Pseudidotheaarmata sp. n., a new isopod of the genus Pseudidothea (Crustacea, Malacostraca, Isopoda) from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean.

Nicholas Francesco Noli ,Davide Di Franco,Angelika Brandt,Stefano Schiaparelli

doi:10.3897/bdj.10.e76864

Abstract

BackgroundIn the framework of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Expedion JR 15005 SO-AntEco, held in February-March 2016, the South Orkney Islands seafloor was sampled in order to investigate the distribution and composition of benthic communities around the area.New informationA new species of the genus Pseudidothea Ohlin, 1901 is described from the Burdwood Bank area (South Orkney Islands). It has been collected during the SO-AntEco JR15005 RRS James Clark Ross expedition under the lead of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The new species, Pseudidotheaarmata sp. n., is very similar to P.scutata (Stephensen, 1947); however, it is characterised by peculiar supra-ocular spines and a different tubercular pattern. The study of the species of the Pseudidothea helps to better understand the diversity of the Pseudidotheidae in the Southern Ocean.

Highlights

The family Pseudidotheidae Ohlin, 1901 is monogeneric with the only genus Pseudidothea Ohlin, 1901, comprising four accepted species
A new species of the genus Pseudidothea Ohlin, 1901 is described from the Burdwood Bank area (South Orkney Islands). It has been collected during the SO-AntEco JR15005 RRS James Clark Ross expedition under the lead of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
Undetermined records of the genus Pseudidothea have been reported in several parts of the Antarctic Peninsula and in the Mawson Bank area, Ross Sea (Mills 2020) (Fig. 1)

Summary

Background

In the framework of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Expedion JR 15005 SO-AntEco, held in February-March 2016, the South Orkney Islands seafloor was sampled in order to investigate the distribution and composition of benthic communities around the area. A new species of the genus Pseudidothea Ohlin, 1901 is described from the Burdwood Bank area (South Orkney Islands). It has been collected during the SO-AntEco JR15005 RRS James Clark Ross expedition under the lead of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

Introduction

Materials and methods