164; Froglia et al., 2003: 19.
Material
Marseille area, Planier canyon, locality 16, series FVP [=
‘faune vagile profonde’, i.e. mobile deepwater fauna], Ledoyer,
300-320 m, 07.iii.1975: 10 specimens in very poor condition,
including ovigerous females (material dried out and rehydrated),
leg. M. Ledoyer, TMU, TSZCr 12059
Unpublished diagnosis, extended description and
pencil drawings of the holotype by Ca˘ra˘us¸u. An English
translation of Ca˘ra˘us¸u account (in French) is given here-
37
Fig. 7 - Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948, ovigerous female,
holotype, Monaco. A, habitus in lateral view; B, head in lateral view;
C, head in dorsal view; D, posterior border of last thoracic segment,
coxa 7 and basis 7; E, third pleonite in dorsal view. Pencil drawing by
Ca˘ra˘us¸u inked by C. d’Udekem d’Acoz; scale unavailable.
A
B
D
C
E
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
38
Fig. 8 - Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948, ovigerous female, holotype, Monaco. A, first right antenna; B, second right antenna; C, up-
per lip; D, lower lip; E, left Md, F, tip of left Md; G, tip of right Md; H, Mx1; I, spines of outer plate; J, Mx2; K, detail of Mx2; L, right Mxp;
M, inner plate of right Mxp. Pencil drawing by Ca˘ra˘us¸u inked by C. d’Udekem d’Acoz; scale unavailable.
A
B
D
C
G
F
E
I
H
M
L
K
J
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS 39
Fig. 9 - Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948, ovigerous female, holotype, Monaco. A, left P1; B, cutting edge of propodus of left P1; C,
propodus of left P1 in medial view (at the level where the tip of the dactylus does fold); D, anterior part of carpus of left P1; E left P2; F, propo-
dus of left P2 in medial view (at the level where the tip of the dactylus does fold); G, left P3; H, left P4. Pencil drawing by Ca˘ra˘us¸u inked by C.
d’Udekem d’Acoz; scale unavailable.
A
B
CD
E
G
F
H
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
40
Fig. 10 - Rhachotropis integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948, ovigerous female, holotype, Monaco. A, left P5; B, left P6; C, left P7; D, posterior border of
basis of left P7; E, left Ep1; F, left Ep2; G, left Ep3; H, posterior border of left Ep3; I, left U2; J, left U3; K, telson; L, tip of telson. Pencil draw-
ing by Ca˘ra˘us¸u inked by C. d’Udekem d’Acoz; scale unavailable.
A
B
D
C
E
F
G
H
L
K
J
I
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS
after, in italics. When relevant, additional information
or remarks have been added and put between brackets.
The pencil Ca˘ra˘us¸u drawings, which were quite small,
have been enlarged twice and inked in trying to respect
the original. However, although inking has been done as
carefully as possible, a few mistakes may well have been
introduced where the original pencil drawings were am-
biguous or too small. The figure of the first uropod made
by Ca˘ra˘us¸u has been lost. The original pencil drawings
were not accompanied by scale bars.
Station: Monaco, Stn. LIII 07712 - 15 VI 1939, in
front of the Museum, 220 m depth, mud, 1 ovigerous female.
Our single specimen is somewhat damaged. However,
in examining the characteristic structures of this ovigerous
female, it has been possible to study it adequately, and we
have concluded that it is a new species of the genus [Rha-
chotropis].
Diagnosis - ovigerous female
Size = 5.1 mm. The three segments of the metasome
have a strong dorsal carina and two lateral carinae, of
which the tip is produced into an acute tooth. First seg-
ment of urosome also with a dorsal carina followed [poste-
riorly] by an acute tooth. Rostrum well developed, eyes
present. Accessory flagellum absent. All the 3 epimeral
plates crenulated along their posterior border. Peduncle of
first uropod not longer than rami. Telson almost reaching
tip of third uropods and with no trace of slit, the distal
border being devoid of interruption.
Description
- Body. Mesosome stout; its segments without carina,
without tooth. Metasome and urosome very developed.
Head + mesosome shorter than pleon + first urosomal
segment. Last segment of mesosome posteriorly pro-
duced into a pointed lobe reaching the posterior border
of the 7th coxal plate. The 3 segments of the metasome
are carinated; there are a stronger median carina and
2 lateral carinae [actually one lateral carina on each
side]. On each segment these carinae are terminated by
a long and acute tooth which is directed backwards.
The first segment of the urosome exhibits a narrow ca-
rina which is terminated in a point; on each side of this
median tooth, there is a smaller lateral tooth.
