New genus and species of calanoid copepods (Crustacea) belonging to the group of Bradfordian families collected from the hyperbenthic layers off Japan

Abstract

A new genus and species of calanoid copepods belonging to the group of Bradfordian families, Pogonura rugosagen. et sp. nov., is described from the deep-sea hyperbenthic layers off Nagannu Island, Okinawa Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Pogonuragen. nov. is similar to another Bradfordian genus Procenognatha in sharing the following characteristics: (1) segmentation of the antennule, fused segments II–IV, X–XI, XXVII–XXVIII in females and II–IV, X–XII, XXVII–XXVIII, right XXII–XXIII in males; (2) retained setae on the ancestral segments I–IV of the antennary exopod; (3) setules on the mandibular gnathobase; (4) 3 sclerotized setae on the maxillary endopod; (5) absence of sensory seta on the maxilliped; (6) large spinules on the posterior surface of the rami of legs 2 and 3; and (7) setation and segmentation of female leg 5. Pogonuragen. nov. is distinctly distinguished from Procenognatha by the following features: (1) reduction of a seta on the ancestral segment IX of the antennary exopod, (2) 8 setae (7 in Procenognatha) on the maxillular exopod, (3) 5 brush-like setae (6 in Procenognatha) on the maxillary endopod, and (4) reduction of right endopod of male leg 5. The systematic position of Pogonuragen. nov. in the Bradfordian families is also discussed. Although this new genus shares synapomorphies with some diaixid genera, an assignment of this genus to any Bradfordian family should be pending until the taxonomy of this family group is clearly settled.