Amuletta, a new genus for Ilyarachna abyssorum Richardson 1911 (Isopoda, Asellota, Eurycopidae)
Contents
Abstract
Amuletta, new genus, is proposed for Ilyarachna abyssorum Richardson, 1911. A detailed description, new illustrations, and new records are presented with a discussion of the systematic position of this species. It must be placed in the Eurycopidae, in spite of its resemblance to the presumed ancestor of the Ilyarachnidae. This difficulty arises because the present classification of these janiroidean families has become obsolete. This species is apparently limited to the northeast Atlantic, where it has a broad depth distribution. However, sampling device avoidance may account for the infrequent records of this species, implying it may have a broader geographic range. The gut contents of one specimen contained a high proportion of calcareous Foraminifera, suggesting that it was actively feeding on forams.
