Tickalerus birubi Barnard & Drummond 1978

“Tickalerus birubi, new species

Description of female—Head about 17 percent of total body length, greatest width about 75 percent of length; rostrum constricted, narrow, short, exceeding apex of article 1 on antenna 1. Eyes medium, clear of pigment, ommatidia especially small. Article 1 on peduncle of antenna 1 about 1.4 times as long as wide, about 2.2 times as wide as article 2, ventral margin with about 13 setules, weakly produced dorsal apex with one setule, article 2 about 0.85 times as long as article 1, with ventral cycle of 11 setae; primary flagellum with 13 articles, about 0.75 times as long as peduncle, bearing several long aesthetascs; accessory flagellum with 10 articles. Spine formula on article 4 of antenna 2 = 1-3-4-6, dorsal margin with 3 notches bearing 3 setae each, ventral margin with 7-8 groups of 2-4 long to short setae, one ventrodistal long spine; article 5 about 0.7 times as long as article 4, facial spine formula = 1-2-2, dorsal margin naked, ventral margin with 7 sets of 1-3 long to short setae, 2 ventrodistal long to medium spines; flagellum about 1.1 times as long as articles 4-5 of peduncle combined, with 14 articles. Mandibles with weak palpar hump; right incisor with 3 teeth and notch; left incisor with 5 humps in 2 branches; right lacinia mobilis bifid, distal branch little shorter than proximal, flabellate, broad, subbifid, denticulate, with weak facial humps, proximal branch simple, pointed, with marginal denticles and facial humps; left lacinia mobilis with 4 teeth; right rakers 12; left rakers 11; molar in form of bulbous hump, right molar with 10 primarily long spines plus one short spine strongly disjunct, left molar with 7 primarily long spines plus one short spine strongly disjunct; palp article 1 slightly elongate, article 2 with one medium inner apical seta and 2 other shorter inner setae, article 1 with 2 short setae, article 3 about 1.1 times as long as article 2, oblique apex with 12 spine-setae, basofacial formula = 3-5. Inner plate of maxilla 1 elongate, thin, bearing one long apical pluseta, one shorter similar apicomedial seta, 2 apicolateral much shorter setae; palp article 2 with 4 apicalmedial marginal spines and 4 submarginal setae. Plates of maxilla 2 extending equally, outer broader than inner, with 6 apicolateral setae, inner with 3 medial setae. Inner plate of maxilliped with 2 large, thick apical spines, 3 apicofacial setae, 5 medial setae; outer plate with 8 medial and apical spines, 3 apicolateral setae; palp article 1 with apicolateral seta, article 2 with 2 groups of 3 apicolateral setae, medial margin of article 2 moderately setose, article 3 with 6 facial setae, set of 3 lateral setae, nail of article 4 medium-short, with 2 accessory setules. Coxa 1 scarcely expanded distally, anterior margin weakly concave, main ventral setae of coxae 1-4 = 12-10-12-0. posterior most seta of coxae 1-3 shortened; anterior and posterior margins of coxa - parallel, posterior margin straight, posterodorsal corner sharp, posterodorsal margin short, concave, width-length ratio of coxa 4 = 2:3(1). Long posterior setae on article 2 of gnathopods 1-2 and pereopods 1-2 = (12-13)-(16-19)-13-9, short posteriors = 0-2-3-4, long anteriors = (6—7)—18—1-0, short anteriors = (8-10)-8-11-(4-6). Gnathopods ordinary; width ratios of articles 5-6 on gnathopods 1-2 = 25:34 and 27:37, length ratios = 66:57 and 59:58; palmar humps ordinary to large, palms oblique; article 5 of gnathopod 1 elongate, ovate, posterior margin flat; article 5 of gnathopod 2 ovate, posterior margin rounded, almost lobate. Pereopods 1-2 similar, facial setae formula on article 4 = 8-9 and 5-6, on article 5 = 8 and 10; main spine of article 5 extending to M. 85 on article 6, article 5 with 4 and 3 proximoposterior spines; spine formula of article 6 = 7 + 9 or 6 + 9 or 6 + 8 and 7 + 1 0 plus vestigial middistal seta, some spines especially long; acclivity on inner margin of dactyls of pereopods 1-2 weak but produced as tooth, emergent setule short, midfadal pluseta absent. Coxae 5-7 posteroventral seta formula = 9-10-6. Articles 4-5 of pereopods 3-4 broad; facial spine rows dense, facial ridge formula on article 2 of pereopods 3-5 = 0-2-2, anterior on pereopod 5 short; width ratios of articles 2, 4, 5,6 of pereopod 3 = 50:60:44:18, of pereopod 4 = 80: 57:42:14, of pereopod 5 = 92:24:18:8, length ratios of pereopod 3 = 86:50:46:39, of pereopod 4 = 107:70:50:55, of pereopod 5 = 120:27:23:23; article 2 of pereopod 5 exceeding apex of article 4; medial apex of article 6 not combed, bearing 6 digital processes. Posteroventral corner of epimeron 1 rounded, protuberant, posterior margin convex, corner with setule, anteroventral margin with 8 long to medium setae, posteroventral face with 6 long setae, posterior most pair set vertically; posteroventral corner of epimeron 2 rounded, weakly protuberant, with setule sinus, posterior margin weakly convex, with setule notch, facial setae =12, posteriormost pair set vertically, upper member above facial ridge; posteroventral corner of epimeron 3 rounded, weakly protuberant, with setule sinus, posterior margin straight, with 3 setule notches, ventral margin naked, midface with oblique row of 6 setae near posterior margin; epimeron 3 with setule on posterodorsal margin set in weak notch. Urosomite 1 naked, articulation line almost complete; urosomite 3 with large hook dorsally. Rami of uropods 1-2 with articulate enlarged apical nails, outer ramus of uropod 1 with 7 dorsal spines, inner with one, outer ramus of uropod 2 with 4 dorsal spines, inner with one dorsomedial spine; peduncle of uropod 1 with 6 apicolateral spines and one basofacial seta, medially with 2 marginal setae and spines and apical enlarged spine; peduncle of uropod 2 with 8 dorsal spines, medially with one small apical spine. Peduncle of uropod 3 with 6 ventral spines, dorsally with one lateral spine, one medial spine and 3 setules; rami masculine, inner extending to M. 100+ on article 1 of outer ramus, apex with 3 setae, medial and lateral margins setose, article 2 of outer ramus short, 0.12, bearing 2 long setae, apicomedial margin of article 1 setose, lateral margin with 4 acclivities, spine formula = 2-1-1-1-1, setal formula - 1-2-2-2-2. Telson long, length-width ratio = 31:26, not fully cleft, each apex wide, rounded, lateral acclivity deep, broad, bearing short lateral setule, spine next medial much longer than setulc, with 1-2 medial setules, midlateral setules diverse. Cuticle with enlarged bulbar setules, emergent setules plumose.

