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356 Accepted by W. Brökeland: 11 Mar. 2009; published: 11 May 2009
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Copyright © 2009 · Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 2096: 356–370 (2009)
www.mapress.com/zootaxa/Article
Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., a new species of Macrostylidae (Isopoda: Asellota)
from the Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean*
AIDAN VEY1# & SASKIA BRIX2
1Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Biological Centre, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, Haren, The Netherlands
2Abt. DZMB, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
# Corresponding author: a.j.m.vey@student.rug.nl
* In: Brökeland, W. & George, K.H. (eds) (2009) Deep-sea taxonomy — a contribution to our knowledge of biodiversity.
Zootaxa, 2096, 1–488.
Abstract
Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov. (Macrostylidae) is described from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, at a depth of 2149 m. The
new species differs from other species of Macrostylis due to the incisor with 4 cusps; the strongly hook-shaped ischium
of pereopod 3; pereopod 4 being greatly reduced and juvenile in appearance; the operculum bearing a ventral spine-like
seta; and the absence of pleopod 5. This species is the fourth deep-sea macrostylid identified from the Southern Ocean,
and is one more species described from the specimens of ANDEEP I–III expeditions.
Key words: Macrostylis, Antarctica, deep sea, taxonomy
Introduction
Recent evidence indicates that a diverse and unique array of deep-sea Isopoda exists in the Southern Ocean
(Brandt 2004, Brandt et al. 2007a,b). This is partly due to thermal and oceanographic isolation amongst other
factors on the shelf (Kaiser & Brandt 2007), or due to habitat heterogeneity (e.g. grain size, drop stones or
different sediments), currents and oxygen levels amongst other factors in the deep sea (e.g. Etter and Grassle
1992, Gage 1997, Levin & Gage 1998, Rex 2005, 2006). Recent ANDEEP studies have collected more than
13,000 specimens of 674 different species, 585 (86%) of which are new to science (Brandt et al. 2007a).
These findings challenge previous knowledge of high-latitude deep-sea biodiversity, and indicate that the
Southern Ocean deep-sea environment may play a greater role in ecological and evolutionary processes than
previously believed.
The family Macrostylidae Hansen, 1916 is a group of specialised deep-sea asellotes comprising about 60
species in two genera worldwide: Desmostylis Brandt, 1992 and Macrostylis Sars, 1864 (Brandt 2004), both
of which are present in the Antarctic deep sea. Macrostylis is found worldwide, with only Macrostylis
longeremis Meiner, 1890, M. spinifera Sars, 1864, and M. polaris Malyutina & Kussakin, 1996 known from
shallow continental waters, whereas the two Desmostylis species, D. gerdesi and D. obscurus, are exclusively
Antarctic deep-sea species (Brandt 2002). The first species of the family Macrostylidae to be described from
the Southern Ocean region was M. spiniceps Barnard, 1920, (from South African waters), and since then eight
more have been described (see Table 1).
This contribution describes a new species of deep-sea Macrostylis from the Southern Ocean. Previously,
only three Macrostylis species had been found in the deep Southern Ocean, but this new species is only one
(species number 12) of thirty-one species of Macrostylidae (Stefanie Kaiser, personal communication)
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
recovered by ANDEEP expeditions from this area still to be described. Within the framework of CeDAMar,
500 new species are planned to be described by the year 2010. Although the present contribution is only one
small part of this aim, such species descriptions are an essential step in gaining knowledge of the Southern
Ocean fauna so that further studies will be able to elucidate the role and importance of deep-sea communities
in atmospheric processes.
TABLE 1. List of species and distribution of all Southern Ocean Macrostylidae previously described.
Materials and methods
Material was collected during the ANDEEP III expedition ANTXXII/3, between January and April 2005 on
the RV Polarstern (Brandt et al. 2004). Samples were collected from 19 stations in the Southern Ocean deep-
sea by an epibenthic sledge (EBS), with both supra- and epinet data gathered. The Macrostylis specimens for
this description were taken from station 78-9-E, 71°09.52'S, 14°00.76'W-71°09.34'S, 13°58.85'W, at a depth
of 2149 m.
