Eusarsiella venezuelensis Kornicker 1986

Eusarsiella venezuelensis

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific name from the vicinity in which the holotype was collected.

HOLOTYE.—USNM 157807, 1 ovigerous female on slide and in alcohol. Unique specimen.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Venezuela (mainland), Cumaná area; sta C-78-1–4.

DISTRIBUTION.—Collected only at type-locality. Depth shallow (Table 1).

DESCRIPTION OF ADULT FEMALE (Figures 104, 105).—Carapace ovoid in lateral view except for truncate posterior (Figure 104).

Ornamentation (Figures 104, 105a): Surface with abundant shallow fossae; each valve with bulbous posterodorsal process with uneven dorsal margin; a small rounded process forming ventral part of the posterodorsal process; a small indistinct crescentic rib present just anterior to central adductor muscle attachments. Long and short bristles present along anterior and ventral margins and sparsely distributed on valve surface. Gelatinous coating absent.

Infold (Figure 105a): Broad infold along free margins; 1 minute bristle present near inner margin of anterior infold just ventral to valve middle; infold in posteroventral corner with 11 or 12 small bristles forming row in addition to 3 or 4 small bristles along inner edge; 5 or 6 small bristles present along inner edge of infold anterior to the posteroventral bristles (only the posterior of these shown in Figure 105a); posterior infold with 2 small bristles near inner edge and 2 setal bristles.

Selvage: Selvage with broad lamella prolongation with smooth outer edge present along anterior, ventral, and posterior margins.

Size: USNM 157807, length 1.12 mm, height 0.98 mm.

First Antenna (Figure 105b): First joint bare. Second joint with 1 spinous dorsal bristle. Third and fourth joints fused; third joint short with 2 spinous bristles (1 ventral, 1 dorsal); fourth joint elongate, with 4 spinous bristles (3 ventral, 1 dorsal). Sensory bristle of elongate fifth joint with 3 minute filaments (distal of these spine-like), and spine-like filament at tip. Sixth joint minute, fused to fifth joint, with short spinous medial bristle. Seventh joint: a-bristle spinous, about twice length of bristle of sixth joint; b-bristle about one-third longer than a-bristle, bare except for spine-like process at tip; c-bristle longer than sensory bristle of fifth joint, with 3 minute marginal filaments (distal of these spine-like), and spine-like process at tip. Eighth joint: d- and e-bristles bare with blunt tips not reaching tip of bristle of fifth joint; f-bristle about same length as e-bristle, with minute marginal spine near tip and spine-like process at tip.

Second Antenna: Protopodite bare. Endopodite 1-jointed with 2 or 3 short, proximal, anterior bristles, and small terminal protuberance bearing minute pointed bristle (Figure 105c). Exopodite: elongate first joint with small, terminal, medial bristle; bristles of joints 2–8 with stout, proximal, ventral spines and distal natatory hairs; ninth joint with 2 bristles (1 long with slender, proximal, ventral spines, and distal natatory hairs, and 1 short, bare, dorsal bristle).

Mandible (Figure 105d): Coxale endite consisting of single stout spine-like process with minute marginal teeth or spines; ventral margin of coxale with hairs and spines. Basale: dorsal margin with 1 small midbristle and 2 small subterminal bristles; 6 bristles on or near ventral margin (2 or 3 medial, 2 lateral, 1 or 2 ventral). Exopodite absent: first endopodial joint with medial spines and stout ventral claw; small spine-like medial bristle present at base of claw; dorsal margin with slender terminal spines forming row extending onto medial side. Second endopodial joint with stout ventral claw; dorsal margin of joint with 1 minute, faint, spine-like bristle. Third endopodial joint with stout terminal claw and 2 minute bristles (1 ventral, 1 dorsal).

Maxilla (Figure 105e,f): Limb typical for genus. Exopodite with 3 bristles (Figure 105f).

Fifth Limb (Figure 105g): Epipodial appendage with 37 bristles. Single endite with 1 bristle. Exopodite: first joint with 2 bristles; second to fifth joints not well defined, with total of 10 bristles.

Sixth Limb (Figure 105h): Single endite with 3 bristles. End joint with 11–13 slender bristles (bearing short marginal spines), followed by wide space and then 2 stout hirsute bristles.

Seventh Limb (Figure 105i): Proximal group with 4 bristles (2 on each side); distal groups with 6 bristles (3 on each side); each bristle with up to 7 bells. Terminus consisting of opposing combs, each with 3–5 recurved teeth.

Furca (Figure 105j): Each lamella with 5 stout claws followed by several spines; claw 1 fused with lamella; claws 2–5 separated from lamella by suture; all claws with teeth forming lateral and medial row along posterior margin; teeth of claws 1–4 consisting of large and small teeth, teeth of claw 5 tending to be of similar size; distal hairs present along anterior margins of claws 1–3; medial hairs near base of claw 1 of left lamella.

Bellonci Organ (Figure 105k): Elongate, widening distally, with broadly rounded tip.

Eyes (Figure 105k): Medial eye bare with brown pigment. Lateral eye slightly smaller than medial eye, brown, with 5 or 6 ommatidia.

Upper Lip (Figure 105l): Helmet shaped.

Eggs: USNM 157807 with 9 eggs.

COMPARISONS.—The carapace of the new species E. venezuelensis resembles that of E. truncana (Kornicker, 1958:250) in lateral outline, but is less hirsute and bears more rugged ornamentation. The fourth joint of the first antenna of E. venezuelensis bears 3 ventral bristles compared to only 1 on E. dominicana new species, herein. The carapace of E. venezuelensis is more ornate than that of E. punctata (Kornicker, 1958:251) and bears more than 1 proximal anterior bristle on the endopodite of the second antenna. The infold of the caudal process of E. venezuelensis differs from that of E. ovalis Poulsen (1965:119) and appendages differ in the distribution and lengths of bristles on the first antenna, the endopodite of the second antenna and the seventh limb. The infold of the caudal process of E. venezuelensis differs considerable from that of E. dentifera Poulsen (1965:92) and the endopodite of the second antenna bears a small terminal spine absent on E. dentifera.