Description of male (very young)—Scarcely distinct from female in secondary sexual attributes such as head, antenna 1, maxilla 1, coxae, pereopods 3-4, uropods 1-3, epimera 1-2, uropod 3 with fewer setae than in female because of youthfulness. Eyes scarcely enlarged. Article 1 of antenna 1 lacking medial fuzz. Spine formula on article 4 of antenna 2 = 1-3-4-5, on article 5 = 1-2; flagellum proliferate. Right lacinia mobilis somewhat more complex than in female; right mandibles with 9 rakers, left with 10 + one rudimentary; basofacial setae on article 3 of mandibular palp = 2 + 3. Maxilla 2 with one fewer seta medially and apicolaterally (2 and 5). Maxilliped less setose. Posteroproximal spines on article 5 of pereopods 1-2 better developed than in female (see illustration), dactyl bearing midfacial nonplumose seta. Article 2 of pereopod 5 slightly broader than in female (juvenoid condition). Epimeron 3 with one anterofacial seta, oblique row with 5 setae. Telson slightly elongate.

Observations—Prebuccal complex unproduced anteriorly; pereopod 5 with tiny setules on anterior margin of article 2; short posterior setae on article 2 of gnathopods 1-2 and pereopods 1-2 of variety known as "straw."

Illustrations—Known males scarcely distinct from females, therefore head of male not illustrated; disjunct spine on molars difficult to interpret owing to small size, transparency and tendency to roll into arc fitting curve of molar; bulbar setules so conspicuous as to be included on several illustrations; pleonal view of holotype with apices of setae on uropod 3 broken off, one spine on peduncle of uropod 2 reconstructed; palp of maxilla 1 opposite to that illustrated bearing one fewer apical seta; short posterior seta on coxa 2 missing.

