Corresponding author: Rong-Cheng Lin (
Academic editor: Roger Bamber
A new species of pycnogonid collected by the Chinese research vessel R/V Dayangyihao during cruises to the Southwest Indian Ridge in 2008 and 2009 is recorded. The new species,
The genus
Six new hydrothermal fields and two water column hydrothermal anomalies were recorded along Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) during Legs 5-7 of the Chinese DY115-20 cruise on the R/V Dayangyihao from 2008 to 2009 (
This specimen was collected by a deep sea TV-grab and sorted from the other benthic fauna and sediment from Station DY115-20VII-TVG02. Type material is conserved at the Third Institute of Oceanography, SOA, China. Specimens were drawn using a camera lucida. Measurements are made axially, dorsally for the trunk, laterally for the palp, proboscis and leg.
one male, holotype (TVG0201), DY115-20VII Station 2, SWI,
Trunk with four dorsomedian tubercles, moderately tall. All first coxae with slender dorsodistal tubercles, from anterior to posterior in formula 2: 2: 2: 1. The anterior tubercle on the first coxa of first leg is shorter than others. Cement gland dome-shaped, placed dorsally at centre of femur, on all legs. Legs with long dorsodistal spine on each major article.
Size moderately large for genus; leg span 6.68 mm. Trunk slender, with many tiny papillae, completely segmented, dorsal segmentation lines raised, swollen, with four dorsomedian tubercles, moderately tall. Lateral processes separated by at least their own diameters, with tiny dorsodistal papillae. Ocular tubercle long, directed obliquely forward, slender, armed with short tubercles, without obvious eyes, tip weakly bifurcate. Proboscis typical, slender, longer than trunk length, distal part down-curved, with about 40 annulations, base swollen. Abdomen with tiny dorsal papillae, horizontal, extending to third coxae of fourth pair of legs.
Palps six-articled. First article broad, without spines or setae. Second article longest, with few short seta and spines. Articulation lines between second, third and fourth articles indistinct. Second to fourth articles with thorn-like tubercles on dorsal surfaces. Fourth article almost half length of second article, bearing four inwardly-curved spines, armed with seta. Distal two articles short, terminal article synaxial to penultimate article, both armed with fields of ventral and distal setae mostly little longer than their article diameter.
Ovigers small, four-articled. First to third articles with 1 or 2 setae. Fourth article longest, bearing several ventral and distal setae.
Legs slender, with tiny papillae and thorn-like tubercles. Major articles with long dorsodistal spine. First coxae with tall slender tubercles bearing short thorn-like tubercles and short seta, from anterior to posterior in formula 2: 2: 2: 1. Anterior tubercle on first coxa of first leg shorter than others. Second coxae longest, distally swollen, with short ventral seta and distal spines. Third coxae short, with low tubercle. Femur the longest article, with few short setae and spines. Cement glands dome-shaped, endal at centre of femur, on all legs. Spines on tibiae, tarsus and propodus decreasing in number from anterior to posterior legs. First tibiae longer than second, with fewer ventral spines. Tarsus with ventral spines, 9 on first, 7 on second, 3 on third and fourth pair. Propodus moderately curved, with 3 distal spines and 3-5 long dorsal spines (5 on first, 4 on second, 3 on third and fourth), single row of sole spines (19 on first, 13 on second, 10 on third and fourth). Main claw strong, two tiny auxiliary claws little longer than diameter of main claw.
Female and juvenile are unknown.
Length of palp articles 1 to 6 respectively: 0.06;0.73; 0.11; 0.40;0.04;0.06.
Length of oviger articles 1 to 4 respectively: 0.04; 0.07; 0.02; 0.11.
Third leg, coxa 1, 0.15; coxa 2, 0.23; coxa 3, 0.11; femur, 0.67; tibia 1, 0.56; tibia 2, 0.54; tarsus, 0.04; propodus, 0.39; claw, 0.12; auxiliary claw, 0.036.
Measurements of first leg: coxa 1, 0.14; coxa 2, 0.28; coxa 3, 0.19; femur, 0.80; tibia 1, 0.76; tibia 2, 0.65; tarsus, 0.06; propodus, 0.36; claw, 0.12; auxiliary claw, 0.029.
This species is dedicated to Dr. Roger N. Bamber in recognition of his excellent work on the all world’s
This species belongs to the
Deep-sea pycnogonids occasionally occurred in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents and deep-sea ridges, however
The sea floor appears to be predominantly composed of soft sediment.
We are grateful to Dr. Roger N. Bamber of ARTOO Marine Biology Consultants for his assistance. This work was supported by China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association Program (Grant No. DY125-11-E-03 & DYXM-115-02-4-05), National Youth Science Fund (Grant No. 41206157) and the Scientific Research Foundation of Third Institute of Oceanography, SOA (Grant NO.2012008).