Samples were immediately transferred to pre-cooled 96% ethanol on deck, and kept for 48 hours at 0°C,
for DNA extraction. Specimens were sorted on board or later in the laboratory of the Zoological Museum
(ZMH), Hamburg University.
The taxonomic drawings were prepared under a Leica MX 12.5 dissecting microscope and illustrated
using a Leitz Wetzlar microscope with a camera lucida. The dorsal and lateral habitus drawings were made
with the holotype or the paratype kept in glycerine stained with methylene green. All appendages (antennula,
antenna, mouthparts, pereopods and pleopods) were dissected from a paratype and mounted in glycerine.
Slides deposited in the ZMH were fixed in glycerine jelly.
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CSLM) methods were used to visualize the mandible and
maxilliped of M. cerritus. Prior to preparation, the specimen was soaked in ethanol (96%) for a number of
hours. The isopod was immersed in a droplet of glycerine, and the mandible and maxilliped dissected using a
stereomicroscope (Leica MZ 12). The body parts were then placed in a drop of glycerine jelly on a
microscope slide and a cover slip placed on top. This was carefully depressed in order to gain the least
distance between the glass and specimen, taking care not to make contact between the two. The preparations
were left at room temperature overnight in order to harden the glycerine jelly. A Leica TCS SP5 was used to
view the specimens. A full method and discussion can be found in Michels (2007).
For measurements and terminology see (Hessler 1970, Watling 1989, Brandt 2002 and Brix 2007).
Species Locality Position Depth (m)
Desmostylis Brandt, 1992
D. gerdesi Brandt, 2002 Weddell Sea 71°32.90'S, 13°31.20'W 238
D. obscurus Brandt, 2002 Antarctic 65°10.5'S, 0°27.4'W 4335
Macrostylis G.O. Sars, 1864
M. bifurcatus Menzies, 1962 S.E. Atlantic 4588–4960
M. bipunctatus Menzies, 1962 S.W. Atlantic 3954–5024
M. hirsuticaudis Menzies, 1962 S.E. Atlantic 2997
M. sarsi Brandt, 1992 Antarctic 65°10.5'S, 0°27.4'W 4335
M. setulosa Mezhov, 1992 Antarctic Ocean 757
M. spiniceps Barnard, 1920 South Africa 1280
M. vinogradovae Mezhov, 1992 Antarctic Ocean 2925
VEY & BRIX358 · Zootaxa 2096 © 2009 Magnolia Press
Abbreviations: A1 = antennula; A2 = antenna; ip = incisor; lMd = left mandible; rMd = right mandible;
Mx1 = maxillula; lm = lacinia mobilis; mp = molar; Mx2 = maxilla; Mxp = maxilliped; Op = operculum;
P1–7 = pereopods 1–7; Plt = pleotelson; Plp 1–5 = pleopods 1–5; Prn 1–7 = pereonites 1–7; Urp = uropods;
ZMH = Zoological Museum of Hamburg.
Taxonomy
Asellota Latreille, 1803
Macrostylidae Hansen, 1916
Macrostylis G.O. Sars, 1864
Synonymy: see Kussakin (1999), Mezhov (2000, 2004).
Type species: Macrostylis spinifera Sars, 1864.
Composition: Macrostylis abyssicola Hansen, 1916, M. affinis Birstein, 1963, M. amplinexa Mezhov, 1989b,
M. angulata Mezhov, 1999, M. belyaevi Mezhov, 1989a, M. bifurcatus Menzies, 1962, M. bipunctatus
Menzies, 1962, M. birsteini Mezhov, 1993, M. capito Mezhov, 1989b, M. carribicus Menzies, 1962, M.
carinifera carinifera Mezhov, 1988, M. carinifera dilatata Mezhov, 1988, M. compactus Birstein, 1963, M.
curticornis Birstein, 1963, M. elongata Hansen, 1916, M. dellacrocei Aydogan, Wägele & Park, 2000, M.
