Two new species of the genus Munnogonium (Isopoda: Asellota: Paramunnidae) from Argentina

Two new species of paramunnid isopods from Argentina are described: Munnogonium quequensis n. sp. from Buenos Aires Province (Quequén) and M. diplonychia n. sp. from Patagonia (Comodoro Rivadavia, Rada Tilly and Puerto Deseado). Both species are distinguished from their congeners by having a tight tuft of setae on the frontal margin. These setae have been discovered after examining the specimens under scanning electron microscope; under dissecting microscope they look like a short blunt median projection. M. diplonychia n. sp. differs from M. quequensis n. sp. by having bifid claws on pereopods II–IV. Eighty of the 92 specimens of M. quequensis n. sp. examined were found attached to the sea star Astropecten brasiliensis, a fact that suggests an association between these two species.Fil: Doti, Brenda Lía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental. Laboratorio de Invertebrados Ii; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Roccatagliata, Daniel Carlos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental. Laboratorio de Invertebrados Ii; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental y Aplicada; Argentin

The genera Carpias Richardson, Ianiropsis Sars and Janaira Moreira & Pires (Isopoda: Asellota: Janiridae) from Australia, with description of three new species

Three new species of janirid isopods are described: Carpias montaguensis sp. nov., Ianiropsis alanmillari sp. nov. and Janaira platyoura sp. nov.; all three were collected in shallow waters of southern New South Wales, Australia. Our report represents new records for these genera in Australian waters. Janaira platyoura sp. nov. is the second species added to this genus, so a revision of generic diagnosis was required. The diagnostic features of Carpias and Ianiropsis are also discussed and a new combination for the species Ianiropsis varians Winkler & Brandt, 1993 is proposed. Keys to the species of Carpias and Ianiropsis are presented.Fil: Doti, Brenda Lía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, George D. F.. Australian Museum; Australi

First record of the exotic isopod Sphaeroma serratum (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Uruguayan waters (southwestern Atlantic)

The isopod Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius, 1787) is reported from Uruguay for the first time and it is considered an introduced species in the region. The species was found very abundant and specimens were collected under the rocks in an intertidal area at La Paloma port in 2002 (34º39´S, 54º08´W). The specimens we examined fully agree with previous descriptions. Considering that this species has been reported as introduced in Argentina and Brazil, here we hypothesized the potential routes of introduction to Uruguay.Fil: Doti, Brenda Lía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Schwindt, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Scarabino, Fabrizio. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Uruguay. Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos; Urugua

Biodiversity of Isopoda and Cumacea (Peracarida, Crustacea) from the Marine Protected Area Namuncurá-Burdwood Bank, South-West Atlantic

Burdwood Bank is a shallow seamount located south of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands and east of Tierra del Fuego. In 2013, the area down to 200 m depth of this bank was declared the first open-sea (non-coastal) Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Argentina, and named ?Namuncurá? (MPAN-BB). The present study aimed to evaluate the biodiversity of the isopods and cumaceans from the MPAN-BB. The studied material was collected on board the Argentine RV Puerto Deseado during the Campaña Antártica de Verano 2013. Three stations from the MPAN-BB, respectively located in the core, buffer and transition sectors, were sampled. A total of 17,076 specimens were sorted and 70 taxa distributed in 22 families were identified. Thirty-five new records of distribution and eight species most probably new to science are herein reported. Paramunnidae and Diastylidae were the most abundant and diverse families among isopods and cumaceans, respectively. Our records, together with those obtained from the literature, make a total of 55 nominal species so far known from Burdwood Bank. Except for one nominal species, which had been reported from the Puerto Rico Trench and the Argentine Basin, all the remaining species had also been recorded from other localities within the Magellan Region. In contrast, only nine out of the 55 nominal species had also been reported from the Antarctic Peninsula and/or Scotia Arc. This indicates that the isopods and cumaceans from Burdwood Bank are typically Magellanic, and there is little correspondence between this fauna and that from the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc.Fil: Doti, Brenda Lía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Chiesa, Ignacio Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Roccatagliata, Daniel Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentin

Revision of the genus Oxyarcturus (Isopoda, Valvifera, Antarcturidae), with a description of a new deep-sea species from Argentina

A new antarcturid isopod, Oxyarcturus holoacanthus sp. nov., is fully described based on seven specimens collected in the Mar del Plata submarine canyon at 2950 m depth, during the “Talud Continental III” expedition on board the Argentinian RV “Puerto Deseado”. Oxyarcturus holoacanthus sp. nov. is closely related to O. spinosus (Beddard, 1886), from which it can be distinguished by the body spine pattern. The penial plate, a novel character for the genus Oxyarcturus, as well as for the family Antarcturidae, is described in detail. The species O. dubius (Kussakin, 1967) and O. beliaevi (Kussakin, 1967) are considered as incertae sedis until further morphological and molecular data can clarify their taxonomic position. An update of the geographic and bathymetric records of the genus Oxyarcturus is provided

