New findings and two new species of the genus Colossendeis Jarzynsky, 1870 (Pycnogonida, Colossendeidae), with a morphometric analysis for species from the Southern Ocean

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, specimens belonging to the pycnogonid genusColossendeisJarzynsky, 1870 collected during the AntarcticPolarstern XXIII/8cruise (November 23, 2006, to January 30, 2007) were studied. In this collection, the following thirteen species have been identified, two of them being proposed as new species:Colossendeis frigidaHodgson, 1907,C. megalonyxHoek, 1881,C. wilsoniCalman, 1915,C. engirmaticaTurpaeva, 1974,C. arundorostrisFry & Hedgpeth, 1969,C. scottiCalman, 1915,C. lillieiCalman, 1915,C. drakeiCalman, 1915,C. glacialisHodgson, 1907,C. australisHodgson, 1907,C. tortipalpisGordon, 1932,C. pseudofrigidasp. nov., andC. bamberisp. nov. All species are diagnosed and their taxonomic status discussed.C. frigida,C. engirmatica, andC. arundorostrisextend their known depth range.C. arundorostrishas been found for the first time outside the Ross Sea. The finding ofC. engirmaticarepresents the first record after its original description. The new species are described, illustrated, and compared with their closest congeners. Finally, we carried out a cluster analysis (Bray-Curtis similarity index) based on a data-matrix of 49 Antarctic and Sub-AntarcticColossendeisspecies and 26 morphological characters.