A new species of Metatanais Shiino, 1952 (Crustacea, Tanaidacea, Paratanaoidea) from Australian coral reefs, with a redefinition of the genus

Abstract

This paper presents a description of the new species Metatanais bipunctatus sp. n. found on coral reefs at two sites in Australia: Lizard Island (Queensland) and Ningaloo Reef (north-western Australia). The new species is the second member of the genus and it is morphologically almost identical to type species M. cylindricus Shiino, 1952, recorded from algae on the surface of ascidians or sponges in shallow waters off Seto (north-western coast of Japan). The new species was compared with the holotype of M. cylindricus and it can be distinguished from it by relatively short first article in antennule, compact propodus of pereopod 6 (about three times as long as wide) and robust ventral spiniform seta on propodus of last three pairs of pereopods. The definition of the genus has been amended and appendages (where possible) of M. cylindricus has been figured.