Two new nonindigenous isopods in the Southwestern Atlantic: Simultaneous assessment of population status and shipping transport vector

The Southwestern Atlantic is often perceived as remote region, yet it is not immune to biological invasions. Patchy information on historical community composition hinders our ability to identify introductions to coastal ecosystems in this region. Hull fouling is an under-managed shipping vector that likely continues to transport large numbers of marine species worldwide. The port of Mar del Plata is a comparatively well-studied shipping and commercial hub that may serve as an observatory to monitor new introductions to the Argentine coast. Following detection of nonindigenous isopods during preliminary port sampling in 2007–2008, we organized regular port surveys aimed at assessing the level of population establishment and evaluated hull fouling as a potential introduction vector in the Port of Mar del Plata. In 2011–2012, we conducted 12 monthly dive surveys of port isopod communities in combination with three opportunistic surveys (two in-water, one in dry-dock) of hull fouling communities attached to a domestic research vessel during consecutive port calls at its base in this port. Replicate biofouling samples from underwater dock structures and the vessel's hull were collected by scraping invertebrates in 20 × 20 cm quadrats (even surfaces) and 1000 cm3 of biofouling organisms (uneven surfaces). Both in port- and hull-fouling communities, we discovered the presence of the nonindigenous isopods Dynamene edwardsi and Paracerceis sculpta. This report constitutes the first detection of these two global marine invaders in American and Argentine waters, respectively. They likely represent relatively recent introductions to this corner of the world's oceans, yet our data indicate that both species are currently well established in Mar del Plata. These results demonstrate (for the first time in the case of D. edwardsi) the potential for hull fouling to disperse both species, and raise a warning on their potential expansion to other Southwestern Atlantic ports and Antarctica in a near future. Research on the marine communities of the Southwestern Atlantic is pressingly needed to establish pre-invasion communities and detect new introductions. Simultaneous surveillance of ports (invasion hubs) and vessels (vectors) can effectively detect invaders and inform prevention efforts in this region.Fil: Rumbold, Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Meloni, Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Doti, Brenda Lía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Correa, Nancy. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval; ArgentinaFil: Albano, Mariano Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Sylvester, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta; ArgentinaFil: Obenat, Sandra Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Three new paramunnids (Isopoda: Asellota: Paramunnidae) from the Argentine Sea, South-west Atlantic

Three new species of paramunnid isopods are described: Pentaceration pleonarietis sp. nov., Neasellus argentinensis sp. nov. and N. bicarinatus sp. nov. The three species were collected off Buenos Aires province, the last one was also collected off Chubut province, Argentine Sea. The species belonging to Pentaceration represents the first record of this genus in the Argentine Sea. The diagnostic characters of the genus Neasellus are revised and besides the inclusion of the two new species herein described, a new combination for the species Pelagogonium oculatum Schultz, 1977 is proposed.Fil: Doti, Brenda Lía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentin

Abyssianira acutilobi Doti & Roccatagliata, 2006, n. sp.

