“Metavargula procax Kornicker, new species
Figures 14, 15
Metavargula species E. Kornicker. 1994. fig. 110 mm,nn.
ETYMOLOGY.—From the Latin procax (bold, forward, impudent).
HOLOTYPE.—NMV J35989. adult female on slide and in alcohol.
TYPE LOCALITY.—Slope 32, 38°21.90’S. 149°20.00’E, Victoria. S of Point Hicks; depth 1000 m.
PARATYPES.—None.
NONTYPES—Slope 33: USNM 1938SS, adult male. Because of uncertainty whether male goes with female, the male is not designated paratype.
DISTRIBUTION.—Slope 32. 1000 m. Slope 33,930 m.
DESCRIPTION OF ADULT FEMALE.—Carapace similar to that of M. currax.
Carapace Size (length, height in mm): NMV J35989 (holotype). 4.04. 2.49; height 62% of length.
First and Second Antennae: Similar to those of M calix.
Mandible: Coxale. basalt, exopodite, and 1st and 3rd endopodial joints similar to those of M. calix. 2nd endopodial joint: Ventral margin with 2 single distal bristles and 2 paired terminal bristles (medial about same length as lateral but broader and with about 5 stout dorsal spines).
Maxilla: Endite bristles not counted. Protopodite, basale, exopodite. and 1st endopodial joint similar to that of M. calix. 2nd endopodial joint similar to that of M. calix except with only 2 c-bristles (both stout, pectinate; small bristle not present).
Fifth Limb: Epipodial bristles not counted. Protopodial tooth and 1 st, 2nd, 4th. and 5th exopodial joints similar to those of M calix. 3rd exopodial joint differs from M. calix in having only outer bristle of outer lobe with long hairs, but only left limb observed.
Sixth Limb: With 3 bare epipodial bristles; small sclerotized boss on margin just proximal to bristles. Endite I with 2 bristles (1 medial, I terminal); endite II with 3 or 4 medial and 2 terminal bristles; endite III with 2 or 3 terminal bristles; endite IV with 3 terminal bristles (middle bristle shorter). End joint with 9 bristles with long proximal and short distal spines (1 bristle near anterior shorter, lateral), then space and 3 bristles (anterior with long proximal and short distal spines, others plumose). Limb hirsute. Right limb of holotype aberrant in having only 2 bristles following space on end joint (1 with spines, 1 plumose).
Seventh Limb: One limb with 28 bristles (terminal group with 8 bristles on comb side and 8 on peg side; proximal group with 5 bristles on comb side and 7 on peg side); other limb with 25 bristles (terminal group with 6 bristles on comb side and 6 on peg side; proximal group with 5 bristles on comb side and 8 on peg side). Each bristle with up to 6 bells. Comb with 15 slender ringed spinous teeth with recurved slightly bulbous tips. Single ringed spinous peg with slightly bulbous tip opposite comb.
Furca, Bellonci Organ, Eyes, Upper Lip, Genitalia, Anterior and Posterior of Body, and
Y-Sclerite: Similar to those of M. currax.
Parasites: Holotype with female choniostomatid in marsupium.
DESCRIPTION OF PRESUMED ADULT MALE.— Carapace similar to that of adult female but smaller, and without bulge near dorsal end of anterior edge of flange of caudal process.
Infold: Posterior edge of flange at anterior edge of caudal process with numerous canals leading to pores at the tips of small processes as on adult female.
Carapace Size (length, height in mm): Slope 33: USNM 193855, 3.38. 2.03; height 60% of length.
First Antenna: 1st and 2nd joints bare. 3rd joint with dorsal bristle at midlength and ventral bristle subterminal. 4th joint with 2 terminal bristles (1 ventral, 1 dorsal). Sensory bristle of 5th joint 3 times length of a-bristle of 7th joint, with part proximal to marginal filaments stouter, and 8 proximal broad paddle-like filaments, 2 slender bare distal filaments (each with terminal papilla), and bifurcate tip. Medial bristle of 6th joint close to dorsal margin, bare. 7th joint: a-bristle almost twice length of bristle of 6th joint, spinous; b-bnstle about 2V: times length of a-bristle, with 4 filaments (proximal filament stout with bulbous proximal part followed by large sucker and small protuberance; 2nd and 3rd filaments slender, each with 1 small sucker, 4th filament slender bare) and bifurcate tip; c-bristle 3 times length of b-bristle, with 8 filaments (proximal filament similar to stout proximal filament of b-bristle but with larger sucker, followed by 2 slender filaments each with single small sucker, then 5 slender bare filaments) and bifurcate tip. 8th joint: d- and e-bristles slightly shorter than b-bnstle. bare with blunt tips; f-bristle about 2 1/2 times length of b-bristle, with 8 spinous filaments and bifurcate tip; g-bristle same length as c-bristle, with 8 spinous filaments and bifurcate tip.