emarginata Mezhov, 2000, M. expolita Mezhov, 2004, M. foveata Mezhov, 2000, M. galatheae Wolff, 1956,
M. gestuosa Mezhov, 1993, M. hadalis Wolff, 1956, M. hirsuticaudis Menzies, 1962, M. latifrons Beddard,
1886, M. lacunosa Mezhov, 2004, M. latiuscula Mezhov, 2004, M. longifera Menzies & George, 1972, M.
longipes Hansen, 1916, M. longiremis (Meinert, 1890), M. longissima Mezhov, 1981, M. longiuscula Mezhov,
1981, M. longula Birstein, 1970, M. magnifica Wolff, 1962, M. mariana Mezhov, 1993, M. minutus Menzies,
1962, M. polaris Malyutina & Kussakin, 1996, M. porrecta Mezhov, 1988, M. rectangulata Mezhov, 1989b,
M. reticulata Birstein, 1963, M. sarsi Brandt, 1992, M. setifer Menzies, 1962, M. setulosa Mezhov, 1992, M.
spiniceps Barnard, 1920, M. spinifera Sars, 1864, M. squalida Mezhov, 2000, M. strigosa Mezhov, 1999, M.
subinermis Hansen, 1916, M. truncatex Menzies, 1962, M. tumulosa Mezhov, 1989, urceolata Mezhov,
1989b, M. vemae Menzies, 1962, M. vigorata Mezhov, 1999, M. vinogradovae Mezhov, 1992, M. viriosa
Mezhov, 1999, M. vitjazi Birstein, 1963, M. wolffi Mezhov, 1988, M. zenkevitchi Birstein, 1963 and M.
cerritus sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Body elongate, five times as long as wide. Head free, broader than long. Antennula short or
minute, with 3–5 joints, with at least one thick distal aesthetasc. Molar with many setae at apex. Maxilliped
palp of 5 articles. Pereopods subsimilar, pereopod 3 with ischium bearing a big dorsal lobe with a strong and
acute spine at its tip; pereopod 4 with short dactylus, bearing some spine-like setae. Operculum of female
oval, with some setae at caudal tip, covering the anus. Uropod uniramous, ramus length one-third of sympod,
distally with broom and sensory setae.
Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov. (Figures 1–7)
Holotype: Female preparatory, length 1.8 mm, ZMH K-41431, station 78-9-E, Brenke sledge, depth 2149 m,
RV Polarstern.
Paratypes: 1 subadult male, length 1.9 mm, not drawn for description, ZMH K-41432, allotype, same
sample data as holotype; 3 females, ZMH K-41433: 1 preparatory, length 2.8 mm, 2 unknown, lengths 2.3
mm, 2.0 mm, same sample data as holotype; 9 females, ZMH K-41434: 3 adult brooding, lengths 2.2 mm, 2.3
mm, 2.0 mm, 4 preparatory, lengths 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.7 mm, 2 unknown, lengths 2.0 mm, 2.4 mm,
same sample data as holotype.
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
Type locality: ANDEEP III, station 78-9-E (71°09.52'S, 14°00.76'W).
Distribution. Known only from type locality.
Etymology. “cerritus”, Latin, meaning “crazy”, referring to the appearance of the species. During
description we were talking about labelling the species as such because the ventral spines and dorsally
oriented pereopod 3 with hook-like ischium make the species look like a “crazy little thing”.
Diagnosis. Body elongate, at least 4 times as long as broad. Head broader than long, not fused to first
pereonite. Antennula short, of 5 articles, with one thick distal aesthetasc. Antenna with broom setae present
only on article 5. Mandibles truncated and robust, incisor with 4 cusps, molar with many setulose setae at
apex. Mandible with long robust seta laterally. Maxilliped palp with 5 articles and many short setae. Ventral
spines present on pereonites 1, 6 and 7. Pereopod 3 with long, thin, curved ischium lobe. Pereopod 4 greatly
reduced in size, juvenile looking. Operculum with strong spine-like unequally bifid setae ventrally. Pleopod 5
absent.