- Head as long as length of the four first segments of the
mesosome together; with strong rostrum, curving
downwards, overreaching half of first article of pedun-
cle of first antenna; seen from above, this rostrum looks
acute. The lateral lobes, which are somewhat curved on
their lower part, are terminated in an obtuse point
[Ca˘ra˘us¸u uses the term “pointe obtuse”, which
should be translated as “obtuse point”; actually “ob-
tuse lobe” would be more adequate to describe the
situation as illustrated].
- First antenna equal to half of body length (excluding
telson), reaching the level of the first segment of pleon.
First article of peduncle robust and terminated by two
distal teeth; long ciliate setae present, especially along
posterior border; second article of peduncle longer but
much narrower than first article and terminated by
two small tooth-shaped processes; third article small,
almost 4 x shorter than second article. Flagellum equal
to peduncle, with 8 articles; all these articles except the
last one have each a hyaline rod. No calceoli. Accessory
flagellum totally absent.
- Second antenna incomplete, only the first four article
present; these article present the typical structure [for
the genus Rhachotropis]; penultimate article of pedun-
cle with pairs of short setae on anterior border and pairs
of ciliated setae on posterior border. Again, no calceoli.
- Mouth parts
- Anterior lip rounded and without marginal notch.
- Posterior lip with internal lobes small-sized and fine-
ly ciliated on tip; outer lobes similarly ciliated.
- Mandibles. Cutting edge, lacinia mobilis and molar
process well developed on both mandibles; cutting edge
with two [well developed] teeth on tip and minute
ones along the margin; lacinia mobilis with 5 denti-
cles, slightly different on each mandible. Palp tri-artic-
ulate, “le dernier article plus long que l’ensemble des
soies courtes du bord interne” [a word for word trans-
lation would be “last article longer than the short se-
tae of inner border all together”, which makes no
sense in the present context]; moreover the last arti-
cle has 3 apical setae.
- First maxillae. Inner plate well developed, with a sin-
gle upper plumose seta; outer plate with bi- or trifur-
cate spines and with serrate spines. Palp biarticulate,
the last article with a regular row of small spiny setae
on its internal and terminal border; outer border also
with setae (these setae are less numerous but longer).
- Second maxillae. The two lobes have the same size;
external border of outer and inner plate adorned with
very narrow setae; at the tip of lobes, these setae become
stouter and longer.
- Maxillipeds. Inner plates with 3 spines and a few api-
cal setae; outer plates reaching half of second article of
palp and with ordinary setae. Palp well developed and
robust; second article broad and with pairs of long se-
tae on internal border; penultimate article broadened
and with long setae; dactylus powerful, slightly shorter
than penultimate article.
- First gnathopods. Coxal plate short [in vertical axis]
41
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
but strongly produced forwards, reaching tip of lower
angles of head; anterior border rounded, with only one
seta. Basis rather slender, with only two pairs of setae
on anterior border and one group of short setae on pos-
terodistal angle; ischium and merus short. Carpus with
an elongated lobe, with a long and stout apical seta
and some groups of shorter setae along the posterior
border. Tip of carpal process terminated in an acute
tooth. Propodus large and oval, 2 x as long as broad; its
length is equal to that of basis; palm very oblique; out-
er border of palm with regular row of short setae which
are slightly curved at their tip; medial border of palm
with another row of longer setae which are not ciliat-
ed. The palm is terminated by 2 triangular teeth and
by 3 strong spines where the tip of dactylus is folded; on
the medial side of this area of the propodus, the proxi-
mal spine is followed by a row of 5 short, stout and
equal-sized spines. The dactylus is narrow and curved,
and is equal to the border of the palm.
- Second gnathopods. Coxal plate with the same height
as coxa 1, but narrowing towards [ventral] tip. Basis
longer than that of Gn1, but not significantly broader.
The propodus exhibits the same shape as in Gn1, but it
is slightly broader and has the same length as the basis;
on the medial side of the [proximal] extremity of the
palm there are also 3 spines, but near the proximal spine
there are 2 spines instead of 5, as it is the case in Gn1.
- Third pereiopods [in the French text Ca˘ra˘us¸u uses
the terms “péréiopodes 1-5” for the pereiopods 3 to
7]. The coxal plate is smaller than any other; its an-
terodistal angle is rounded. Basis much narrower than in
Gn2, but almost of the same length; it is completely de-
void of setae on anterior and posterior border and there
are only 3-4 short setae at the anterodistal border. Merus
narrower than ischium and twice longer. Carpus 2 x as
long as merus and with setae along its posterior border.
