“Natatolana matong n. sp.
Cirolana rossi.—Hale, 1952, 24. [Mis-identification, not N. rossi (Miers, 1876)].
Material examined. 4 males (20.2, 24.0, 21.5, 23.9 mm), 8 females (19.5-27.1 mm), west of King Island, N.W. Tas., 21 Oct. 1950, 180 m. Female (26.5 mm), British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition Stn 113, off Maria Island, Tas., 42°40'S, 148°27'E, 23 Mar. 1931, 155-178 m. Female (18.9 mm) south of Warrnambool, Vic., 14 May 1969, 220-310 m, coll. V. Johnston. Female (24.0 mm), Apollo Bay, Vic., coll. S. O'Connor.
Types. Holotype, male, TM G2543. Paratypes, TM G1293, NMV J920, J1733; SAM C3277, C3921; USNM 109986; BM(NH); AM P33546.
Type locality. Off King Island, North West Tasmania, ca. 40°S, 144°E.
Description of male. Body little more than 3 times as long as wide. Cephalon with blunt rostral point on anterior margin; furrow runs anteriorly from dorsal surface of each eye, curving slightly inwards before terminating; feeble trace of furrow curves anteriorly from point of termination of distinct furrow. Eyes distinctly narrower anteriorly. Pereonites 1, 5 and 6 subequal in length and longer than pereonites 2-4 and 7; pereonite 1 with submarginal furrow, and second lateral furrow. Coxae of pereonites 2-3 with furrows, coxae on pereonite 4 with partial furrow, coxae of pereonite 7 with feeble trace of furrow. All furrows on coxae feebly developed and difficult to see. Pleonites all visible; posterolateral margins of pleonite 3 acute, produced posteriorly, those of pleonite 4 moderately acute, upper margin convex. Pleotelson slightly shorter than long, posterior margin with marginal plumose setae, 6 spines on either side of mid point; central pair of spines set very close.
Antennule extending to mid point of eye, peduncle article 3 as long as combined lengths of articles 1 and 2; flagellum slightly shorter than peduncle, composed of about 15 articles with numerous aesthetascs. Antenna with group of stiff setae at posterodistal angle of peduncle article 4; flagellum composed of about 35 articles, extending to pereonite 3.
Frontal lamina 2.5 times as long as basal width, constricted medially, apex angled to acute point, ventral surface feebly carinate. Frontal lamina with medial half of anterior margin produced forwards. Maxilliped endite with 2 coupling hooks, 10 plumose and 6 simple setae.
Pereopod 1 with setae along anterior margin of basis, and group of setae at posterodistal angle; ischium with single spine at posterodistal angle and setae along anterior and posterior margins; merus with 9 stout spines on posterior margin, anterior margin with 1 stout spine at apex and numerous setae; carpus with 4 spines on posterior margin; propodus with 4 acute spines on palm and 1 opposing dactylus, further short spine set proximally; lateral surface with group of setae. Pereopods 2-3 similar, more spinose; propodus with 3 acute spines on palm, lateral surface with 2 carinae. Pereopods 5-7 similar, pereopod 6 longer than 5 or 7, basis broadest in pereopod 7. Pereopod 7 basis about twice as long as broad, posterior margin slightly convex, provided with continuous row of marginal setae, anterior margin without setae, except distal extremity which has long plumose setae; ischium with stiff setae along posterior margin, anterior margin with slender setae, distal extremities with spines; merus and carpus with spines at distal angles and in groups along posterior margins; propodus with 3 groups of spines on posterior margin, and further group of spines at base of dactylus.
Vasa deferentia opening flush with surface of sternite 7.
Pleopod 2 appendix masculina arising basally, as long as inner ramus, straight sided, slender. Uropods extending slightly beyond apex of pleotelson. Exopod slightly shorter than endopod, lateral margin with 11 spines set amongst marginal setae, medial margin with 5 spines and long marginal setae; both margins very slightly convex. Endopod lateral margin very nearly straight, with 7 spines set amongst short setae, medial margin with 7 spines amongst long setae.
Female. Differs from male only in sexual characters.
Variation. All specimens agree closely. The specimen from Apollo Bay does not show the interocular furrows at all clearly.
Colour. Pale tan in alcohol, chromatophores not visible.
Size. Largest female 27.1 mm, largest male, 24.0 mm.
Remarks. This species bears a close similarity to N. rossi from New Zealand, but can be readily distinguished as N. rossi has a complete interocular furrow, distinct furrows on all coxae, and much broader basis of pereopod 7. At present, N. rossi has not been recorded from Australian waters. Natatolana pastorei is also similar, but can easily be distinguished from the present species by its more sinuate uropods, and in having the apex of the pleotelson margin strongly produced. Natatolana hirtipes from South Africa, another similar species, can be distinguished by having conspicuous coxal furrows, and by differences in shape of the lateral margin of pleonites 3 and 4. Natatolana valida, the only other Australian species that approaches Natatolana matong, has a narrow straight frontal lamina and lacks a cephalic rostral point.
Distribution. Off Victoria and Tasmania in the Bass Strait area, recorded at depths of 155-310 meters.
Etymology. Matong is an Aboriginal word meaning powerful.”
(Bruce, Niel, 1986: 93-97)
