Asteropterygion climax Kornicker 1996

Asteropterygion climax

ETYMOLOGY.—From the Latin climax (a succession of ideas progressing in force to a culmination).

HOLOTYPE.—Partly dissected A–1 male in alcohol, AM P45370.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Gulf of Carpentaria, in vicinity of Weipa, Queensland, Australia; depth 10 m; 16 Nov 1981, time 1643.

PARATYPES.—Type locality: USNM 194279, dissected A–1 male on 2 slides (right valve coated for SEM) and in alcohol; USNM 194280, dissected adult male on 3 slides (left valve coated for SEM) and in alcohol; USNM 194098, 3 undissected juveniles in alcohol.

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from type locality in Gulf of Carpentaria.

DESCRIPTION OF A–1 MALE (Figures 44–51).—Carapace rugose, with well-developed rostrum and incisur (Figures 44, 45); caudal process not projecting past valve edge. Valve overlaps edge on all margins except posterior edge of caudal process; overlap broadest on rostrum and at anteroventral comer.

Ornamentation: Surface with stout node on rostrum, 2 stout nodes near ventral margin, 1 stout node at midheight near posterior end, 1 stout node near posterodorsal margin, and 1 or 2 nodes at midlength dorsal to midheight (Figures 44, 45). Surface with rounded fossae (Figures 44, 45, 46a–f,h,i, 47a,b); fossae on nodes smaller than fossae elsewhere (Figure 46h). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs reveal minute digitate papillae inside fossae (Figure 47b,c,f,g) and minute reticulations between fossae (Figure 47a–d). Lateral surface of valves with sparsely distributed bristles (Figures 46i, 47a–d). Edge of valve with numerous closely spaced bristles (Figure 46f,g,i) (in lateral view bases of bristles hidden by valve overlap).

Infold: Infold of rostrum with abundant bristles. Narrow list extending from anteroventral infold to dorsal end of caudal process; lamellar prolongation observed along anteroventral part of list; list along ventral margin crenulate; long simple bristles present along anteroventral and ventral list (Figure 48a); list anterior to caudal process straight and with short and long bristles (some of latter with parallel sides). A beaded ridge just inside valve edge extends along anteroventral and ventral infold becoming closer to edge in posterior half of ventral margin (Figure 48a); ridge absent along caudal process. Anteroventral infold with many short bristles between list and beaded ridge (Figure 48a). Infold of caudal process with row of about 30 bristles just within and parallel to valve edge.

Hingement: Posterior end of hingement with large tooth on left valve and large socket on right valve (Figure 46b).

Carapace Size (length (L), height (H), in mm): AM P45370 (holotype), L = 4.2, H = 3.0. USNM 194279, L = 4.5, H = 3.4.

First Antenna (Figure 48b,c): 1st joint with ventral hairs. 2nd joint: ventral margin with long proximal and short distal hairs; dorsal margin with short proximal hairs and 5 spinous bristles; lateral surface with 2 spinous bristles near midlength; medial surface with hairs along distal margin and near ventral margin. 3rd joint trapezoidal; dorsal margin with 5 spinous bristles (1 proximal, 4 terminal); ventral margin with 1 short bristle. 4th joint: dorsal margin with 1 long spinous terminal bristle; ventral margin with 4 spinous bristles (1 long, 3 very short). 5th joint: dorsal margin and distal lateral surface with rows of hairs; sensory bristle with 8 short proximal filaments and 5 long terminal filaments (distal pair fused proximally). 6th joint short, with spinous medial bristle about length of 5th joint. 7th joint: a-bristle slender, claw-like; b-bristle about twice length of a-bristle, with 9 short filaments; c-bristle slightly longer than b-bristle, with about 15 marginal filaments. 8th joint: d- and e-bristles about longer than a-bristle, bare with blunt tips; f-bristle bent dorsally, about same length as b-bristle and with about 21 filaments; g-bristle about same length as c-bristle, with about 12 marginal filaments.

Second Antenna: Protopodite ovoid, with few short distal spines along dorsal margin, long hairs along ventral margin (Figure 48d,e), and with 1 short distal medial bristle (Figure 48e). Endopodite 3-jointed (Figure 48e): 1st joint elongate with 7 small slender bristles (5 at proximal end, 2 slightly distal to them); 2nd joint more than twice length of 1 st joint, with 3–5 small distal lateral bristles; 3rd joint about length of 2nd joint, with long proximal filament and narrow rounded tip either bare or with minute bristle. Exopodite: 1st joint with minute straight medial bristle on distal margin (not shown in Figure 48d); bristle of 2nd joint very long, with natatory hairs and proximal ventral spines; bristles of joints 3–8 with natatory hairs; 9th joint with 5 bristles, all with natatory hairs (3 stout bristles also may have few minute ventral spines); joints 3–8 with basal spines increasing in size on distal joints (spine of 8th joint about length of 9th joint); 9th joint with lateral spine about same size as basal spine of 8th joint; joints 2–8 with minute spines along distal margin and few rows of indistinct spines proximal to edge; dorsal margin of 2nd joint 2 times length of dorsal margin of 3rd joint.