Propodus considerably shorter than carpus, with setae on
the two borders; dactylus slender, nearly straight, longer
than propodus. Oostegites as long as half body length.
- Fourth pereiopods subequal to third pereiopods, but
their coxal plates are broader and have a posterior con-
cavity [échancrure].
- Fifth pereiopods. Coxal plate rather broad, bilobed
and with posterior border crenulated; basis 1.5 x as
long as broad, with anterior border convex, with a sin-
gle small spine; the posterior border, which is also
slightly convex, is crenulated, especially in its distal
part; a very narrow seta is inserted at the basis of each
crenulation; merus rather stout, adorned with groups
of 2 to 3 short spines along the anterior and posterior
border; merus 1.5 x as long as basis; postero-distal an-
gle produced into a narrow lobe; such a lobe is also
present in the sixth and the seventh pereiopods, in
which it is significantly more developed.
- Sixth pereiopods. Coxal plate and basis morphological-
ly similar to those of the fifth pereiopods, but basis larger
and with spines more numerous on anterior border; car-
pus proportionately shorter than in the fifth pereiopod.
- Seventh pereiopod. Coxal plate higher in its posteri-
or half, which has its border crenulated; basis much
broader than in sixth pereiopod and presenting a mem-
branous lobe at its posterodistal angle; anterior border
adorned with short spines, posterior border crenulated
on all its length; carpus stout, not much longer than
basis; considering the size of the merus it can be as-
sumed that the last 3 pereiopods are very elongated, as
in most species of Rhachotropis.
- First epimeral plate with borders nearly parallel,
with crenulations along the posterior border.
- Second epimeral plate posteriorly produced, and also
denticulated.
- Third epimeral plate not much produced posteriorly,
presenting up to 15 denticles pointing backwards and
upwards, distributed all along the posterior border and
on a part of the ventral [Ca˘ra˘us¸u uses “distal” for
ventral] border; a seta is inserted at the basis of each
denticle.
- First uropod [drawing lost]. Peduncle slightly shorter
than inner ramus and adorned with small spines along
its two borders; inner ramus with a row of short spines
along its medial border; outer ramus narrower, a bit
shorter than inner ramus, devoid of spines.
- Second uropod. Peduncle barely as long as outer ra-
mus; outer ramus significantly shorter than inner ra-
mus; ornamentation slightly different to that of first
pereiopod [no more detail given].
- Third uropod. Peduncle 3 x shorter than inner ramus
and presenting a curved and acute distomedial tooth;
outer ramus slightly shorter than inner ramus; outer
ramus adorned with outer marginal spines; inner ra-
mus adorned with medial marginal spines.
- Telson triangular, less than 3 x as long as wide; its tip
reaches the extremity of the outer ramus of the third
uropod. It presents a pair of plumose setae near its ba-
sis, and a row of very narrow setae along each border
[depicted much too broad on the drawing]. There is
absolutely no trace of incision at the tip of the telson,
even when examined under a high magnification; the
tip of the telson only presents very narrow [and ex-
tremely short] setae. The name of the species derives
from the morphological characteristics of the telson.
Remarks [by Ca˘ra˘us¸u].
The new species markedly differs from other species of
42
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS
the genus [known in 1948] by its non-cleft telson. In oth-
er respects, it appears that it is close to Rh. Grimaldii
(Chevreux). Both species have the same number of teeth at
the tip of the carinae of the metasome, a carina on the first
segment of the urosome, crenulations on the last 3 coxal
plates. However, our species can be distinguished from Rh.
Grimaldii by the absence of accessory flagellum, the short-
er first antenna, by the teeth of the carina [of what?] not
erected, by the basis of the third pereiopods which is con-
siderably broader and devoid of crenulations [confusion
between basis and coxa?], by the absence of some spines
on the 4 first coxal plates, and finally by its size which is
twice smaller. On the other hand, Rh. kergueleni Stebb.
exhibits many similarities with our species: spines of palm
of Gn1, posterior border of the last 3 coxal plates... “a lit-
tle serrate” (Stebbing, “Challenger”), many details in the
structure of mouthparts, occurrence of a carina on the last
segment of the urosome, very small incision of telson, not to
speak about its ornamentation identical to that of our
species. The main difference in the species of the Indian
Ocean is the absence of eyes, the great length of the flagel-
lum of the first antenna which considerably overreaches the
peduncle and presents 34 articles, the greater relative
length of the merus if compared with basis in the last 5
pereiopods, and finally the size which is almost 3 x longer
than that of our specimen. This prevents us to conclude
that the two species are identical.
