Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 54: 221-242 (1994) 30 June 1994 https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1994.54.11 SYNOPSIS OF PARELEDONE AND MEGALELEDONE SPECIES, WITH DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES FROM EAST ANTARCTICA (CEPHALOPODA: OCTOPODIDAE) By C.C. Lu and T.N. Stranks Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Museum of Victoria 285-321 Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia Abstract Lu, C.C. and Stranks, T.N., 1994. Synopsis of Pareledone and Megaleledone species, with description of two new species from East Antarctica (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae). Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 54: 221-242. A synopsis is given for species of the genus Pareledone from Prydz Bay, Antarctica: P. adelieana (Berry, 1917), P. cliarcoti (Joubin, 1905), and P. harrissoni (Berry, 1917). Two new species of Pareledone are described and illustrated: P.framensis from Fram Bank, off MacRobertson Land, and P. prydzensis from Prydz Bay, off the Amery Ice Shelf, Antarcti- ca. A comparative description of Megaleledone senoi Taki, 1961, from Antarctica is also provided. Introduction Material and methods The taxonomy of Antarctic eledonine octo- A collection of 125 eledonine octopuses from puses is poorly known. A literature review 41 stations on the continental shelf (water depths revealed that eight nominal species of Parele- less than 1000 m) has been accumulated during done have been previously described from benthic surveys conducted by the Australian Antarctic waters (latitudes greater than 60°S). National Antarctic Research Expeditions Several of the species (e.g., Pareledone antarc- (ANARE). Fauna has been sampled by beam or tica (Thiele, 1920), P. aurorae (Berry, 1917), and otter trawls and epibenthic sleds, during cruises P. umitakae Taki, 1961) were known only from of the MS Nella Dan (1985-1987) and RSV type material, and most other species have not Aurora Australis (1990 onwards). Live octopus- been reviewed in detail since Robson's (1932) es were observed during the 1991 cruise of RSV monograph. Much of the past work on Antarctic Aurora Australis to Prydz Bay; these animals octopods has concentrated on material from the were then sacrificed using fresh water, fixed in Antarctic Peninsula vicinity, and little informa- formalin, and preserved in ethanol. A number of tion has been published on the fauna of East animals were autopsied for parasites and the Antarctica. material has been forwarded to appropriate for identification and description. A study is now being undertaken to provide researchers systematic information on octopods of the Prydz Holotypes and most paratypes have been Bay region (around 68°S, 75°E). While attempt- deposited at the Museum of Victoria; paratypes were deposited at ing to identify the Pareledone specimens, it and other voucher specimens National became clear that two previously undescribed the Australian Museum, and the Muse- species existed among the specimens collected. um of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. This paper describes the new species and pro- Efforts were made to verify most of the previ- records. Where specimens vides a comparison with existing valid species ous type and nontype or descrip- of Pareledone from the region. have not yet been available for study, not clear, the relevant entry in the syn- Voss (in Palacio, 1978) considered that Mega- tions are denoted with a question mark leledone (a monotypic genus) was a synonym of onymy has been Pareledone, so the new species here diagnosed sufficient material, counts and are also contrasted with Megaleledone senoi Where there is included for a representative Taki, 1961. Further systematic information on measurements are and 10 males. Counts, measurements the Pareledone and Megaleledone species will 10 females were defined by Roper and Voss be provided with the future publication of a larg- and indices and Toll (1988) with the following excep- er revision of the Octopodidae of the Prydz Bay (1983) — opposite arm sucker count in region. tion: OASC 222 C.C. LU AND T.N. STRANKS Aurora Ausiralis, Stn AA91-92, ANARE, males, or sucker count on either arm L3 or R3 in 667-676 m, RSV C. C. Lu and.T. N. Stranks, 25 Feb 1991, NMV F65613 females. Materials studied, including type spec- (immature o*, 29.0 and 31.4mm ML); 66"48'S, 72°33'E, imens, are from: The Australian Museum, Syd- 526-532 m, RSV Aurora Australia Stn AA9l-89(2), ney (AM); Museum National d'Histoire ANARE, C. C. Lu and T. N. Stranks, 24 Feb 1991, NMV Victoria, Naturelle, Paris (MNHN); Museum of F65630 (submature 9, 21.7, 23.5, 27.1, 30.5, 35.1, 35.7, Melbourne (NMV); National Museum of Natur- 39.6mm ML; mature 9, 46.8mm ML; spent 9, 43.1 mm ML; al History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, immature 6, 25.4, 27.6, 29.7, 47.4 mm ML; mature o\ 38.3, D.C. (USNM). 