“Colossendeis ensifer, new species Fig. 4
Material examined. Eltanin: 12-1025 (one specimen (holotype), USNM 234699).
Distribution. This unique specimen was captured southeast of the South Orkney Islands on the deep northern edge of the Weddell Sea in 3250-3285 m.
Description. Size extremely large, leg span about 411 millimeters, trunk and proboscis length about 55 millimeters. Trunk with pair of low swellings dorsal to palp insertions. Lateral processes very short, closely spaced. Ocular tubercle a small and low bulge with prominent lateral sensory papillae, without hint of eyes. Proboscis slender, long, almost 0.4 longer than trunk, with moderate swelling along midlength, distally cylindrical. Abdomen moderately small, slender, extending to distal rim of first coxae of fourth legs.
Palp long, proximally robust, distal 5 segments slender and elongate, with many short sharp spines sometimes in rows. Sixth and eighth segments subequal, very slightly longer than distal 2 which are subequal. Seventh segment more than twice length of sixth. Oviger conventional, strigilis with at least 5 rows of tiny spines, claw slender, with very little curve, terminal spine not enlarged to form subchela.
Legs slender, femora the longest segments with first tibiae almost as long, 3 major segments armed with rows of short spines like those of palps, curved distally, shorter segments without spines. Tarsus almost twice as long as short propodus, claw hardly curved, slightly less than half propodal length.
Measurements (in millimeters). Trunk length, 21.2; trunk width (across first lateral processes), 10.8; proboscis length, 34.5; abdomen length, 5.0; third leg, three coxae, 17.0; femur, 60.2; tibia 1, 58.2; tibia 2, 49.2; tarsus, 8.6; propodus, 4.4; claw, 2.1.
Etymology. The specific name (Latin: ensifer, meaning sword-bearing) refers to the tiny dagger-like spines of the major leg segments and the palps.
Remarks. This species is perhaps one of the several which might take the place of the slightly smaller and more temperate- loving C. colossea in Antarctic waters. It is one of the largest of the genus to be found anywhere in deep oceans. That and the character of small hooked spines of the distal palp, and long leg segments serve to distinguish C. ensifer from the many other known species.” (Child 1995b, p.80-82)
Colossendeis ensifer is een zeespin uit de familie Colossendeidae. De soort behoort tot het geslacht Colossendeis. Colossendeis ensifer werd in 1995 voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door Child.
Bronnen, noten en/of referenties
