Cumacea (Crustacea, Peracarida) in the deep Mediterranean, with the description of one new species

Abstract

Cumacean specimens were analysed from the expeditions of RV Meteor to the eastern Mediterranean in 1993 (Me 25/1) and 1998 (Me 40). Sampling depth ranged from 45 to 4391 m for the Me 25/1 expedition and from 1129 to 1876 m for the Me 40 expedition. In total, 29 species were identified of which one, Campylaspis aegypta sp. nov., is new to science. The horizontal and vertical distribution, the faunal overlap with the Atlantic and endemism of Cumacea in the Mediterranean are discussed. The age of the fauna is considered to be relatively young because of the faunal overlap with the eastern Atlantic and the paucity of endemic higher taxa. Copyright © 2009 · Magnolia Press.