Mandible: Coxale endite of USNM 194279 with small bristle near base of ventral branch of left limb (Figure 49b) but not on right limb (Figure 49a); ventral branch with spines forming about 7 oblique rows and tip with 3 minute teeth (Figure 49a); ventral margin of dorsal branch with 2 minute teeth followed by 4 larger triangular nodes, 1 small spine close to distal node, 2 longer slender spines, and small main spine (Figure 49a); tip of branch with short spine; dorsal margin of branch with few minute distal serrations and long subterminal bristle with short marginal hairs and longer spines near base; margin of branch between tip and main spine and between tip and subterminal dorsal bristle with minute spines. Basale endite (Figure 49c): tip with 7 end-type bristles; ventral margin with 7 triaenid bristles (terminal pair of spines only slightly longer than subterminal pair); 3 dwarf bristles near dorsal margin (distal bristle about twice length of others). Basale (Figure 49d): ventral margin with 9 triaenid bristles, 1 long subterminal bristle with long spines, and 6 or 7 minute bare bristles with bases either medial or lateral; dorsal margin with 6 or 7 slender bristles (bare or with short spines) in middle part and 2 long stout terminal bristles with long spines; medial surface with long hairs. Exopodite almost reaching distal margin of 1st endopodial joint, hirsute, with 2 distal ventral bristles (proximal bristle about twice length of distal bristle) (Figure 49d). 1st endopodial joint with 8 ventral bristles (2 long stout proximal, 5 shorter distal, and 1 minute both proximal and medial) (Figure 49d). 2nd endopodial joint (Figure 49e): ventral margin with 7 spinous bristles; dorsal margin and medial surface near dorsal margin with abundant long and short bristles (not all shown in Figure 49e). 3rd endopodial joint with 6 bristles (3 long stout, 3 slender (1 long lateral, 2 short ventral) (Figure 49f)).

Maxilla (Figure 48f): Epipodite long slender with hairs at pointed tip. Endite I with 6 or 7 stout spinous bristles, 1 or 2 shorter slender bristles, and 1 or 2 minute bare medial bristles; endite II with 3–5 stout spinous bristles; 7 or 8 short bristles present near bases of bristles of endite II. Basale: dorsal margin with 4 proximal bristles with terminal hairs and 6 or 7 distal bristles (1 very long) oriented dorsally (some with bases on medial surface); ventral margin with row of 15 short spinous bristles, 1 long spinous distal bristle, and 1 long terminal bristle; medial side near ventral margin with 3 or 4 distal bristles (1 long spinous, 2 or 3 short bare); lateral side with 1 short proximal bristle near ventral margin (dashed in Figure 48f). Exopodite minute, with 3 bristles (1 long, 2 short). Endopodite: 1st joint with long hairs, 1 short bare alpha-bristle, and 1 long spinous beta-bristle; 2nd joint with 6 terminal bristles.

Fifth Limb (Figure 49g): Comb short, with strongly arched dorsal margin with 9–11 small proximal bristles; dorsal margin hirsute except for short span anterior to midlength. Exopodial bristles comprise 2 long spinous bristles, 3 small bare bristles between bases of long bristles, and 4 short bristles (2 longer bristles spinous, 2 shorter bristles bare) closer to ventral margin; 2 bristles at anteroventral corner with bases short distance from comb edge; bristles along ventral margin of comb of 3 different lengths.

Sixth Limb (Figure 49h): With 4 small epipodial bristles. Anterior margin with distinct suture separating trunk from skirt. Medial surface in anterodorsal comer of trunk with about 20 stout spines and with rows of slender spines ventral to them. Anterior margin of trunk with 3 rows of bristles: inner row with 6 bare bristles followed by 10 spinous bristles; middle row with 14 spinous bristles; outer row with 24 spinous bristles with bases on edge of trunk (not all bristles shown). Anterior margin of skirt ventral to suture with 8 or 9 slender spinous bristles. Anterior comer and ventral margin of skirt with 21 long bristles (with long spines) along edge, 10 shorter bristles (with long spines) with bases medial and set back slightly from ventral edge, 10 shorter bristles (with short spines) with bases medial and set back slightly farther from ventral edge, and about 30 minute bristles (either bare or with minute spines) with bases medial and set back slightly farther from ventral edge (not all bristles shown); 7 additional small bristles along ventral margin posterior to last long spinous ventral bristle; posterior tip of limb skirt translucent, separated slightly from rest of skirt by small indentation at ventral edge, and with 3 terminal weakly developed plumose bristles; tip and posterior part of skirt and trunk with abundant long hairs. Lateral flap at anterior comer of skirt obscured but with several slender plumose bristles (not shown). An internal sclerite at trunk midwidth bends at proximal end to intersect anterodorsal comer of trunk.