Second Antenna: Protopodite and endopodite similar to those of adult female. Exopodite: Bristle of 2nd joint reaching well past 9th joint, with 2 small proximal dorsal spines and about 30 ventral spines (proximal 1 or 2 smaller than others; last spine stouter than others); bristles of joints 3-9 similar to those of adult female M. calix; joints 3-8 with basal spines longer on distal joints; basal spine of 8th joint slightly shorter than length of 9th joint; lateral spine of 9th joint about 1/3 length of joint
Mandible: Coxale, basale, and 1st and 3rd endopodial joints similar to those of adult female. 2nd endopodial joint: ventral margin spinous, with 2 single bare ringed bristles followed by terminal paired bristles (medial broad unringed with about 7 dorsal spines; lateral slender bare ringed, and slightly longer); dorsal margin with 15-20 bristles (4 or 5 long spinous, 2 or 3 medium, 9-12 short, most with spines) proximal to midlength.
Maxilla: Precoxale with fringed dorsal flare. Coxale with hirsute dorsal bristle. Endite I with 11 spinous bristles; endite II with 5 spinous bristles; endite III with 1 proximal and 5 terminal bristles (proximal bristle could be interpreted to be on basale). Basale with small medial bristle at midwidth and 1 long ventral bristle. Exopodite similar to that of adult female. 1st endopodial joint with dorsal spines, bilobed cutting tooth, 2 alpha-bristles (outer with long hairs, inner with short hairs) and 3 beta-bristles similar to those of adult female. 2nd endopodial joint similar to that of adult female except spines not observed on 2 anterior a-bristles and with 3 rather than 2 c-bristles (inner (anterior) c-bristle with few spines on 1 limb and bare on other).
Fifth Limb: Epipodite with 66 bristles. Protopodial tooth small. Endite I with 7 spinous bristles; endite II with 5 stout spinous bristles and 1 minute anterior bristle; endite III with 7 spinous and pectinate bristles. 1st exopodial joint: Main tooth with proximal bare triangular tooth and 5 pectinate teeth; bristle with long proximal spines proximal to triangular tooth; anterior side with 3 bristles in row (inner small with long proximal hairs, others with long proximal spines and distal teeth) and 1 (with long proximal hairs) closer to protopodial tooth. 2nd and inner lobe of 3rd exopodial joints similar to those of adult female. Both bristles of outer lobe of 3rd joint with long proximal hairs on right limb of USNM 193855 and long proximal hairs on only outer bristle of left limb (short spines on inner bristle). 4th exopodial joint with 4 bristles (bare or with short spines). 5th exopodial joint not separated from 4th by suture, with well-developed spinous node on inner corner, limb otherwise similar to that of adult female.
Sixth Limb: With 2 or 3 bare epipodial bristles; small sclerotized boss proximal to epipodial bristles forms base for muscle attachments. Endite I with 3 short spinous medial bristles and 1 long spinous terminal bristle; endite II with 1 (aberrant?) or 3 short spinous medial bristles and 3 spinous terminal bristles; endite III with 3 spinous terminal bristles (middle bristle shorter); endite IV with 3 spinous terminal bristles. End joint with 14 or 15 long marginal bristles (1 of these near anterior end may be smaller and lateral); space present between 11 or 12 anterior bristles and 3 posterior bristles (posterior 2 plumose, others with long proximal and short distal spines). Limb hirsute.
Seventh Limb: USNM 193855: One limb with 20 bristles (terminal group with 8 bristles on comb side and 6 on peg side; proximal group with 3 bristles on each side); other limb with 19 bristles (terminal group with 6 bristles on comb side and 5 on peg side; proximal group with 4 bristles on each side). Each bristle with up to 6 bells. Comb with 8 or 9 slender spinous teeth with recurved slightly spinous tips; single slender elongate peg opposite comb.
Furca: Similar to that of adult female.
Bellonci Organ: Cylindrical with small pointed process at tip.
Eyes: Medial eye well developed, light amber color. Lateral eye small with 5 cells (ommatidia?) and brownish red pigment. Eye generally visible through shell.
Upper Lip: Similar to that of adult female.
Genitalia: Elongate copulatory organ on each side of body anterior to furca.
Anterior of Body: With small rounded anterior process between upper lip and medial eye just ventral to base of 1st antennae.
Posterior of Body: Posterodorsal margin undulate with 8 or 9 low nodes in lateral view. (Prominent node just dorsal to dorsal end of girdle in Figure 15i is an artifact caused by collapse of body.)
Y-Sclerite: Typical for subfamily.
COMPARISONS.—Metavargula procax differs from M. currax in having 2 or 3 rather than 6 or 7 epipodial bristles on the 6th limb, and it differs from M. calix in having 2 single bristles rather than 1 on the ventral margin of the 2nd endopodial joint of the mandible.”
(Kornicker & Poore, 1996, p.35-38)