Holotype—NMV, female "a." 8.1 mm.

Type locality—€PBS 24N/5, 1 Mar 1965, Western Port, Victoria, Australia, 9.1 m, muddy sand.

Voucher material—CPBS 26N/4, male "v," 6.6 mm (illus.); CPBS 26N/2. juvenile female "c." 6.50 mm (illus.).

Relationship—See remarks after generic description.

Material—CPBS, fi samples from 2 stations (8).

Distribution—Victoria, Western Port, 9.1-10.9 m, sand or muddy sand.”

(Barnard & Drummond, 1978: 398-402)

Tickalerus birubi

DESCRIPTION OF FEMALE.—Head about 17 percent of total body length, greatest width about 75 percent of length; rostrum constricted, narrow, short, exceeding apex of article 1 on antenna 1. Eyes medium, clear of pigment, ommatidia especially small. Article 1 on peduncle of antenna 1 about 1.4 times as long as wide, about 2.2 times as wide as article 2, ventral margin with about 13 setules, weakly produced dorsal apex with one setule, article 2 about 0.85 times as long as article 1, with ventral cycle of 11 setae; primary flagellum with 13 articles, about 0.75 times as long as peduncle, bearing several long aesthetascs; accessory flagellum with 10 articles. Spine formula on article 4 of antenna 2 = 1–3–4–6, dorsal margin with 3 notches bearing 3 setae each, ventral margin with 7–8 groups of 2–4 long to short setae, one ventrodistal long spine; article 5 about 0.7 times as long as article 4, facial spine formula = 1–2–2, dorsal margin naked, ventral margin with 7 sets of 1–3 long to short setae, 2 ventrodistal long to medium spines; flagellum about 1.1 times as long as articles 4–5 of peduncle combined, with 14 articles. Mandibles with weak palpar hump; right incisor with 3 teeth and notch; left incisor with 5 humps in 2 branches; right lacinia mobilis bifid, distal branch little shorter than proximal, flabellate, broad, subbifid, denticulate, with weak facial humps, proximal branch simple, pointed, with marginal denticles and facial humps; left lacinia mobilis with 4 teeth; right rakers 12; left rakers 11; molar in form of bulbous hump, right molar with 10 primarily long spines plus one short spine strongly disjunct, left molar with 7 primarily long spines plus one short spine strongly disjunct; palp article 1 slightly elongate, article 2 with one medium inner apical seta and 2 other shorter inner setae, article 1 with 2 short setae, article 3 about 1.1 times as long as article 2, oblique apex with 12 spine-setae, basofacial formula = 3–5. Inner plate of maxilla 1 elongate, thin, bearing one long apical pluseta, one shorter similar apicomedial seta, 2 apicolateral much shorter setae; palp article 2 with 4 apicalmedial marginal spines and 4 submarginal setae. Plates of maxilla 2 extending equally, outer broader than inner, with 6 apicolateral setae, inner with 3 medial setae. Inner plate of maxilliped with 2 large, thick apical spines, 3 apicofacial setae, 5 medial setae; outer plate with 8 medial and apical spines, 3 apicolateral setae; palp article 1 with apicolateral seta, article 2 with 2 groups of 3 apicolateral setae, medial margin of article 2 moderately setose, article 3 with 6 facial setae, set of 3 lateral setae, nail of article 4 medium–short, with 2 accessory setules. Coxa 1 scarcely expanded distally, anterior margin weakly concave, main ventral setae of coxae 1–4 = 12–10–12–0, posteriormost seta of coxae 1–3 shortened: anterior and posterior margins of coxa 4 parallel, posterior margin straight, posterodorsal corner sharp, posterodorsal margin short, concave, width–length