Morphological notes on the specimens from Marseille
The very poor condition of these specimens prevents
us to present a detailed morphological account of them.
Just let’s say that their rostrum is curved but pointing
forward; the eyes are well developed; their coxae 1-3
have a very indistinct posterior notch or at most a faint
trace of tooth; their first epimeral plate is somewhat vari-
able being weakly to indistinctly crenulated; the pedun-
cle of their first uropod has 11 to 13 outer dorsal teeth.
Ecology
Muddy bottoms, at 200-500 m depth in the
Mediterranean, and 100-350 m in the Bay of Biscay.
Distribution
Mediterranean, including Adriatic Sea, Bay of Biscay.
Remarks
There is no doubt that Ledoyer’s (1977, 1982a)
specimens are correctly identified. Dr. Jean-Claude
Sorbe (in litt.) has confirmed that the Rhachotropis from
the Bay of Biscay identified as R. integricauda and avail-
able to him really belongs to that species, since they
have an elongated rostrum.
IDENTIFICATION KEY TO EUROPEAN
RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES
The West Atlantic R. lobata Shoemaker, 1934 has
been included in the key, as it still may be discovered in
the East Atlantic.
1. Telson entire ....................................................... 2
– Telson cleft or notched........................................ 6
2. Pleosomites 1-2 with pair of small posterolateral
dorsal teeth about 0.1 x as long as segment..........3
– Pleosomites 1-2 with pair of huge posterolateral
dorsal teeth about 1.0 x as long as segment............
..... Rhachothropis flamina Bellan-Santini, 2006
3. Eyes present........................................................ 4
– Eyes absent .........................................................5
4. Rostrum directed anteriorly. Ep1 posterior border
more or less crenulated ..........................................
......................... R. integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948
– Rostrum directed downwards. Ep1 posterior bor-
der not crenulated, with only one minute tooth.....
............................................ R. northriana n. sp.
5. Rostrum short. Ep3 posterior border smooth. Basis
of P7 posterodistally with rectangular lobe.............
......................................... R. caeca Ledoyer, 1977
– Rostrum long. Ep3 posterior border crenulated.
Basis of P7 posterodistally with acute lobe .............
R. gloriosae Ledoyer, 1982 (Material from Madagascar)
6. Telson cleft 10% or less....................................... 7
– Telson cleft 20% or more.................................. 14
7. P7 basis with mid-posterior bulge or spur ........... 8
– P7 basis lacks mid-posterior bulge or spur........... 9
8. Eyes absent. Dorsal teeth on metasome and urosome
segment 1 long, acute and well-developed. P7 with
long posterior spur
.....R. palporum Stebbing, 1908
– Eyes well-developed. Dorsal teeth on metasome
and urosome segment 1 short. P7 with basis poste-
riorly with rounded bulge......................................
.............. R. lobata Shoemaker, 1934 (W.Atlantic)
9. Ep3 with small or large serrations ..................... 10
– Ep3 posteriorly smooth (small setae may be present)
......................................................................... 12
10. Ep3 posteriorly coarsely serrate. Urosome segment
1 with well-developed, acute dorsal tooth ..............
R. aff. kergueleni Stebbing, 1888, sensu Stephensen,
1944
– Ep3 posteriorly finely serrulate, only in distal half
.......................................................................11
11. Metasome segment 1 with small median tooth only
........................... R. faeroensis Stephensen, 1944
– Metasome segment 1 with median tooth and a pair
of lateral teeth .......... R. proxima Chevreux, 1911
43
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
12. Metasome segments 1 and 2 with both median and
lateral dorsal teeth ... R. thorkelli Thurston, 1980
– Metasome segments 1 and 2 with median dorsal
tooth only......................................................... 13
13. Rostrum long and acute. Eyes well-developed........
...................................... R. glabra Ledoyer, 1977
– Rostrum short and blunt. Eyes absent....................
R. gracilis Bonnier, 1896 and R. arii Thurston,
1980 (NB: these species are very close; for differ-
ences, see Thurston 1980, p. 63)
14. Article 1 of first antenna without long curved spine
at the inferodistal corner ................................... 15
– Article 1 of first antenna with long curved spine
(about as long as article 1) at the inferodistal corner
......................... R. licornia Bellan-Santini, 2006
15. Rostrum long, acute.......................................... 16
– Rostrum short................................................... 19
16. Small species, up to 4.5mm. Ep3 weakly denticu-
late posteriorly. [Eyes present, not well developed]
.................................... R. inermis Ledoyer, 1977
– Larger species, 8-30 mm. Ep3 regularly serrate pos-
teriorly.............................................................. 17
17. Smaller southern species, 8-10 mm. Eyes absent.
P7 basis without acute posterodistal lobe .......... 18
– Large northern species, up to 30 mm. Eyes large,
dark. P7 basis with acute posterodistal lobe ...........