Description. Body approximately 3.1 mm long, almost 5 times as long as wide, body dorsum and margins
smooth, without setae. Head almost as long as wide, almost as wide as pereonite 1, without eyes. Coxae not
visible in dorsal view. Pereonites 1–3 strongly fused, with 1 and 2 shortest, 3 widest. Pereonites 5–7 with
posteriorly directed small spines inserting apically. Distinct anterior-oriented spine on pereonite 1 ventrum,
posterior-oriented spines on pereonite 6 and 7 ventrum. Pleotelson 0.24 times body length, 0.8 times body
width, 1.4 times longer than wide, slightly shorter than pereonites 5–7 together. Anterior and posterior dorsal
margins rounded.
Antennula (Figure 2D) short, approximately 0.1 times body length, with 5 articles. Article 1 longest and
widest, length 0.07 mm, width 0.04 mm, with 3 simple setae and 1 broom seta. Article 2 length 0.6 times
article 1 length, width 0.8 times article 1 width, with 3 broom setae. Article 3 length 0.5 times article 1 length,
width 0.6 times article 1 width, without setae. Article 4 length 0.25 times article 1 length, width 0.45 times
article 1 width, distally with 1 simple seta. Article 5 minute, terminally with 1 aesthetasc.
Antenna (Figure 2C) approximately 0.3 times body length, with 12 articles. Articles 1–3 small, article 1
with lateral simple seta, article 2 without setae, article 3 with 2 slender setae. Article 4 longest, slightly longer
than article 5, without setae. Article 5 long and slender, distally with 5 broom setae and 2 whip (as in Brandt
1992) setae. Distal 7 flagellar articles small, of subequal length, eighth, ninth and eleventh article each with 1
slender seta, terminal article with distal sensory setae.
Mandibles (Figure 3A, 3B, 6A) without palp, palp replaced with robust seta (missing on left mandible),
both with 4 cusps on incisor. Right setal row with 5 robust setulose setae and 2 attenuating simple setae, left
setal row with 5 robust setulose, 1 setulose simple attenuating seta and 1 simple attenuating seta. Lacinia
mobilis of left mandible with 3 teeth, right with 2. Molar a distinct process, with a dense row of 9 setulose
slender setae.
Maxillula (Figure 2B) mesial lobe stalked, with 12 setae, and slightly smaller than lateral lobe. Lateral
lobe length 2.2 times width, dorsal margin with 12 setae, ventral margin with 8 setae, terminally with 11
strong spines (3 of which serrated).
Maxilla (Figure 2A) mesial lobe shorter than middle and lateral lobes. Mesial and lateral lobes distally
with 2 long and 1 setulose setae, and a number of setae pairs laterally. Lateral lobe length 6.9 times width.
Mesial lobe length 4.7 times width, distally with 3 large and 3 small robust setae. Laterally with 12 long
slender setae.
Maxilliped (Figure 2E, 6B) epipodite length 2.7 times width, length 0.8 times endite length. Endite with 2
retinaculae, 1 lateral simple seta, distally with 3 fan setae, 8 simple setae and many marginal fine setae. Palp
inserted at approximately two thirds the basis length, width 0.6 times length and palp length about 0.5 times
basis length; palp article 1 with some marginal fine setae; palp article 2 about 5 times as long as article 1,
almost twice as wide as article 1, with 4 medial and 1 distolateral setae; article 3 approximately a third the
length of article 2, with 6 setae; article 4 less than half the width of article 3 width, with 3 distal setae; article
5 narrower than article 4, with 5 setae.
Pereopod 1 (Figure 3C) basis length 2.9 times width, dorsally with 4 short setae, ventrally with 1 short
VEY & BRIX360 · Zootaxa 2096 © 2009 Magnolia Press
slender and 1 long slender setae. Ischium length 2.4 times width, dorsally with 2 long slender setae, ventrally
with 1 robust simple seta, laterally with 3 long slender setae. Merus length 1.8 times width, dorsally with 1
distally setulate seta, ventrally with 2 robust setae, laterally with 4 long slender setae. Carpus length 1.4 times
width, ventrally with 1 distally setulate and 1 robust setae, laterally with 1 robust simple and 1 short robust
simple setae, distally with 1 long robust seta. Propodus length 3 times width, dorsally with 1 slender seta,
ventrally with 3 short simple setae. Dactylus length 4.4 times width, claw composed of 1 conate and 1
cuspidate setae with 2 slender setae inserting in between, 2 slender setae inserting terminally into conate setae.