Seventh Limb: USNM 194279: Each limb with 37–44 cylindrical bristles per side to make up actual total of 75–81 bristles per limb; short bristles with 2 or 3 bells, longer bristles with up to 7 bells; bristles without marginal spines. Terminus with opposing combs, each with 26–28 teeth (5 or 6 teeth at midwidth of comb shorter than adjacent teeth, and teeth decrease in length at each end of comb) (only 1 comb shown in Figure 48g).



Furca (Figure 50a): Each lamella with 9 claws decreasing in length and width posteriorly along lamella; claws 1 to 4 or 5 with posterior teeth stouter along distal half; posterior 3 or 4 claws appearing weak and flexible; all claws with hairs along anterior margins. Each lamella with medial hairs at bases of claws and following claws; anterior edge of lamella with small spines; right lamella anterior to left lamella by width of base of claw 1.

Bellonci Organ (Figure 50b): With indistinct suture at about length; broad part distal to midlength with indistinct striations; tip nipple-like.

Eyes: Medial eye large, bare, with area of brown pigment (Figure 50b). Lateral eye with numerous ommatidia (about 50) and brown pigment (Figure 50c).

Lips (Figure 50d): Upper lip comprising 2 hirsute lobes, one on each side of low saddle; spines absent. Lower lip a hirsute flap on each side of mouth.

Genitalia (Figure 48h): Comprising minute lobes with few bristles.

Posterior of Body (Figure 50e): Hirsute, with very long hairs near posterior end of girdle; posterodorsal process bent on USNM 194279 but with 2 lobes: posterior lobe with long hairs, anterior lobe bare. Gills well developed.

Y-Sclerite (Figure 50f): Without ventral branch.

Protistans: Some appendages and other parts of body with numerous internal ciliate-like protistans (those in 6th limb shown in Figure 51).

DESCRIPTION OF ADULT MALE (Figures 52–57).—Carapace elongate with well-developed incisur and rostrum (Figures 52, 53). Valve overlaps edge along anterior, ventral, and posterior margins; overlap broadest on rostrum and anteroventral corner.

Ornamentation: Surface with small node at midheight of rostrum, elongate ridge along ventral margin of rostrum extending onto valve posterior to rostrum, discontinuous rib along anterior of ventral margin, 3 processes along posterior margin, and 2 small nodes just anterior to upper and middle posterior processes (Figures 52, 53). Surface with rounded fossae (Figures 52, 53, 54a, 55a–c); fossae on nodes generally smaller than elsewhere (Figure 55b). SEM micrographs reveal minute digitate papillae and clusters of papillae inside of fossae (Figures 54a,c, 55e) and show minute reticulations between fossae (Figures 54a, 55c,d); edges of reticulations with minute papillae (Figures 54b, 55d). Lateral surface of valves with sparsely distributed bristles (Figures 54a,b, 55c–f); some bristles emerge from open pores (Figure 54a,b), others from closed pores with radial processes around base of bristle (Figure 55c–f). Edges of valves with numerous closely spaced bristles (in lateral view bases of bristles hidden by valve overlap) (Figures 55a, 56a,b). Posterior end of valve with row of long hairs (Figure 55b); anterior end of valve with long hairs and bristles on rostrum and ventral to incisur (Figures 55 a, 56a).

Infold: Infold of rostrum with abundant bristles (not all shown in Figure 56a). List extending from anterior of valve length to dorsal end of caudal process; list anterior to caudal process broad and with short and long bristles similar to those of A–1 male (Figure 56b). Crenulate ridge extends from about anterior of valve to ventral end of caudal process. Infold of caudal process with about 45 long and short bristles just within valve edge (Figure 56b).

Hingement: Similar to that of A–1 male (socket of right valve shown in Figure 56b).

Carapace Size (length (L), height, (H), in mm): USNM 194280, L = 5.0, H = 3.5.