.............................. R. aculeata (Lepechin, 1788)
18. Pleonites 1-2 with posteromedian dorsal tooth ......
.................................... R. rostrata Bonnier, 1896
– Pleonites 1-2 without posteromedian dorsal tooth
.............................. R. pilosa Bellan-Santini, 2006
19. Blind deepwater (850 m and deeper) species. [Meta-
some segment 3 with single middorsal tooth] ..... 20
– Eyed species (eyes may fade in alcohol in some
species) of shallow to moderate depths (usually less
than 1000 m except R. lomonosovi which is often
found deeper) ................................................... 21
20. Coxa 1 strongly produced anteriorly. Dorsal teeth on
metasome strong, acute ... R. gislii Thurston, 1980
– Coxa 1 weakly produced. Dorsal teeth on meta-
some low, blunt ...... R. thordisae Thurston, 1980
21. Metasome segment 3 and urosome segment 1 lack
clear middorsal tooth (may have carina)............ 22
– Metasome segment 3 and urosome segment 1 with
clear middorsal tooth or teeth ........................... 23
22. Mesosome segment 7 with small middorsal tooth....
.................................. R. oculata (Hansen, 1887)
– Mesosome segment 7 lacks middorsal tooth...........
.................................. R. inflata G. O. Sars, 1883
23. Urosome segment 1 lacks middorsal tooth.............
.......................... R. grimaldii (Chevreux, 1887)
– Urosome segment 1 with middorsal tooth......... 24
24. Lateral cephalic lobe long and narrow. Eyes small,
white in life, turning dark in alcohol......................
.......................... R. lomonosovi Gurjanova, 1934
– Lateral cephalic lobes broadly triangular. Eyes large
(may occasionally fade in alcohol)..................... 25
25. Eyes white, often fading in alcohol.........................
.................... R. leucophthalma G. O. Sars, 1893
– Eyes with dark pigment, remaining distinct in al-
cohol ................................................................ 26
26. P7 longer than body length. Metasome segment 3:
mediodorsal tooth acute, similar to those on seg-
ments 1 and 2........ R. macropus G. O. Sars, 1893
– P7 shorter than body length. Metasome segment 3:
mediodorsal tooth blunt, different from those on
segments 1 and 2........... R. helleri (Boeck, 1871)
SYNOPSIS OF EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES
Where no further references are given, these distri-
bution data are based on the papers by Stephensen
(1940, 1944a,b), Thurston (1980), Ledoyer (1982a),
Bousfield & Hendrycks (1995), Brandt et al. (1996),
Bellan-Santini & Ruffo (1998), Brunel et al. (1998),
Weisshappel (2000), Tzvetkova & Golikov (2001),
Dauvin & Bellan-Santini (2002), Galil (2004), and
Palerud et al. (2004). The situation in Iceland waters is
unclear: Weisshappel (2000), who studied the material
of the BioIce campaigns, indicated the presence of a
number of undescribed species among the 23 species of
Rhachotropis that she recorded in the area, but no de-
scriptions have yet been published. The experience of
Thurston, who recorded five Rhachotropis species,
among them four previously undescribed ones, from
only five hauls in deep water in the East Iceland basin,
makes clear that the Rhachotropis fauna of the deep
Norwegian Sea is as yet very incompletely known.
R. aculeata (Lepechin, 1780)
(Figured by G. O. Sars, 1893)
This species, which is considered by Bousfield &
Hendrycks (1995) as the most plesiomorphic in the
genus, has an almost circumpolar distribution. In the At-
lantic it occurs south to northernmost N. Norway (Vader
et al. 1997); in the Pacific it has been reported south to the
Japan Sea (Gurjanova 1951). It is a large and often com-
mon species in shallow or moderately deep Arctic waters.
R. arii Thurston, 1980
(Figured by Thurston 1980)
Only known from the type locality, at 2700 m in
the East Iceland basin (Thurston 1980).