Pereopod 2 (Figure 3D) basis length 3.1 times width, dorsally with 4 simple setae, ventrally with 3 simple
and 1 long slender setae. Ischium length 2.9 times width, dorsally with 2 simple setae, ventrally with 1 minute
seta, laterally with a composed row of 5 long slender setae. Merus length 1.6 times width, dorsally with 1
robust unequally bifid seta, ventrally with 2 unequally bifid and 1 simple setae, laterally with a (composed)
row of 5 long slender setae. Carpus length 2.4 times width, dorsally with 2 long simple, 1 small broom and 1
long simple setae, ventrally with 2 unequally bifid setae. Propodus length 3.1 times width, dorsally with 1
unequally bifid and 1 broom setae, ventrally with 1 simple seta. Dactylus length 3.7 times width, claw
composed of 1 conate and 1 cuspidate setae with 2 slender setae inserting in between, 2 slender setae inserting
into conate seta.
Pereopod 3 (Figure 3E) basis length 2.4 times width, dorsally with 1 simple seta, ventrally with 3 simple
slender and 1 unequally bifid setae. Ischium length 2.3 times width, dorsally with large hook-shaped
triangular lobe, 1 short slender and 4 long slender setae. Merus length 1.4 times width, dorsally with a row of
4 long simple setae and a row of 4 robust unequally bifid setae, ventrally with 1 small simple seta. Carpus
length 2.8 times width, dorsally with a row of 5 long simple setae. Propodus length 2.5 times width, dorsally
with 1 small simple seta, ventrally with 1 simple seta, distally with 1 simple seta. Dactylus length 1.1 times
width, claw composed of 1 conate and 1 cuspidate setae with 2 slender setae inserting in between, 1 terminal
slender seta and 1 simple seta inserting ventrally into conate seta.
Pereopod 4 (Figure 4A) short, only half the length of pereopod 3. Basis length 3.4 times width, dorsally
with 1 broom seta, ventrally with 1 broom and 3 slender simple setae. Ischium length 2.8 times width, dorsally
with 1 slender simple and 1 simple setae. Merus length 1.7 times width, ventrally with 2 distal simple robust
setae, distally with 1 simple robust and 1 long simple robust setae. Carpus length 2.3 times width, ventrally
with 2 robust setae, distally with 1 long and 1 short robust setae. Propodus length 2.3 times width, distally
with 1 short robust and 1 long robust setae. Dactylus very compressed with one terminal robust seta.
Pereopod 5 (Figure 4B) basis length 2.9 times width, dorsally with 2 long simple robust (1 broken) setae,
ventrally with 2 small broom, 1 simple slender and 1 large broom setae, distally with 1 robust simple seta.
Ischium length 3.3 times width, dorsally with 1 unequally bifid seta, ventrally with 2 simple and 1 long
slender setae, distally with 2 long slender setae. Merus length 2.4 times width, ventrally with 2 sets of an
unequally bifid and simple setae, distally with 4 unequally bifid setae. Carpus length 4.5 times width, dorsally
with 1 broom seta, ventrally with 1 unequally bifid seta, distally with 3 short unequally bifid and 1 long
unequally bifid setae. Propodus length 5.1 times width, dorsally with 1 simple and 1 broom setae, ventrally
with 1 unequally bifid seta, distally with 1 unequally bifid and 1 long slender setae. Dactylus length 3.5 times
width, terminally with 2 unequally bifid setae with setulose smaller lobes.
