A new species of Tenerognathia (Isopoda: Gnathiidae) from off Cape Muroto, southern Japan

Abstract

A male gnathiid specimen was captured at a depth of 374 m off Cape Muroto, southern Japan. The specimen exhibited small mandibles, extremely large eyes covering most of the lateral cephalon, a slender body, and J- or L-shaped narrow pylopods. These characteristics correspond to those of the monotypic genus Tenerognathia. This specimen, distinct from the type and sole species of Tenerognathia visus, is identified as a new species based on differences in pylopod articulation and shapes of cephalon and maxilliped basis.