ratio of coxa 4 = 2:3(1). Long posterior setae on article 2 of gnathopods 1–2 and pereopods 1–2 = (12–13)–(16–19)–13–9, short posteriors = 0–2–3–4, long anteriors = (6–7)–18–1–0, short anteriors = (8–10)8–11–(4–6). Gnathopods ordinary; width ratios of articles 5–6 on gnathopods 1–2 = 25:34 and 27:37, length ratios = 66:57 and 59:58; palmar humps ordinary to large, palms oblique; article 5 of gnathopod 1 elongate, ovate, posterior margin flat; article 5 of gnathopod 2 ovate, posterior margin rounded, almost lobate. Pereopods 1–2 similar, facial setae formula on article 4 = 8–9 and 5–6, on article 5 = 8 and 10; main spine of article 5 extending to M. 85 on article 6, article 5 with 4 and 3 proximoposterior spines; spine formula of article 6 = 7 + 9 or 6 + 9 or 6 + 8 and 7 + 10 plus vestigial middistal seta, some spines especially long; acclivity on inner margin of dactyls of pereopods 1–2 weak but produced as tooth, emergent setule short, midfacial pluseta absent. Coxae 5–7 posteroventral seta formula = 9–10–6. Articles 4–5 of pereopods 3–4 broad; facial spine rows dense, facial ridge formula on article 2 of pereopods 3–5 = 0–2–2, anterior on pereopod 5 short; width ratios of articles 2, 4, 5, 6 of pereopod 3 = 50:60:44:18, of pereopod 4 = 80: 57:42:14, of pereopod 5 = 92:24:18:8, length ratios of pereopod 3 = 86:50:46:39, of pereopod 4 = 107:70:50:55, of pereopod 5 = 120:27:23:23; article 2 of pereopod 5 exceeding apex of article 4; medial apex of article 6 not combed, bearing 6 digital processes. Posteroventral corner of epimeron 1 rounded, protuberant, posterior margin convex, corner with setule, anteroventral margin with 8 long to medium setae, posteroventral face with 6 long setae, posterior most pair set vertically; posteroventral corner of epimeron 2 rounded, weakly protuberant, with setule sinus, posterior margin weakly convex, with setule notch, facial setae = 12, posteriormost pair set vertically, upper member above facial ridge; posteroventral corner of epimeron 3 rounded, weakly protuberant, with setule sinus, posterior margin straight, with 3 setule notches, ventral margin naked, midface with oblique row of 6 setae near posterior margin; epimeron 3 with setule on posterodorsal margin set in weak notch. Urosomite 1 naked, articulation line almost complete; urosomite 3 with large hook dorsally. Rami of uropods 1–2 with articulate enlarged apical nails, outer ramus of uropod 1 with 7 dorsal spines, inner with one, outer ramus of uropod 2 with 4 dorsal spines, inner with one dorsomedial spine; peduncle of uropod 1 with 6 apicolateral spines and one basofacial seta, medially with 2 marginal setae and spines and apical enlarged spine; peduncle of uropod 2 with 8 dorsal spines, medially with one small apical spine. Peduncle of uropod 3 with 6 ventral spines, dorsally with one lateral spine, one medial spine and 3 setules; rami masculine, inner extending to M. 100+ on article 1 of outer ramus, apex with 3 setae, medial and lateral margins setose, article 2 of outer ramus short, 0.12, bearing 2 long setae, apicomedial margin of article 1 setose, lateral margin with 4 acclivities, spine formula = 2–1–1–1–1, setal formula = 1–2–2–2–2. Telson long, length-width ratio = 31:26, not fully cleft, each apex wide, rounded, lateral acclivity deep, broad, bearing short lateral setule, spine next medial much longer than setule, with 1–2 medial setules, midlateral setules diverse. Cuticle with enlarged bulbar setules, emergent setules plumose.