Pereopod 6 (Figure 4C) basis length 2.7 times width, dorsally with 1 unequally bifid, 1 simple and 3
slender setae, ventrally with 3 slender setae, distally with 1 robust seta. Ischium length 2.7 times width,
dorsally with 2 simple and 1 unequally bifid setae, ventrally with 5 slender setae. Merus length 2 times width,
ventrally with 1 simple seta, dorsally with 5 short, 2 long unequally bifid and 1 simple setae. Carpus length 6
times width, dorsally with 1 broom seta, ventrally with 1 simple seta, distally with 1 unequally bifid and 1
long setae. Propodus length 8 times width, distally with 1 long slender, 1 unequally bifid and 1 broom setae.
Dactylus length 5.8 times width, distally with 1 open-ended sensory seta and 1 unequally bifid seta.
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
FIGURE 1. Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., paratype female (ZIM K-41433). A, habitus, dorsal view; B, habitus, lateral
view; C, head, lateral view with P3 removed. Scale = 1 mm.
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FIGURE 2. Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., paratype female (ZIM K-41433). A, A1; B, A2; C, Mx 2; D, Mxp; E, Mx 1.
Scales = 0.1 mm.
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
FIGURE 3. Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., paratype female (ZIM K-41434). A, rMd; B, lMd; C, P1; D, P2; E, P3. Scales
= 0.1 mm.
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FIGURE 4. Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., paratype female (ZIM K-41434). A, P4; B, P5; C, P6; D, P7. Scales = 0.1 mm.
Pereopod 7 (Figure 4D) basis length 3 times width, dorsally with 10 long distally slender plumose setae, 6
slender setae (1 broken), 1 short simple seta and 1 unequally bifid seta, ventrally with 4 slender setae. Ischium
length 3.4 times width, dorsally with 2 distally setulate and 1 unequally bifid setae, ventrally with 1 distally
setulate and 1 distal simple setae. Merus length 2.4 times width, ventrally with 1 simple seta, distally with 4
unequally bifid and 1 robust unequally bifid setae. Carpus length 6.3 times width, ventrally with 1 simple seta,
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
distally with 2 unequally bifid, 2 simple and 1 short robust setae. Propodus length 8.8 times width, dorsally
with 1 broom seta, ventrally with 2 slender setae, distally with 2 long distally setulate setae. Dactylus length
4.7 times width, terminally with 1 long distally setulose and 1 long unequally bifid setae.
FIGURE 5. Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., paratype female (ZIM K-41434). A, Urp; B, Op; C, Plp 3; D, Plp 4. Scales =
0.1 mm.
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FIGURE 6. Macrostylis cerritus sp. nov., paratype female (ZIM K-41433). A, lMd; B, Mxp. Pictures taken with a
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope. Scale = 50 m.
Operculum (Figure 5B) length 1.5 times width. Ovoid, tapering towards posterior, broadest medially,
narrower towards anterior. Mediolaterally with 11 slender setae on both sides. Ventrally with 5 robust setae
inserting towards both the left and right margins. One distally setulose unequally bifid seta inserting towards
posterior near the mediocentral line. Caudally with a row of 18 long and slender plumose setae.
Pleopod 3 (Figure 5C) endopod length 1.5 times width, distally with 3 plumose setae. Exopod length 6.2
times endopod length, reaching almost as far as endopod, laterally with many slender setae, of which the
anterior half are long and insert into a groove, distally with 9 setae.
Pleopod 4 (Figure 5D) endopod quadrangular, length 1.6 times width, distally with 1 minute seta. Exopod
length 5.5 times width, outer margin with row of 20 slender setae, distally with 1 plumose seta, exceeding
length of endopod.
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
Pleopod 5 absent
Uropods (Figure 5A) uniramous, sympod 4 times ramus length, 17 times longer than wide, with 9 broom
setae of varying lengths. Ramus 5 times longer than wide, distally with 2 broom setae and 1 (broken) seta.
