Pycnogonum tenue Slater 1879

Pycnogonum tenue Slater

Pycnogonum littorale var. tenue Slater, 1879:281–283.

Pycnogonum tenue.—Hedgpeth, 1949:303, figs. 48b, 50c.—Utinomi, 1971a:338 [literature].—Nakamura and Child. 1983:64.—Nakamura, 1987:37, pl. 34

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—HONSHU: Sagami Bay, off Misaki, 96 m, 10 Jul 1985 (1). Kii Strait, 33°24.3′N, 135°43.0′E, 293–335 m, KT84–12, sta 6, 30 Aug 1984 (1); 33°23.9′N, 135°42.1′E, 353–416 m, KT84–12, sta 7, 31 Aug 1984 (1); 33°28.6′N, 135°28.9′E, 353–354 m, KT84–12, sta 15, 1 Sep 1984 (1); 33°35.9′N, 135°09.9′E, 322–346 m, KT84–12, sta 27, 2 Sep 1984 (1 with eggs). KYUSHU: W of Kyushu, 31°46.6′N, 128°09.9′E, 145 m, 4 Dec 1967 (l). Tomioka, Amakusa Island, 5 Jul 1984 (l); 42–45 m, 7 Jun 1984 (l).

DISTRIBUTION.—This species has been taken in many localities in Japan and appears to be endemic. The depths of capture are from 7 meters to the deepest at 416 meters in the above collections.

DISTRIBUTION.—This species was described with a male from Sagami Bay. The species has subsequently been taken at several localities along the Korean coasL These records extend its distribution to the south on the Japanesse coast to Wakayama Prefecture and to their deepest known depth of 90 meters. The species is found more often in the sublittoral.

Pycnogonum tenue Slater

Pycnogonum littorale var. tenue Slater, 1879:281–283.

Pycnogonum tenue.—Hedgpeth, 1949:303, figs. 48b, 50c.—Nakamura and Child, 1991:63 [literature].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Aleutians, off Amchitka Island, 51°14.5′N, 179° 11.8′E, 241 m, R/V Lets Go, cruise 861, sta 52, 17 Aug 86 (1); Aleutians, off Kiska Island, 52°03.9′N, 177°13.8′E, 93 m, R/V Lets Go, cruise 861, sta 79, 28 Aug 86 (2 juv, 2 larvae).

DISTRIBUTION.—Taken in many localities in Japan in the broad depth range of 7 to 416 m and thought to be endemic, the above two records extend distribution of this species to the western Aleutian Islands, but from previously known depths.

DIAGNOSIS.—Trunk and appendage integument lightly reticulated or sometimes unreticulated but granular. Trunk with slender dorsomedian tubercles, rounded or pointed. Lateral processes slightly longer than diameter, closely spaced but separated distally, with low dorsodistal bulges sometimes becoming a continuous dorsal ridge. Proboscis a long tapering truncate cone with flat oral surface. Abdomen fairly long, slender, tapering distally, extending beyond distal rim of first coxae, fourth legs.

Oviger 9-segmented, of moderate size, terminal claw slightly curved. Legs with moderately slender major segments, with very few short spines. Propodus tapers distally to smaller diameter, sole with pile of short spines, claw robust, long, more than half length of propodus, auxiliary claws lacking.

Pycnogonum tenue Slater

Pycnogonum littorale var. tenue Slater, 1879:281–283.

Pycnogonum tenue.—Hedgpeth, 1949:303, figs. 48b, 50c [figures].—Utinomi, 1971:338 [literature].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Suruga Bay: Tansei Maru cruise KT69-12, sta 4 (1).

Sagami Bay: Tansei Maru cruise KT69-12, sta 18 (1, 1); sta 20 (1). Nabeta Bay, 27 July 1973 (1 juv).

shelf to upper slope