DESCRIPTION OF MALE (very young).—Scarcely distinct from female in secondary sexual attributes such as head, antenna 1, maxilla 1, coxae, pereopods 3–4, uropods 1–3, epimera 1–2, uropod 3 with fewer setae than in female because of youthfulness. Eyes scarcely enlarged. Article 1 of antenna 1 lacking medial fuzz. Spine formula on article 4 of antenna 2 = 1–3–4–5, on article 5 = 1–2; flagellum proliferate. Right lacinia mobilis somewhat more complex than in female; right mandibles with 9 rakers, left with 10 + one rudimentary; basofacial setae on article 3 of mandibular palp = 2 + 3. Maxilla 2 with one fewer seta medially and apicolaterally (2 and 5). Maxilliped less setose. Posteroproximal spines on article 5 of pereopods 1–2 better developed than in female (see illustration), dactyl bearing midfacial nonplumose seta. Article 2 of pereopod 5 slightly broader than in female (juvenoid condition). Epimeron 3 with one anterofacial seta, oblique row with 5 setae. Telson slightly elongate.

OBSERVATIONS.—Prebuccal complex unproduced anteriorly; pereopod 5 with tiny setules on anterior margin of article 2; short posterior setae on article 2 of gnathopods 1–2 and pereopods 1–2 of variety known as “straw.”

ILLUSTRATIONS.—Known males scarcely distinct from females, therefore head of male not illustrated; disjunct spine on molars difficult to interpret owing to small size, transparency and tendency to roll into are fitting curve of molar; bulbar setules so conspicuous as to be included on several illustrations; pleonal view of holotype with apices of setae on uropod 3 broken off, one spine on peduncle of uropod 2 reconstructed; palp of maxilla 1 opposite to that illustrated bearing one fewer apical seta; short posterior seta on coxa 2 missing.

HOLOTYPE.—NMV, female “a,” 8.1 mm.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—CPBS 24N/5, 4 Mar 1965, Western Port, Victoria, Australia, 9.1 m, muddy sand.

VOUCHER MATERIAL.—CPBS 26N/4, male “v,” 6.6 mm (illus.); CPBS 26N/2, juvenile female “c,” 6.30 mm (illus.).

RELATIONSHIP.—See remarks after generic description.

MATERIAL.—CPBS, 6 samples from 2 stations (8).

DISTRIBUTION.—Victoria, Western Port, 9.1–10.9 m, sand or muddy sand.

Kulgaphoxus, new genus

DIAGNOSIS.—Eyes present. Flagella of antennae 1–2 unreduced in female. Article 2 of antenna 1 especially elongate, ventral setae narrowly spread and proximal. Article 1 of antenna 2 not ensiform; article 3 with 2 setules; facial spines on article 4 in 2 rows; article 5 short. Right mandibular incisor with 3–4 teeth (interpretative); molar not triturative, ordinary, medium, truncate–conical, bearing 4 or more splayed, semiarticulate spines, not bearing fuzz; palpar hump small. Palp of maxilla 1 biarticulate; inner plate with 4 setae. Setation of maxilla 2 ordinary. Inner plate of maxillipeds ordinary; apex of palp article 3 weakly protuberant, dactyl elongate, apical nail distinct, medium to elongate. Gnathopods ordinary, small, similar; article 5 of gnathopods 1–2 free, elongate, without eusirid attachment; palms oblique, hands of gnathopods 1–2 ordinary, ovatorectangular, elongate, or broadened, poorly setose anteriorly. Article 5 of pereopods 1–2 setose posteroproximally. Article 2 of pereopod 3 of broad form, articles 4–5 of pereopods 3–4 broad, article 2 of pereopods 3–4 not setose posteriorly; pereopod 5 ordinary, article 2 naked or bearing one slightly elongate seta ventrally, article 3 ordinary, dactyl normal or vestigial. Urosomite 1 generally naked except for sparse apicoventral setae or spines near base of uropod 1; urosomite 3 with dorsal hook or special process. Peduncle of uropod 1 slightly shortened, without apicoventral spike, without special enlarged apicomedial spine; peduncular apices of uropods 1–2 not combed; inner ramus of uropod 1 with marginal spines in one row, some rami with accessory apical nails; inner ramus of uropod 2 slightly shortened. Uropod 3 small, rami shortened, article 2 of outer ramus carrying 2 long apical setae. Telson ordinary to short, with 1–2 apical spines on each lobe plus setules. Epimera 1–2 lacking numerous long posterior setae, without midfacial setae above ventral facial ridge, epimeron 3 ordinary.

DESCRIPTION.—Rostrum poorly developed, constricted, small. Fuzz on article 1 of antenna 1 in male present; calceoli on male primary flagellum of antenna 1 present. Calceoli on article 5 of male antenna 2 present; flagellum in male with calceoli. Prebuccal parts ordinary, especially massive, strongly distinct, either upper lip dominant or both parts equally prominent. Right lacinia mobilis bifid, flabellate; mandibular palp thin, article 1 slightly elongate, article 2 without outer setae, apex of article 3 oblique. Lower lip bearing cones. Outer plate of maxilla 1 with 11 spines, one spine especially thickened. Inner plates of maxilliped thick, ordinarily setose. Coxae 2–4 without special anterodorsal humps. All posterior spines on article 6 of pereopods 1–2 thick and stiff, midapical spine or seta vestigial. Article 2 of pereopod 5 without facial setae. Peduncle of uropod 1 with dorsolateral spines confined apically, medial spines confined apically; peduncle of uropod 2 with only one medial setule confined apically. Peduncle of uropod 3 lacking extra subapical setae or spines. Telson with ordinary pair of midlateral or dorsal setules on each side.

