Thambema thunderstruckae sp. n., the first record of Thambematidae (Isopoda: Asellota) from the Southern Hemisphere shelf

Abstract

Thambema thunderstruckae sp. n., the first record of Thambematidae (Isopoda: Asellota) from the Southern Hemisphere shelf A new thambematid species, Thambema thunderstruckae sp. n., is described from King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic. Specimens of the new species were collected during two Polish Antarctic Expeditions in 1985 and 2007. It is the first record of this family from the Southern Hemisphere. The new species most closely resembles Thambema golanachum Harrison, 1987 and T. fiatum Harrison, 1987 but can be distinguished from both species by the shape of male pleopod 1, the number of claws on pereopods 2-7 and the setation of pereopod 1 and 2 carpus, respectively. A key to all known genera and species in the family Thambematidae is also provided.