Key to the Southern Ocean species of Macrostylis
1 Pleotelson rounded laterally..........................................................................................................................................4
- Pleotelson not rounded laterally ...................................................................................................................................2
2 Pleotelson laterally straight, with plumose setae................................................................................. M. hirsuticaudis
- Pleotelson not laterally straight, without plumose setae...............................................................................................3
3 Cephalon quadrate, pleotelson with lateral indentation............................................................................ M. bifurcatus
- Cephalon triangular, pleotelson slightly produced.................................................................................... M. spiniceps
4 Pereonites 5–7 and pleotelson dorsally setulose.......................................................................................... M. setulosa
- Pereonites 5–7 and pleotelson not dorsally setulose.....................................................................................................5
5 Pereonite 7 and pleotelson with dorsal spine-like setae ................................................................................... M. sarsi
- Pereonite 7 and pleotelson without dorsal spine-like setae..........................................................................................6
6 Pereonites 1–7 subequal, 5–7 with postero-lateral spines.............................................................. M. cerritus sp. nov.
- Anterior pereonites wider than posterior pereonites.....................................................................................................7
7 Distinct postero-lateral spines on pereonites 4–7, cephalon anterior edge straight............................ M. vinogradovae
- Small postero-lateral spines on pereonites 4–7, cephalon anterior edge slightly rounded.................... M. bipunctatus
Discussion
Macrostylis cerritus is placed within Macrostylidae due to the following characters: pereonites 1–3 fused
together forming a quadrate section; mandible palp absent; pereopod 3 fossorial, setose, with the ischium in
particular laterally produced; pereopod 4 shorter than all other pereopods; and uniramous uropods (Brix et al.
submitted). A number of autapomorphies clearly distinguish M. cerritus from the other genus of
Macrostylidae, Desmostylis (see Table 2). Most obvious is that the head and pereonite 1 are not fused.
Furthermore, the ischium of pereopod 3 is dorsally enlarged into a lobe, and pereopod 4, although strongly
reduced, still has a dactylus, whereas in Desmostylis it is absent. An apomorphy of Desmostylis is the reduced
mandibular incisor with only 1 cusp; Macrostylis normally have between 1 and 3 cusps, and M. cerritus has 4
cusps. M. cerritus can be distinguished from the other Southern Ocean Macrostylis due to the following
autapomorphies: pleopod 5 absent (vs pleopod 5 present); stunted, juvenile-looking pereopod 4; incisor with 4
cusps (vs incisor with 1–3 cusps); strongly hook-shaped pereopod 3 ischium (vs dorsal lobe on pereopod 3
ischium); and ventral spine-like seta on operculum (vs no ventral spine-like seta on operculum).
It must also be noted that while a family character is the absence of a mandibular palp (Wägele 1989), M.
cerritus has a robust seta in its place. One would presume that this has a role in feeding, but why only this
species within the genus displays it is unclear.
Within Macrostylis, M. cerritus is most similar to M. setulosa and M. vinogradovae. Whilst a generic
character is an incisor with 1–3 cusps, M. cerritus has 4, whereas M. setulosa has 3 or 4 and M. vinogradovae
4 or more cusps. These three species are also the only Macrostylis to have ventral spine-like projections on the
pereonites (or sternites in Mezhov 1992). In M. cerritus these are not as developed as in the other species, with
the spines present only on pereonites 1 (anteriorly oriented) and 6 and 7 (posteriorly oriented). Both M.
setulosa and M. vinogradovae display an additional projection on pereonite 3 (posteriorly oriented), and in the
latter, the spines increase in length from pereonite 5 to 7. Further similarities include: pleotelson posterior
rounded and bearing no plumose setae; and antennule of 5 articles with an aesthetasc on article 5. M. cerritus
can be distinguished from M. setulosa and M. vinogradovae by: 18 long posterior plumose setae on the
operculum (vs 10–12 short plumose setae); the well developed hook-like lobe on pereopod 3 ischium
(ischium angular or not so produced); and postero-lateral spines on pereonites 5–7 (postero-lateral spines on
pereonites 4–7 (and small spines on pereonite 3 in M. setulosa)).
VEY & BRIX368 · Zootaxa 2096 © 2009 Magnolia Press
TABLE 2. Generic and M. cerritus character differences.