44
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS
R. caeca Ledoyer, 1977
(Figured by Ledoyer 1977, 1982a)
Found in the Mediterranean and the Bay of Biscay,
on muddy bottoms. In the western Mediterranean it is
common on the Upper (400-500 m), Middle (550-600
m) and Lower (1250-1350 m) Slopes, as well as in the
deep canyons (1850 m) (Cartes & Sorbe 1999); else-
where in the Mediterranean it has been found down to
2720 m. In the Bay of Biscay records are from 346 to
790 m, most common at the shallower depths (Dauvin
& Sorbe 1995)
R. faeroensis Stephensen, 1944
(Figured by Stephensen 1944a)
Described after specimens from the northern Nor-
wegian Sea collected at 800-900 m (Stephensen
1944a). It also occurs in the Bay of Biscay where it has
been found sparingly at depths from 430 to 920 m
(Dauvin & Sorbe 1995). Not recorded off Iceland (not
present in the BioIce material).
R. flamina Bellan-Santini, 2006
(Figured by Bellan-Santini, 2006)
Described from 2250 m from the Azores Triple
Junction zone (Bellan-Santini, 2006).
R. gislii Thurston 1980
(Figured by Thurston 1980)
Described from c 2700 m in the East Iceland basin
(Thurston 1980); apparently also present in the BioIce
material (Weisshappel 2000), at roughly similar depths.
R. glabra Ledoyer, 1977
(Figured by Ledoyer 1977, 1982a)
In the Mediterranean found from 90 down to
2720 m, but on the Catalan Sea slope most character-
istic for the Middle Slope (550-600 m) where it was
the most numerous amphipod collected (Cartes &
Sorbe 1999). Also found in the Bay of Biscay, where it
occurred in small numbers at depths of 350 to 600 m
(Dauvin & Sorbe 1995).
R. gloriosae Ledoyer, 1982
(Figured by Ledoyer 1982b)
This species, described from deep water off Mada-
gascar (615-625 m), was reported from Icelandic waters
by Weisshappel (2000); 4 specimens as R. cf gloriosae in
North Atlantic Deep Water at depths from 2050 to
2300 m, 5 specimens as R. nr gloriosae from the warmer
North Atlantic Water at depths of 1020 to 1200 m.
Further research will show the real identity of these
specimens.
R. gracilis Bonnier, 1896
(Figured by Shoemaker 1930)
(Probable synonym R. distincta (Holmes, 1908))
Shoemaker (1930) synonymized these two species,
both somewhat insufficiently described, gracilis from
the Bay of Biscay at 900 m, distincta from Californian
specimens; Shoemaker’s material was from the western
North Atlantic. The synonymy has been accepted,
now and then somewhat reluctantly, by most authors,
but Bousfield & Hendrycks (1995) do not mention
gracilis at all in their discussion of R. distincta.
Thurston (1980, p.63) announced a redescription of
R. gracilis, but this has not yet appeared. The species
has a very wide distribution, from the Bay of Biscay to
the NE coast of Canada and New England in the N.
Atlantic (Weisshappel (2000) mentions it from Ice-
landic waters sub nom. R. distincta from nine stations
at depths from 500 to 2300 m), and from British Co-
lumbia and S. California in the NE Pacific. The At-
lantic and Pacific populations may on further research
well turn out to be not conspecific. In addition, Cartes
& Sorbe (1999, p. 1141) are of the opinion that 14
specimens caught in deep water (1250-1850 m) on the
Catalan Sea slope may well constitute a new species
different from R. gracilis.
R. grimaldii (Chevreux, 1887)
(Figured by Ledoyer 1977, 1982a)
(Probable synonym R. elegans Bonnier, 1896)
These two nominal species are usually put into syn-
onymy, although R. elegans was described as blind, while
R. grimaldii has well-developed eyes; both were described
from the Bay of Biscay. R. grimaldii occurs in the Mediter-
ranean, at moderate depths (cf e.g. Cartes & Sorbe 1999)
and in the Bay of Biscay in moderate numbers at all depths
from 350 to 1030 m (Dauvin & Sorbe 1995). Stephensen
(1944a) recorded the species from two localities in the
Norwegian Sea, at 900 and 1900-2150 m depth, respec-
tively, but it is not recorded by either Thurston (1980) or
Weisshappel (2000).There is a record from off Mauritania
(Chevreux 1927). R. grimaldii has also been reported from
South Africa (Barnard 1916, Griffiths 1975, 1976) and
from the Okhotsk Sea (Gurjanova 1955); this latter, blind
specimen is considered by Bousfield & Hendrycks (1955)
to belong to a related, but different species.
