Eusirus bonnieri sp. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eusiridae), a new deep species from the southeastern Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic Ocean).

A new bathyal eusirid, Eusirus bonnieri sp. nov., is described from the SE Bay of Biscay, mainly characterized by its strongly deflexed rostrum (not mentioned for any other known Eusirus species) and by a long spiniform process at the posterodistal corner of pereopods 5-7 merus. It was sampled with a suprabenthic sledge between 370 and 1099 m on southern margin of the Cap Ferret Canyon and within the Capbreton Canyon. It was relatively scarce on the open slope and its maximum abundance was registered within the upper part of the Capbreton canyon. Beside some ecological/biological data, an identification key is provided for all known species in this genus.

Dorotea gen. nov., a new bathyal genus (Amphipoda, Eusiridae) from the Solomon Sea (Papua New Guinea).

A new species ascribed to a new genus of Eusiridae, Dorotea papuana gen. nov., sp. nov. is described from bathyal bottoms of the Solomon Sea (Papua New Guinea). Closely related to the genus Cleonardo, this new genus can be distinguished from most other known eusirid genera by the presence of a telson distally cleft and distinctly bilobate, of a distal spiniform process on uropod 1 peduncle and of a simple, stout and medium length dactylus on pereopods 5-7. The combination of all these characters can be considered relevant for the affiliation of this species to a new genus within Eusiridae. Due to its very close morphological affinity to Dorotea gen. nov., the bathyal sub-Antarctic species Eusiroides aberrantis Bellan-Santini Ledoyer, 1987 cannot be maintained in the family Pontogeneiidae and it should be transferred to the   family Eusiridae.

Amphipod family distributions around Iceland.

Amphipod crustaceans were collected at all 55 stations sampled with an epibenthic sledge during two IceAGE expeditions (Icelandic marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology) in 2011 and 2013. In total, 34 amphipod families and three superfamilies were recorded in the samples. Distribution maps are presented for each taxon along with a summary of the regional taxonomy for the group. Statistical analyses based on presence/absence data revealed a pattern of family distributions that correlated with sampling depth. Clustering according to the geographic location of the stations (northernmost North Atlantic Sea and Arctic Ocean) can also be observed. IceAGE data for the Amphilochidae and Oedicerotidae were analysed on species level; in case of the Amphilochidae they were compared to the findings from a previous Icelandic benthic survey, BIOICE (Benthic Invertebrates of Icelandic waters), which also identified a high abundance of amphipod fauna.

Elasmopus thalyae sp. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maeridae), a new benthic species from soft and hard bottoms of Arcachon Bay (SE Bay of Biscay).

A new species of Elasmopus is described and figured from specimens collected in different benthic communities of Arcachon Bay. It can be distinguished from its closest relative E. rapax by the palmar ornamentation of male gnathopod 2 propodus (shelf and 2 teeth). It preferentially lives on hard bottoms (in mussel fouling of navigation buoys, Sabellaria spinulosa reefs, algal rocky bottoms, Laminaria and Saccorhiza bulbs and as epibiont on the carapace of Maja brachydactyla) but also less abundantly on naked sandy bottoms. An identification key of Atlantic and Mediterranean European species is also given.

Ischnomesus harrietae sp. nov., a new benthic asellote (Crustacea: Isopoda: Ischnomesidae) from bathyal bottoms of the southern Bay of Biscay.

A new species of Ischnomesidae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Asellota), Ischnomesus harrietae sp. nov. is described from the southern Bay of Biscay. This new species is distinctive due to the presence of numerous pedestal setae arranged in longitudinal rows on pereonite 5. Because of this morphological peculiarity, it can be easily distinguished from the four other Ischnomesus species previously reported from bathyal/abyssal bottoms of the European continental margin. Within its known distributional area, the new species inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms between 619 and 1099 m, with a maximum abundance of 41.8 individuals per 100 m2 recorded at approximately 700 m on the Arcachon Plateau. Another new species is also reported, Ischnomesus sp.1, represented by one specimen only and briefly described. An identification key to European species of Ischnomesus is provided.

Papuadocus blodiwai gen. nov., sp. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maeridae), a new bathyal species associated with sunken wood in the Bismarck Sea (Papua New Guinea).

A new species belonging to a new genus of Maeridae, Papuadocus blodiwai gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from bathyal bottoms of the Bismarck Sea (Papua New Guinea). This genus/species can be distinguished from most other known maerids by right and left maxillas 1 with asymmetrical palps and by gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic. Its closest relative is the genus Bathyceradocus also characterized by asymmetrical maxillas 1, but differing by the presence of gill on coxae 7. These observations lead to the conclusion that the diagnosis of the family Maeridae has to be amended to receive both Bathyceradocus and Papuadocus genera. All the collected specimens lived in association with sunken wood, at 500-580 m depth.