40.8mm ML), USNM 884248 (mature o\ 44.8 mm ML); 66"59'S, 72°37'E, 532-536 m, RSV Aurora Ausiralis, Stn Octopodidae AA91-90, ANARE, C. C. Lu andT. N. Stranks, 24 Feb 1991, 23.3mm ML); 67°56'S, Pareledone Robson, 1932 NMV F6567I (submature 9, 76"24'E, 436-441 m, RSV Aurora Australis, Stn AA9I-77, Type species. Eledone charcoti Joubin, 1905. ANARE, C. C. Lu and T. N. Stranks, 18 Feb 1991, NMV F656I2 (immature o\ 40.5mm ML). Diagnosis. Benthic octopodids. Mantle saccu- lar, without fins. Right arms lacking cirri, arms Diagnosis. Medium sized animals (ML to with small uniserial suckers, third right arm of 55mm; TL to 160mm) (fig. I); mantle elongate 62.7-76. /-9 1 . head wide, usual- males hectocotylised with end of arm clearly dif- ovoid (MW1 1 ); ferentiated into Iigula and calamus, arms tips not ly slightly wider than mantle (HWI otherwise modified. Web well developed. Funnel 67.8-77.3-9 1 .6), demarked from mantle by mod- organ VV- or W-shaped. Gills well developed, erate constriction; eyes very large, project above with 6-9 lamellae. Ink sac present. Crop well surface of head. Funnel large, stout, bluntly developed. Radula normal, with multicuspid tapered (FuLI 29. 1-34.4^ 1 .3); funnel organ W- rhachidian, lateral teeth and marginal plates well shaped, limbs thick, outer limbs as long as medi- defined. Cartilaginous stylets absent. an limbs (fig. 9c). Mantle aperture very wide (PAI 93.6-704.3-128.2). Arms short (MAI Pareledone adelieana (Berry) 45.3-58.4-8 1. 5) (1.9-2.2 times ML in mature stout, tapering to narrow tips. Arm Figures 1 , 9a-d animals), lengths subequal, arm order usually 4.3.2.1 Moscluies adelieana Berry. 1917: 17, text figs 10-13, pi. (ALI, arm I: 112.9-754.6-205.2; arm 2: II fig, 5, pi. 12 figs 6-8. 1 I5.0-/6/.8-216.5; arm 3: 1 17.6-/65.0-214.2; Pareledone adelieana. — Robson, 1932: 278. 1 4-/ 68.1-22 suckers unise- Pareledone adeliana [sic]. — ?Dell, 1959: 92, text fig. 7. arm 4: 12. 1.0). Arm — Voss, 1988: 300 [designation of nomen dubium]. rial, raised from arm surface, small (ASI 1 96 1 : text figs 9-16, pi. 3. Pareledone umitakae Taki, 308, 4.3—6.5—10. 1 ), without sucker enlargement.. Third right arm of males hectocotylised, shorter Material examined. Holotype: Antarctica, off Mert/. Glaci- than its opposite number (OAI 8 1 .2-9/. 5-98.0; er (66°55"S, I45°2I'E), 288-300 I'm |527-549ml, SY Auro- 1.0-/56./- 17 Iigula medium size, ra, Stn 2, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 28 Dec 1913, HcAI 13 1.0); AM C40889 (submature 9, 29.5mm ML). 9-15% of third right arm length in mature ani- Other material examined: Antarctica, off Enderby Land: mals (LL1 9.7-/2.5-15.0); Iigula groove long, 65°50'S, 50"34'E, 540m, MS Nella Dan, Stn IIRD-01 I, well marked and deep, with approximately 8 ANARE, M. D. Norman, 20 Nov 1985, NMV F65629 (sub- transverse ridges; calamus long, pointed (CaLI 9, 17.7mm ML); 65°56'S, 50°52'E, 386-400m, MS mature 45.1^*5.4-46.6) (figs 9a, b); hectocotylised Dan, Stn HRD-010, ANARE, M. D. Norman, 15 Nov Nella arm with 22-28 suckers; opposite arm with 1985, NMV F65628 (mature <?, 54.5 mm ML). 26-46 suckers. Web moderately deep Off MacRobertson Coast: 67°I5'S, 68°56'E, 139m, RSV (WDI 21.2-27./-32.5), web formula usually Aurora Ausiralis, Stn AA9 1 -99, ANARE, C. C. Lu and T. N. B=C=DAE. Ink sac present. Gill lamellae 6-7. Stranks, 28 Feb 1991, NMV F6561 1 (immature o\ 36.0mm ,> ML); 67 15'S, 70°07'E, 172- 182m, RSV Aurora Ausiralis. Mature ovarian eggs, from female with enlarged Sin AA9I-95, ANARE, C. C. Lu and T. N. Stranks, 26 Feb ovary, large (8-9 mm long, 3^ mm wide) (EgLI D (immature 6, 24.8mm ML); 67 07'S, 1991, NMV F65670 1 7.3-/7.9-1 8.4; EgWI 7.1-7J-7.5). Male with 70"I7'E, 256m, ANARE, 2 Feb 1986, NMV F65627 (mature long penis (PLI 25.7-29.9-39.5), with single 59.0mm ML); 67°03'S, 70"24'E, 242-244 m, RSV Auro- o*, coiled diverticulum (fig. 9d); spermatophores ra Ausiralis, Stn AA91-96, ANARE, C. C. Lu and T. N. moderately long (SpLI 58.7-66.9-78.7), slender Stranks, 26 Feb 1991, NMV F65669 (immature 6, 28.4mm (SpWI 4.9-5.5-6.2), with large, coiled sperm ML); 66°53'S, 70°44'E.