R. helleri (Boeck, 1871)
(Figured by G. O. Sars, 1893)
A common, but often misidentified species from the
NE Atlantic, from the coasts of Norway, Svalbard and
Russia, east to the Chukchi Sea. Sexton (1910) report-
ed, described and illustrated a single specimen of this
45
CÉDRIC d’UDEKEM d’ACOZ, WIM VADER, JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA
species from the deep Bay of Biscay, but curiously
enough R. helleri is not mentioned by either Dauvin &
Sorbe (1995) or Dauvin & Bellan-Santini (2002) as oc-
curring in French waters. Stephensen (1944a) men-
tioned two defective specimens from the northern West
Atlantic, but their identification remains somewhat un-
certain. The species is not recorded by Thurston (1980)
or Weisshappel (2000). Old records from the NE Pa-
cific probably in reality refer to closely related species
(vide Bousfield & Hendrycks 1995). R. helleri usually
occurs at moderate depths, e.g. at 230-360 m in the
Laptev Sea in Siberia (Sirenko et al. 2004)
R. inermis Ledoyer, 1977
(Figured by Ledoyer 1977, 1982a)
Described from muddy bottoms around Marseille,
Mediterranean at depths of 80-400 m, this small
species seems to be a Mediterranean endemic. Nor is it
generally common in Mediterranean waters; it was e.g.
not recorded by Cartes & Sorbe (1999) in their exten-
sive study of the Catalan Sea slope.
R. inflata G. O. Sars, 1883
(Figured by G. O. Sars, 1893)
(Synonym R. tumida G. O. Sars, 1893)
A small shallow-water species, living in the cold parts
of the NE and NW Atlantic and along the entire coast of
Siberia, east to the Chukchi Sea. Gurjanova (1951) listed
this species also from the Bering Sea and the Sea of Japan,
but this identification is somewhat uncertain, since
Bousfield & Hendrycks (1995) have described several
closely related species from the NE Pacific. For the same
reason, records from the Canadian Pacific and the coast
of Oregon are suspect (cf Bousfield & Hendrycks 1995).
R. integricauda Ca˘ra˘us¸u, 1948
(Figured by Ledoyer 1977, 1982a, and in present paper)
Described from the Mediterranean, on muddy bot-
toms at 250-370 m depth; recently also recorded from the
Adriatic Sea (Froglia et al. 2003), at 220 m depth. Also in
the extensive study of Cartes & Sorbe (1995) R. integri-
cauda was only found on the Upper Slope, at 390-500 m.
This species also occurs in the Bay of Biscay, where a few
specimens have been collected at 350 m (Dauvin &
Sorbe, 1995). Bachelet et al. (2003) additionally reported
the species from off Arcachon, at 114-180 m depth.
R. ? kergueleni Stebbing, 1888
(Figured by Stephensen 1944a)
Stephensen (1944a) succinctly described and illustrat-
ed a Rhachotropis from the NE Atlantic, which he tenta-
tively identified as the S. Atlantic species R. kergueleni de-
scribed by Stebbing (1888) from off Kerguelen Island.
His specimens were found at 64°54’N, 055°10’W at 740
m depth and at 65°16’N, 055’05’W at 682 m depth. Al-
so Weisshappel (2000) has identified two of her speci-
mens as R. nr kergueleni; these were collected in the North
Atlantic Water at 976 m depth. All these specimens will
probably turn out not to be identical with R. kergueleni.
R. leucophthalma G. O. Sars, 1893
(Figured by G. O. Sars, 1893)
This white-eyed species (eyes become colourless and
hard to see in alcohol) is quite common in moderately
deep water in South, West and North Norway, where it
often occurs together with the still much more numer-
ous R. macropus. It has been found neither in Russian
waters, nor in Svalbard, but it seems to be common in
the North Atlantic Water mass in Icelandic waters
(Weisshappel 2000); a single specimen from much
colder water was reported as R. nr leucophthalma (Weis-
shappel, loc.cit.). R. leucophthalma also occurs in deep
water off E. Greenland (Brandt et al. 1996).
R. licornia Bellan-Santini, 2006
(Figured by Bellan-Santini, 2006)
Described from 1937 m from the Azores Triple
Junction zone (Bellan-Santini, 2006).
[R. lobata Shoemaker, 1934)]
(Figured by Shoemaker 1934)
So far this deepwater species has been recorded in
the West Atlantic only but its occurrence in the East At-
lantic is not ruled out.
R. lomonosovi Gurjanova, 1934
(Figured by Gurjanova 1934, 1951)
Also this species has white eyes when alive, but they
turn black in alcohol. It is a true Arctic species, the on-
ly Rhachotropis reported from the Central Arctic Basin,
and it has also been recorded from the Kara, Laptev and
East-Siberian Seas. This large species is quite common
at depths of 1000-1500 m N. of Svalbard, at 80-81°N
(authors’ data).
