Eurycyde arctica Child 1995

Eurycyde arctica

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Aleutians, S of Amchitka Island, 51°17.8′N, 179°24.8′E, 229 m, R/V Miller Freeman, cruise 833, sta 24, 31 Jul 1983 (1, paratype, USNM 234647). Aleutians, Amchitka Pass, 52°13.1′N, 179°43.7′W, 141 m, R/V Halfmoon Bay, cruise 801, sta 63, 27 Jul 1980 (1, holotype, USNM 234645, 1, paratype, USNM 234646).

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from the vicinity of Amchitka Island in 141 to 229 m.

DESCRIPTION.—Species small, leg span about 9.5 mm. Trunk segments with slightly swollen posterior cowls without tubercles. Lateral processes moderately long, separated distally by at least half their diameters, armed with 1 dorsodistal slender tubercle with or without 1–2 tiny setae. Trunk anterior with pair of slender tubercles over chelifore insertion. Ocular tubercle a cylinder almost twice taller than its diameter, capped by small cone. Proboscis typical, second segment not greatly inflated. Abdomen long, carried horizontally, armed with pair of long dorsodistal spines and pair of short laterodistal setae.

Chelifores slender, short, scape first segment not quite as long as proboscis proximal petiole, second segment only slightly longer, both armed with moderately long spines; 1 on first scape segment, 3 on second segment along with 1 seta each and another seta on each atrophied chela. Palps typical, third segment slightly longer than fifth, distal 5 segments with fringe of ventral setae longer than their segments.

Ovigers typical, third segment slightly longer than fourth, both with few short lateral setae. Distal 4 segments (strigilis) with large denticulate spines having many lateral lobes, arranged in formula 5:3:3:4, with short terminal claw opposing enlarged spine, which imparts a chelate appearance.

Legs with very few long dorsal spines, none with feathered setules, all three major segments subequal in length. Propodus with few sole spines and claw slightly longer than typical, measuring about 0.33 propodal length. Femoral cement gland with low bulge having slender conical orifice on posteroventral femur in proximal half. Female legs with fewer long spines and small inconspicuous bulge in place of cement gland.

MEASUREMENTS (in mm).—Trunk length (chelifore insertion to tip 4th lateral processes), 1.51; trunk width (across 2nd lateral processes), 1.05; proboscis distal segment length, 0.95; abdomen length, 0.6; third leg lengths, coxa 1, 0.22; coxa 2, 0.44; coxa 3, 0.25; femur, 0.84; tibia 1, 0.84; tibia 2, 0.84; tarsus, 0.12; propodus, 0.5; claw, 0.17.

ETYMOLOGY.—The name for this species (Greek: arktos, the north) refers to its Arctic type locality.

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