“Excirolana chilensis, new species.
Body oblong-ovate and very convex. Color, in alcohol, yellow, marked with scattered arborescent black markings.
Head large, wider than long, with the front excavate between the antero-lateral angles and the median process for the reception of the basal articles of the first antennae. Antero-lateral angles obliquely truncate. The anterior margin is produced in the middle in a long, narrow process between the basal articles of the first antennae and becomes dilated at its extremity, which is continuous with the frontal lamina. The eyes are large and subquadrate and extend half the length of the lateral margin. The peduncle of the first antennae is composed of three articles, the first two of which are subequal and dilated, being about as wide as long; the third article is shorter and narrower than either of the other two; the flagellum is composed of 15 articles and extends to the posterior margin of the third thoracic segment. The second antennae have a peduncle composed of 5 articles, the first two of which are directed forward, the basal one being concealed in a dorsal view by the first antennae; the first 4 articles are short, the fifth being much longer than any of the others; the flagellum is broken off at the ninth joint.
The segments of the thorax are subequal. All, with the exception of the first, are provided with wide, subquadrate epimera. The greatest width of the thorax is 4 mm. The first 5 segments of the abdomen are short and subequal, all visible in a dorsal view, the fifth being free at the sides, which are not covered by the fourth segment. The sixth or terminal segment is wider than long, 2 ½ mm.: 1 ½ mm., and is triangularly produced at its posterior extremity. The length of the entire abdomen is 4mm. The peduncle of the uropoda is produced at its inner extremity; the inner branch is wide and has the posterior extremity obliquely truncate; the outer branch is about half as wide as the inner branch and also has the posterior extremity obliquely truncate, but less so than the inner branch. The posterior margin of the terminal abdominal segment as well as the posterior margin of the uropoda is fringed with long plumose hairs.
The first three pairs of legs are prehensile, the last four pairs ambulatory; all are furnished with spinules.
Only one specimen was obtained by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries steamer Albatross off Lota,Chile, at a depth of 677 fathoms in yellow mud.
Type-specimen.—Cat. No. 43654, U.S.N.M.
This species differs from all the known species of the genus in the form of the head, which has the antero-lateral angles produced and obliquely truncate, and in having the two basal articles of the peduncle of the second antennae directed forward.”
(Richardson, 1912: 201-203)