First Antenna (Figure 56c,d): 1st joint with distal ventral hairs. 2nd joint spinous with 5 spinous dorsal bristles. 3rd joint weakly separated from 4th joint, with 1 short ventral bristle and 5 dorsal bristles (1 proximal, 4 terminal). 4th joint with 4 or 5 spinous terminal bristles (1 dorsal, 3 or 4 (1 minute) ventral). 5th joint with long stout sensory bristle with abundant thin filaments (not shown). 6th joint with spinous medial bristle with base almost on dorsal margin. 7th joint: a-bristle slender claw-like with distal rings; b-bristle about 3 times length of a-bristle, with about 13 short marginal filaments; c-bristle extremely long (tip broken off but with 40 marginal filaments on remaining part). 8th joint: d- and e-bristles about twice length of a-bristle, bare with blunt tips; f-bristle about same length as b-bristle, with about 15 short marginal filaments; g-bristle similar to c-bristle.

Second Antenna: Prodopodite without spines or hairs, with short distal medial bristle. Endopodite 3-jointed (Figure 56e): 1 st joint elongate with 7 or 8 bristles (4 or 5 proximal, 3 at midlength); 2nd joint elongate with about 30 bristles (only 10 shown in Figure 56e, but 30 shown in Figure 56f); 3rd joint elongate, recurved, with 1 long slender proximal filament and pointed tip with about 15 minute ridges (not all ridges shown). Exopodite: 1st joint with short distal spines along ventral margin; bristles of joints 2–8 long, with natatory hairs, no spines; 9th joint with 5 (1 short) bristles with natatory hairs; joints 4–8 with basal spines increasing in length on distal joints; basal spine of 8th joint about same length as 9th joint; 9th joint with lateral spine about length of basal spine of 8th joint; joints 2–8 with long hairs on distal dorsal corners.

Mandible: Coxale endite similar to that of A–1 male, but both limbs with small bristle near base of ventral branch (Figure 57a,b). Basale endite with total of 11 triaenid and end-type bristles (bristles not clearly differentiated, both with small marginal spines (spines not shown in Figure 57c), 3 dwarf bristles (distal bristle twice length of 2 proximal bristles), and glandular peg (Figure 57c). Basale (Figure 57d): ventral margin with 4 minute bristles, 9 short bristles (most with closely spaced distal spines), and 1 long distal bristle with long spines; dorsal margin with 7 slender bristles and 2 long stout terminal bristles. Exopodite and 1st and 3rd endopodial joints similar to those of A–1 male (Figure 57d). 2nd endopodial joint: ventral margin with 10 bristles; dorsal margin and medial surface near dorsal margin similar to that of A–1 male but with more medial bristles near dorsal margin (about 100 medial bristles in 10 rows).

Maxilla: Both limbs partly fragmented. Endite I with 6 stout bristles, 1 short slender bristle, and 1 minute medial bristle; endite II with 5 stout bristles; 9 short bristles present near bases of bristles on endite II. Basale: dorsal margin with 4 proximal bristles and 5 distal bristles (2 short proximal, then 1 very long and 2 fairly long); medial side with vertical row of 4 small bristles near distal dorsal bristles; ventral margin fragmented (remaining part with 10 small bristles and 1 distal long medial bristle). Exopodite minute with 2 bristles. Endopodite: 1st joint with 1 short alpha-bristle and 1 long beta-bristle; 2nd joint with 5 terminal bristles.

Fifth Limb (Figure 57e): Comb with hook-like dorsal process; dorsal margin with 5 small bristles proximal to tip of hooked process and with hairs at distal end just dorsal to marginal bristles; 2 small lateral bristles present at midlength just ventral to dorsal margin. Exopodial bristles comprise 2 long spinous bristles (posterior bristle shorter and more slender, broken off on comb of right limb but shown as dashed bristle based on proximal part of bristle present on left comb), 3 short bare bristles between bases of long bristles, and 5 short bristles (2 longer spinous, 3 shorter bare) closer to ventral margin; 2 small bristles at anteroventral corner with bases short distance from comb edge; bristles along ventral edge similar to those of A–1 male.

Sixth Limb: With 5 epipodial bristles. Medial surface in anterodorsal corner of trunk with spines (uncounted) similar to those of A–1 male. Posterior tip of skirt with 4 plumose bristles; remaining bristles (uncounted) of skirt similar to those of A–1 male.

Seventh Limb: Each limb with 40–43 cylindrical bristles per side to make up actual total of 81–86 bristles per limb; short bristles with 2–4 bells, longer bristles with up to 7 bells (rarely 8); bristles without marginal spines. Terminus with opposing combs, each with 27 or 28 spinous teeth (5 or 6 teeth at midwidth of comb shorter than adjacent bristles, and teeth decrease in length at each end of comb) (only 1 comb shown in Figure 56g and marginal spines of teeth not shown).