R. macropus G. O. Sars, 1893
(Figured by G. O. Sars, 1893)
This species is often very numerous in the NE At-
lantic, e.g. in the Skagerak, along the Norwegian
coasts and in Svalbard, generally at moderate depths
(200-700 m). It also is reported from the Barents,
Kara and Laptev Seas (Tzvetkova & Golikov 2001),
but the more recent paper by Sirenko et al. (2004)
lists the Laptev material as R. aff. macropus. Weisshap-
46
ON A NEW DIMINUTIVE RHACHOTROPIS SPECIES FROM THE NORTH SEA, WITH A KEY TO EUROPEAN RHACHOTROPIS
pel (2000) reports R. macropus from Iceland waters, at
depths from 230 to 500 m, but there are no records
from the NW Atlantic.
R. northriana n. sp.
(Figured in present paper)
Northern North Sea, at depths from 270 to 283 m.
R. oculata (Hansen, 1887)
(Figured by Hansen 1887, Bousfield & Hendrycks 1995)
This very large-eyed species was originally described
from Greenland waters, at shallow depths. Many later
records are from the same area, but the species has also
been recorded from the Gulf of St Lawrence, where it is
common (Shoemaker, 1930; Brunel et al. 1998), from
Iceland waters, where it occurs at depths of 50 to 200 m
in the warmer North Atlantic Water (Weisshappel
2000), from the Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and
Chukchi Seas (Tzvetkova & Golikov 2001), and from
British Columbia, again in shallow waters (Bousfield &
Hendrycks 1995).
R. palporum Stebbing, 1908
(Figured by Stebbing 1908)
This species was described from a depth of 400 m in
the central N. Atlantic, at 59°36’N, 007°00’W. Weis-
shappel (2000) reported 2 specimens from the North
Atlantic Water (775-838 m) around Iceland as R. cf
palporum. Griffiths (1975) reported a single specimen
from S. African waters, 500-1000 m.
R. pilosa Bellan-Santini, 2006
(Figured by Bellan-Santini, 2006)
Described from 1630 m from the Azores Triple
Junction zone (Bellan-Santini, 2006).
R. proxima Chevreux, 1911
(Figured by Thurston 1980)
This species was originally described from very deep
water (4380 m) in the southern North Atlantic
(Chevreux 1911), and was later refound by Thurston
(1980) in the East Iceland basin at around 2700 m.
Weisshappel (2000) reported R. proxima from 2 sta-
tions in the North Atlantic Deep Water at 2300-2400
m, and R. nr proxima at 8 stations in warmer water and
at shallower depths, 260-1300 m; the latter is probably
a different species.
R. rostrata Bonnier, 1896
(Figured by Ledoyer 1982a)
This species, originally described from the Bay of
Biscay, apparently has a wide distribution in deep wa-
ters of the North Atlantic and Mediterranean (includ-
ing the Adriatic Sea). Cartes & Sorbe (1999) found it
on the Middle (550-600 m) and Lower (1250-1350 m)
Slopes of the Catalan Sea. In the Cap Ferret area of the
Bay of Biscay, R. rostrata was found in the deeper sam-
ples, 500-1500 m (Dauvin & Sorbe 1995).
R. thordisae Thurston, 1980
(Figured by Thurston 1980)
One of four new species, described by Thurston
from deep water (2700 m) in the East Iceland basin.
Weisshappel (2000) recorded both R. thordisae and R.
nr thordisae from Icelandic waters, at depths from 850
to 2400 m.
R. thorkelli Thurston, 1980
(Figured by Thurston 1980)
Also described from the deep East Iceland basin
(2700 m), and not as yet found elsewhere.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank Dr. Jean-Claude Sorbe (Arcachon)
for providing us with information on R. integricauda from the
Bay of Biscay, and Rune Palerud (Akvaplan, Tromsø) for data on
the type locality of R. northriana.
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49
ADDRESSES OF THE AUTHORS
CÉDRIC D’UDEKEM D’ACOZ – Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles, Département des Invertébrés Récents
(Carcinologie), Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; e-mail: Cedric.Dudekem@naturalsciences.be
WIM VADER – Tromsø Museum, Department of Zoology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway; e-mail:
wim.vader@tmu.uit.no
JOANNA LEGEZ
.IN
´SKA – Instytut Oceanologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Powstan´ców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot,
Poland, e-mail: zosia@iopan.gda.pl
