A new North‐East Atlantic species of Bacescomysis (Mysidacea, Crustacea) with original moth‐like antennules

Abstract

A new Mysidacea, Bacescomysis papilio, with a unique, supernumerary complement of sensilla on the antennules, is described from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (4848 m) in the North‐East Atlantic. Comparisons are made with the species of Bacescomysis and of the related genus Hansenomysis. Biological and biogeographical remarks on these two genera are provided, i.e. role of antennule, adaptations to deep water, and correlations between depth range of species and latitude.

Keywords:

• Atlantic
• Bacescomysis
• biogeography
• ecology
• Mysidacea
• Petalophthalmidae
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Joëlle Galéron (Ifremer, Brest) for the loan of material, and to the chief scientist Myriam Sibuet (Ifremer, Brest) and participants of the Discovery 231 and 237 cruises. Those cruises were part of the European BENGAL programme [contract no. MAS3‐CT95‐0018 (DG 12‐ESCY)]. We also thank Dr Jean‐Paul Lagardère, who gave us specimens of its new species.