TYPE-SPECIES.—Kulgaphoxus borralus, new species.

COMPOSITION.—Kulgaphoxus cadgeeus, new species.

RELATIONSHIP.—Kulgaphoxus differs from Birubius in the shortened rami of uropod 3 equal to the peduncle in length, and in the enlarged dorsal hook of urosomite 3.

Birubius apari (6) has the rudiments of a dorsal process on urosomite 3 as in Kulgaphoxus and shares many other similarities, such as in gnathopods, narrow spread of setae on article 2 of antenna 1, the somewhat shortened rami of uropod 3 but the inner ramus of uropod 2 in B. apari lacks accessory nails.

Kulgaphoxus differs from Tickalerus in numerous characters among which are many not attributed generic status in Birubius. Kulgaphoxus and Tickalerus, are, however, so divergent, that one must assume for the time being that they had different origins out of Birubius. Indeed, the two species now placed in Kulgaphoxus themselves may not be congeneric.

Kulgaphoxus differs from Tickalerus in the smaller rostrum, more strongly dominant epistome (but not equally so in the 2 species of Kulgaphoxus), the proximal placement of ventral setae on article 2 of antenna 1, the presence of only one dorsal set of setae on article 4 of antenna 2 (like Birubius), the presence of accessory nails on the inner rami of uropods 1–2, and the perfectly rectangular coxa 4.

Somewhat more minor and variable characters include the following: reduction in number of ventral setae on article 2 of antenna 1, presence of only one mid set of facial spines on article 5 of antenna 2, reduction in basofacial setae on article 3 of mandibular palp, reduction in size of molar and loss of disjunctness of one spine, less grossly developed right lacinia mobilis, reduction in facial and lateral seate on article 3 of maxillipedal palp, more elongate article 5 of gnathopod 2, presence of dorsoposterior tooth on article 2 of pereopod 3, even shorter rami of uropod 3, more arcuate coxa 3, reduced spination on outer ramus of uropod 1, and enlargement of spines on uropod 3.

The two species of Kulgaphoxus mix together characters partially shared with Ticklarus so that the evolutionary flow is highly uneven; for example, one or the other but not both species of Kulgaphoxus shares with Tickalerus the following characters: the unusual bevel on article 2 of pereopod 5, similarities in palp of maxilla 1, elongation of article 6 on pereopods 3–4, well developed dactyl of pereopod 5, unexpanded coxa 1, normally elongate telson, and the presence of anterior setules on article 2 of pereopod 5.

One or the other species of Kulgaphoxus also bears many similarities to the genus Yan, among them the essential presence of only 2 rows of facial spines on article 4 of antenna 2, the somewhat reduced rostrum, shortened rami of uropod 3, degree of vestigiality or absence of midapical seta on article 6 of pereopods 1–2 and the presence of accessory nails on the rami of uropods 1–2. However, as in Kulgaphoxus, the species of Yan are diverse; for example, one species of Yan has 2 full rows of facial spines on article 4 of antenna 2 plus one spine in a third row, and there are strong distinctions in placement of accessory nails on uropods 1–2. Yan can be separated distinctly from Kulgaphoxus only on the absence of a dorsal process on urosomite 3. Both species of Yan have a vestigial dactyl on pereopod 5 whereas this situation occurs only in one species of Kulgaphoxus. Yan has a shorter article 2 of antenna 1 with ventral setae either in the middle or set distally. Both species of Yan have a much better developed molar than does Kulgaphoxus, somewhat similar to Tickalerus. Both species of Yan have long ventral setae (2 only) on coxa 4 unlike Tickalerus and Kulgaphoxus, but the shape of coxa 4 is alike between Kulgaphoxus and Yan whereas it is perfectly rectangular in Tickalerus.