3.8 Candacia cheirura Cleve 1904
Candacia cheirura Cleve, 1904: p. 180, fig.
29a-e - Farran, 1929: p. 273, fig. 29 - Grice,
1963: p. 175, figs. 15, 16 - Ramirez, 1971: p.
87, pI. 2 figs. 4, 7, 11.
Body length -
females: 2.27-3.12mm (7 specimens)
males: 2.18-2.84mm (16 specimens)
Female. All the characteristic features of the
genus. Cephalothorax 2.5 times longer than
wide, with blunt head. Posterior corners of
last thoracic somite with symmetrical points.
First cephalothorax somite bears flap-like
projection along mid-line of dorsal side with
two small sensilla at base. Proportional
lengths of cephalothorax and abdomen 76:
24; proportional lengths of abdominal
somites and furca 44: 26: 15: 15 = 100.
Lateral margins of genital somite rounded
and symmetrical in dorsal view. Second
abdominal somite bears a remarkable ventral
posteriad protuberance, not visible in dorsal
view. Terminal segment of P5 with 2 spinelike points on external margin and 3 at distal
end; the middle point longest of three.
Male. General shape as female. Cephalothorax 2.6 times longer than wide. Proportionallengths of cephalothorax and abdomen
76: 24. Right Al geniculated. Flap-like
projection on dorsal side of first thoracic
somite, as in female. Posterior corners of
thorax pointed and asymmetrical; left corner
Family Candaciidae
ends in a spiniform process; right corner with
characteristic hazelnut-swelling ornated with
small knobs, not visible at light microscope.
Proportional lengths of abdominal somites
and furca 18:24:21: 13: 10: 14 = 100. In
dorsal view, genital somite bears process on
right side ending in slender point. Right P5
ending in a chela; distal joint of left P5 longer
than penultimate joint and ornated with 5
spines and rows and bundles of hairs.
Distribution
Cleve (1904) described this species from
collections west of South Africa in the
Benguela Current at depths of 250-350m.
Farran (1929) recorded it between the
Auckland and Campbell Islands, south of
New Zealand in a sector influenced by subAntarctic waters. Farran supposed that it is a
normal inhabitant of the upper mesoplankton
in the circumpolar current known as the West
Wind Drift from which the Benguela Current
originates. Other areas of occurrence include
the South Atlantic, South Pacific and South
Indian Oceans. Vervoort (1957) recorded it
in central Antarctic waters and suggested
that this species drifts from the circumpolar
current towards sub-Antarctic sectors.
Ramirez (1971) recorded only one specimen
of C. cheirura between 42° and 45°S on the
South Argentine continental shelf influenced
by sub-Antarctic waters. In the present
study, C. cheirura was only present from
50-500m in the Pacific area and from 200250 m at a few stations in the Central area of
the Straits of Magellan.
Candacia cheirura Cleve, 1904: p. 180, fig.
29a-e - Farran, 1929: p. 273, fig. 29 - Grice,
1963: p. 175, figs. 15, 16 - Ramirez, 1971: p.
87, pI. 2 figs. 4, 7, 11.
Body length -
females: 2.27-3.12mm (7 specimens)
males: 2.18-2.84mm (16 specimens)
Female. All the characteristic features of the
genus. Cephalothorax 2.5 times longer than
wide, with blunt head. Posterior corners of
last thoracic somite with symmetrical points.
First cephalothorax somite bears flap-like
projection along mid-line of dorsal side with
two small sensilla at base. Proportional
lengths of cephalothorax and abdomen 76:
24; proportional lengths of abdominal
somites and furca 44: 26: 15: 15 = 100.
Lateral margins of genital somite rounded
and symmetrical in dorsal view. Second
abdominal somite bears a remarkable ventral
posteriad protuberance, not visible in dorsal
view. Terminal segment of P5 with 2 spinelike points on external margin and 3 at distal
end; the middle point longest of three.
Male. General shape as female. Cephalothorax 2.6 times longer than wide. Proportionallengths of cephalothorax and abdomen
76: 24. Right Al geniculated. Flap-like
projection on dorsal side of first thoracic
somite, as in female. Posterior corners of
thorax pointed and asymmetrical; left corner
Family Candaciidae
ends in a spiniform process; right corner with
characteristic hazelnut-swelling ornated with
small knobs, not visible at light microscope.
Proportional lengths of abdominal somites
and furca 18:24:21: 13: 10: 14 = 100. In
dorsal view, genital somite bears process on
right side ending in slender point. Right P5
ending in a chela; distal joint of left P5 longer
than penultimate joint and ornated with 5
spines and rows and bundles of hairs.
Distribution
Cleve (1904) described this species from
collections west of South Africa in the
Benguela Current at depths of 250-350m.
Farran (1929) recorded it between the
Auckland and Campbell Islands, south of
New Zealand in a sector influenced by subAntarctic waters. Farran supposed that it is a
normal inhabitant of the upper mesoplankton
in the circumpolar current known as the West
Wind Drift from which the Benguela Current
originates. Other areas of occurrence include
the South Atlantic, South Pacific and South
Indian Oceans. Vervoort (1957) recorded it
in central Antarctic waters and suggested
that this species drifts from the circumpolar
current towards sub-Antarctic sectors.
Ramirez (1971) recorded only one specimen
of C. cheirura between 42° and 45°S on the
South Argentine continental shelf influenced
by sub-Antarctic waters. In the present
study, C. cheirura was only present from
50-500m in the Pacific area and from 200250 m at a few stations in the Central area of
the Straits of Magellan.