Abyssianira acutilobi n. sp. (Figs 3–5) Material examined Holotype: Stn. WHOI 245 A, off the Río de la Plata estuary, 36 º 55´42 ´´S, 53 º01´24 ´´W, 2707 m, 14 Mar 1971, brooding Ψ (AM P 68699). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 1 manca (AM P 72666); 1 immature Ψ (without pleotelson) and 1 manca (AM P 72667). Diagnosis Frontal plate approximately as long as article 1 of antennulae, anterior margin strongly convex. Eyestalks large and triangular. Pereon with 4 groups of wart­like elevations. Coxal plates visible in dorsal view on pereonites 5–7 only. Bases of all pereopods strongly denticulate on both margins. Description of brooding female holotype Length: 3.6 mm (Fig. 3 A, B). Body width ~ 0.46 length, widest at pereonite 3. Head length ~ 0.36 width. Frontal plate length ~ 0.5 width, slightly concave in dorsal view, anterior margin strongly convex and with large denticles (many broken; Fig. 3 A, C). Eyestalks large and triangular with marginal denticles (many broken), longitudinal axis pointing forward at ~ 40 º. Pereonites 1, 2, 6 and 7 with a pair of dorsolateral wart­like elevations; those on pereonite 6 minute; “warts” on pereonites 1, 2 and on pereonites 6, 7 contiguous, conforming 4 groups with 2 “warts” each. Coxal plates visible in dorsal view on pereonites 5–7 only. Free pleonite ~ 0.5 length of pereonite 7. Pleotelson width ~ 0.8 length, margins strongly denticulate. Pereopod I (Fig. 5 B) basis longest article, with several simple setae and strong denticles on both margins. Ischium ~ 0.7 basis length, with 4 simple setae, dorsal margin with 5 hyaline lamellae. Merus cup­shaped, dorsal margin with 3 simple setae and 2 small teeth distally, ventral margin with 1 RS and 4 simple setae. Carpus ~ 0.8 ischium length, dorsal margin with 3 simple setae (1 half length along article and 2 distally), ventral margin with 2 RS, 8 simple setae and 4 hyaline lamellae. Propodus ~ 0.6 ischium length, dorsal margin with 4 simple setae (1 half length along article and 3 distally), ventral margin with 2 RS, 6 simple setae and 4 hyaline lamellae. Dactylus with 4 simple setae near distal end and 2 simple setae between unguis and supplementary claw, unguis subequal in length to dactylus, supplementary claw ~ 0.5 unguis length, ventral margin with 1 hyaline lamella. Pereopods II–VII only bases remain, all with 1 row of strong denticles on each margin. Operculum (Fig. 5 C) ovoid and pointed distally, width ~ 0.65 length, lateral margins with simple setae, ventral surface with 1 bulbous elevation proximally. Uropod (Fig. 5 D) protopod half hidden; endopod with 3 simple setae subapically and 4 BS distally; exopod ~ 0.75 endopod length, with 2 long simple setae distally. To preserve the head of the brooding female holotype intact the antennulae, antennae, and the mouthparts were described from one of the mancas (AM P 72666): Antennula (Fig. 4 A) article 1 with 1 BS and 2 simple setae; article 2 longest, with 4 BS near distal end; article 3 ~ twice longer than broad, with 1 simple seta; article 4 ~ 0.6 length of article 3, with 1 BS; article 5 glabrous; article 6 with 1 aesthetasc, 1 BS and 5 simple setae distally. In the holotype, as far as can be seen without dissecting, article 1 with marginal teeth and some additional longer setae (see Fig. 3 C). Antenna (Fig. 4 B) article 1 missing and article 2 broken off; article 3 slightly wider than long, subequal in length to article 4; articles 4 and 5 with 2 distal simple setae; article 6 ~ 1.36 length of article 5, with 4 BS and 3 simple setae. Flagellum shorter than peduncle, with 7 articles (last two articles missing). Left mandible (Fig. 4 C) incisor process with 5 cusps, lacinia mobilis with 4 cusps, spine row with 3 spines, molar process with teeth and 2 simple setae; palp slightly shorter than body of mandible: article 1 ~ 0.6 length of article 2, with 1 simple seta; article 2 with cuticular combs and 2 pectinate setae; article 3 smallest, ~ 0.65 length of article 1, with cuticular combs and 2 pectinate setae. Right mandible as left except for: lacinia mobilis absent, spine row with 4 spines. Maxillula (Fig. 4 D) lateral lobe with 12 spine­like setae (some of them serrate) and 1 simple seta on distal margin; mesial lobe with 5 setae (some of them setulate) on distal margin. Maxilla (Fig. 4 E) lateral and middle lobes with 4 unequal pectinate setae on distal margin, mesial lobe with 3 simple setae (with a pore­bearing tip), 2 pectinate setae, 3 plumose setae, and many short simple setae distally. Maxilliped (Fig. 5 A) endite with 2 coupling hooks; distal margin with 3 plumose and 2 pectinate setae; ventral surface with 2 fan setae distally; dorsal surface with 3 pectinate, 1 plumose, and several small simple setae distally. Epipod elongate, ~ 0.85 palp length, width/length ratio ~ 0.5. Palp ~ 0.89 maxilliped axial length, articles 2 (and 3) narrower than endite. Distribution Found at a single station off the Río de la Plata estuary, depth 2707 m (Fig. 2). Remarks This species is easily distinguished by its large triangular eyestalks.Published as part of Doti, Brenda Lía & Roccatagliata, Daniel, 2006, On the Atlantic species of the genus Abyssianira Menzies, 1956 (Isopoda: Asellota: Paramunnidae), pp. 1-35 in Zootaxa 1252 on pages 4-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17302

Abyssianira

Key to the Atlantic species of Abyssianira 1 Frontal plate developed into a thin horizontal lamina that is flat or slightly concave in dorsal view.................................................................................................................... 2 ­ Frontal plate developed into a thin slanting lamina that is convex in dorsal view......... ............................................................................................................... A. argentenensis 2 Eyestalks pointed and triangular........................................................ A. acutilobi n. sp. ­ Eyestalks distally rounded............................................................................................ 3 3 Frontal plate distinctly extending beyond article 1 of antennulae, length/width ratio ~ 0.8, anterior margin strongly convex; article 3 of antennulae ~ 2 times longer than broad A. lingula n. sp. ­ Frontal plate as long as article 1 of antennulae, length/width ratio ~ 0.6, anterior margin slightly convex; article 3 of antennulae elongate, ~ 5 times longer than broad........ ..................................................................................................................... A. dentifronsPublished as part of Doti, Brenda Lía & Roccatagliata, Daniel, 2006, On the Atlantic species of the genus Abyssianira Menzies, 1956 (Isopoda: Asellota: Paramunnidae), pp. 1-35 in Zootaxa 1252 on page 4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17302