Parapallene challengeri Calman 1937

Parapallene challengeri Calman 1937

(Figure 8 B)

Parapallene challengeri. — Calman 1937: 532 –534, figs. 1–6. — Clark 1963: 31 [key]. — Stock 1991:193 [key]. — Staples 1997:1057, fig. 21.4f.

Material: AM P72800, 1 female. 22 November 2005, Albany Point, Western Australia, CSIRO station 022- 126, collected with Sherman sled from 35.3350°S 118.2940°E to 35.3366°S 118.2900°E, soft and hard bottoms, 100 m.

Remarks: Differs from holotype of Parapallene challengeri in the wider distance between lateral processes, which in this specimen is 1.5 times their diameter. Also, the neck is longer, making the trunk length more than 7 mm (Fig. 8A), while that of the holotype is 6 mm. The legs, especially the femora, have tiny spines on bumps or knobs, giving them an irregular appearance. These bumps are not mentioned in the description of the type by Calman (1937), but are indeed present in the type material as kindly confirmed by Roger Bamber who examined the type material at the Natural History Museum in London. All other characters match with the Calman’s species. Parapallene challengeri was first collected by the H.M.S. “Challenger” off New South Wales (Calman 1937) and has been also found at Bass Strait Islands and Gulf St. Vincent in South Australia (Staples 1997) all in shallower habitats (24–80 m). Assignment of this specimen from WA to P. challengeri implies the distribution range of the species is extended from the South East to the South West of Australia, suggesting its occurrence all along the southern Australian coastline.