Meridionale Staples, 2014, gen. nov.

• Main Author: Staples, David A.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Arthropoda; Pycnogonida; Pantopoda; Callipallenidae; Meridionale; Arctic; Hoek
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6128039; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6128039

Genus Meridionale gen. nov. Figure 2 F Etymology. From Latin- Méridionale, southern. The generic name recognizes the Southern Hemisphere collection sites of all species assigned to the genus. This contrasts to the predominantly northern hemisphere Boreal-Arctic distribution of Pseudopallene species. Diagnosis. Trunk smooth, compact, strongly arched in lateral view with an overall ‘hunched’ appearance, without spiniform projections, lateral processes typically separated by about half own basal diameter or less, often separated from trunk by suture lines separating trunk and lateral processes, cephalon strongly angled downward from the trunk, anterior region swollen, narrowing sharply to a short, constricted neck, lateral processes about as long as their greatest width, narrowly but distinctly separated. Abdomen short, often shield-shaped, not reaching beyond fourth lateral processes. Ocular tubercle moderately low, with laid-back appearance, apical surface sloping downward towards anterior, dorsal papillae usually conspicuous. Proboscis tip mamilliform, with setiferous fringe variably present on outer surface. Palps absent. Chelifores directed forward and downward from the cephalon, hanging vertically or facing backwards, scapes angled outwards, with conspicuous proximal constriction present in females; chelae carried in front of proboscis and transversely opposed to scapes, palm large, often swollen, fingers digitiform and variably opposed to palm, margins heavily sclerotized, sometimes with marginal lobe on one or both fingers. Oviger strigilis spines compound, terminal claw distally blunt or acute, with stout, saw-like teeth fringing both distal margins. Legs smooth or with spinules, surface rarely irregular. Tibia 2 longer than tibia 1 and femur, auxiliary claws absent. Femoral cement glands not evident. Genital pores conspicuous. Juvenile moveable fingers highly modified; proboscis tapering distally, tubiform. Associated with arborescent bryozoans. Type species. Meridionale laevis (Hoek, 1881). Species ...