Although the use of the ventral pereonite spines (in M. cerritus, M. setulosa and M. vinogradovae), and
the dorsally enlarged pereopod 3 ischium lobe is not clearly known, it could be suggested that these are aids to
a tubiculous lifestyle. Using morphological data, Wägele (1989) stated that Desmosomatidae and
Nannoniscidae are sister groups, whereas Raupach et al. (2004) redefined this to Desmosomatidae and
Munnopsidae. Brix (2006, work in progress) suggests to consider Nannoniscidae and Desmosomatidae to be
one family with the valid name Desmosmatidae being the sister taxon to Macrostylidae. In either case,
Macrostylidae is closely related to both the Munnopsidae and Desmosomatidae.
In his paper on locomotion, Hessler (1982) observed that desmosomatids remain on the bottom, either
walking or burrowing with their anterior pereopods. If the case is the same in Macrostylidae (as they are
closely related to Desmosomatidae), then the enlarged dorsal lobe on the ischium of pereopod 3 could serve to
wedge the individual into a burrow, whilst the anterior two pereopods excavate. M. cerritus displays a
shortened pereopod 4, another characteristic of burrowers e.g. Zenobiana (Brandt 1992). Hessler (1982) also
Character Desmostylis Macrostylis M. cerritus
Body Elongate
Length 3x width Elongate
Length 3x width Elongate
Length 5x width
Head Fused with Prn 1 Free Free
A1 Short
5 articles
1 long thick aesthetasc
Short/minute
3–5 articles
1+ thick aesthetasc
Short
5 articles
1 aesthetasc
A2 last pedunclar
article Many broom setae 1 broom setae 1 broom setae
ip Slender, narrow
1 cusp Slender, narrow
1–3 cusps Robust
4 cusps
lm Left- small Left-small absent
mp 2–3 apex setae 4 or more apex setae Many (9)
Mxp palp 5 articles 5 articles 5 articles
Mxp epipod Long-oval, slender
Distally rounded Long-oval, slender
Distally rounded Long-oval, slender
Distally rounded
P1-7 Subsimilar
Ischium long, 1 ventral seta Subsimilar Subsimilar
P3 No enlarged ischium Ischium lobed
Strong spine at tip Ischium lobed
Tip setae
P4 No dactylus Short dactylus with some
spine setae Short dactylus with some
spine setae
P5 and 6 Long whip and sensory setae
at dactylus tip None None
O (female) Long-oval
Some plumose caudal setae Oval
Some plumose caudal setae Oval
Some plumose caudal setae
Plp5 Present Present Absent
Urp Uniramous
Ramus and sympod subequal
Distal broom and sensory
setae
Uniramous
Ramus 3 x sympod l
Distal broom and sensory
setae
Uniramous
Ramus 0.2 as long as
sympod l
Distal broom and sensory
setae
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MACROSTYLIS CERRITUS SP. NOV.
notes that when startled, desmosomatids use their posterior three pereopods to swim backwards. Although
pereopods 5 and 6 of M. cerritus are unlikely to be used for swimming, as they are long, thin and have few
long setae, the long setae on the basis of pereopod 7 may have been retained for this escape mechanism.
The loss of natatory setae, long and slender posterior pereopods (Wägele 1989), the strange spine-like
projections and the dorsally enlarged ischium of pereopod 3 all seem to be adaptations for a fossorial
(digging) lifestyle. More research is needed into the ecology of this and other deep-sea organisms collected on
ANDEEP expeditions to elucidate the roles each plays within the deep-sea habitats, in order to provide data
for more comprehensive studies into Southern Ocean ecosystems and their effect on atmospheric processes.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Angelika Brandt for organizing the ANDEEP cruises. This is ANDEEP
publication No. 108. Wiebke Brökeland and Stefanie Kaiser are mentioned for providing the pre-sorted isopod
material for the CeDAMar workshop on deep-sea Isopoda held in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, March 2007. Jan
Michels kindly provided us with the CLSM pictures of the mouthparts during this workshop. Lydia Kramer
helped us finish the drawings when we were running out of time close to the submission deadline for this
volume. Niel Bruce, Marilyn Schotte and an anonymous reviewer are recognised for providing valuable
comments which improved this species description. CeDAMar is thanked for the financial support of the
workshop on deep-sea Isopoda and for giving us the opportunity to bring scientists and knowledge together.
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