Furca (Figure 57f,g): Each lamella with 9 or 10 claws decreasing in length and width posteriorly along lamella. Limb otherwise similar to that of A–1 male.

Bellonci Organ, Eyes (Figure 57h), Lips, and Y-Sclerite: Similar to those of A–1 male.

Genitalia (Figure 57i): Elongate lobes with few minute bristles, anterior to furca.

Posterior of Body (Figure 57j): Similar to that of A–1 male except anterior lobe of posterodorsal process narrower and longer than posterior lobe.

COMPARISONS.—The new species resembles Asteropterygion hirsutum (Poulsen, 1965), which is based on a unique juvenile male (probably A–1 male) from the Malayan Archipelago. They differ mainly in that the a-bristle of the first antenna of the A–1 male A. hirsutum tapers to a point (bristle-like) whereas that of the A–1 male A. climax curves dorsally and is claw-like. The two species have characters not found in other members of the genus, such as having more primary furcal claws and having medial spines in the proximal anterior corner of the trunk of the sixth limb. The two species are very closely related and could be conspecific. The presence of small copulatory organs on the juvenile male A. hirsutum described by Poulsen (1965:187) and the juvenile male A. climax described herein, as well as the bristles of the seventh limbs being cylindrical rather than tapering distally, indicate that both are at the A–1 stage. Based on the description of the A–1 male by Poulsen (1965:187), and the A–1 male A. climax described herein, additional differences between A–1 males of the two species are as follows:

A. hirsutum A. climax

Carapace length (mm)

3.7 4.2–4.5

Number of bristles between list and valve edge on infold of caudal process

10 30

Number of bristles on 2nd joint of endopodite of 2nd antenna

0 3–5

Number of long exopodial bristles on comb of 5th limb

1 2

The shape of the carapace of the adult male A. climax resembles that of Asterope lichenoides Brady, 1902, known from a unique adult male (from the southern part of the South China Sea) that I herewith refer to Asteropterygion lichenoides. Brady (1902:181) described the furca of A. lichenoides as having five slender claws, many fewer than A. climax. The adult male A. climax differs from previously described adult males of the genus in having extremely long c- and g-bristles on the first antenna and in having a hook-shaped dorsal process on the comb of the fifth limb. The elongate carapace of the adult male A. climax differs in shape from those of known adult males of other species with the exception of A. lichenoides.

CYCLASTEROPINAE Poulsen, 1965

Tetraleberis Kornicker, 1981

TYPE SPECIES.—Asterope brevis Müller, 1890:239.

COMPOSITION.—Three species of this genus are known from the vicinity of Australia, namely, T. brevis (Müller, 1890:239) and two new species described herein: T. pix and T. triplex. The genus now contains five species plus one left in open nomenclature (Kornicker, 1975:134).

DISTRIBUTION.—Tetraleberis brevis: Southwest of Japan and Coral Sea (NE of Australia); T. similis: Java Sea; T. pix: Calliope River and Auckland Creek near Gladstone, Queensland, Australia; T. triplex: Lizard Island and Davies Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia; T. tanzania, T. maddocksae, and Tetraleberis sp. 1: Indian Ocean. Known depth range is 3–65 m (Kornicker, 1981b:134).

REMARKS CONCERNING T. brevis (Müller, 1890).—This species, the type species of the genus, presents a problem. Kornicker (1981b:135) described a female (adult or A–l) syntype of T. brevis having a maxilla with many more dorsal and ventral bristles on the basale than were present on the maxilla illustrated by Müller (1890, pl. 27: fig. 12). Possible interpretations are that either (1) two different species are in the type series; (2) the number of bristles on the basale of the maxilla varies considerably within the species; (3) one of the described specimens has an aberrant maxilla; (4) poor observation; or (5) the maxilla illustrated by Müller is from an early juvenile. Until additional study clarifies the problem, I think it expedient to accept the fifth possibility and to assume that the specimen described by Kornicker (1981b:135) better represents T. brevis. Although I believe that the lack of a bristle between claws three and four of the caudal furca illustrated by Müller (1890, pl. 27: fig. 10) is probably the result of poor observation, it is possible that the absence is also a juvenile character.

CORRECTION.—Kornicker (1981b:153) described the lateral eye of T. maddocksae as having 24 ommatidia. The numerals apparently are transposed because the eye has 42 ommatidia (Kornicker, 1981b, fig. 52h).