A new subfamily and species of Ostracoda (Cylindroleberididae, Myodocopa) from the Chatham Rise (New Zealand)

The second species of the genus, Macroasteropteron chathamensis sp. nov. is described in the present paper. It was collected from 1000 m depth during the New Zealand national biodiversity programme Ocean Survey 20/20 to the Chatham Rise and the Challenger Plateau. To accommodate this genus, a new subfamily Macroasteropteroninae is described herein. It is defined by the following autapomorphies: locking system on the shell; very small second segment on the second antenna (bearing no dorsal bristles); square shaped third and fourth segments on the same appendage; absence of dorsal bristles on the third segment of the male clasping organ; reverse position of the alpha and beta bristles on the maxillula; almost square shaped skirt on the sixth limb; and a bulbous terminal part of the seventh limb, which, in addition, does not have any bell-bearing bristles. A key to the four subfamilies of Cylindroleberididae is provided.A visit of the senior author to NIWA, during which she studied the ostracod collection from the Chatham Rise and Challenger Plateau, was supported by the International Mobility Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand, project IMF10-B13. Ostracod specimens were collected as part of the Ocean Survey 20/20 Chatham/Challenger Biodiversity and Seabed Habitat Project, jointly funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, Land Information New Zealand, NIWA and the New Zealand Department of Conservation. We wish to thank Dr Kareen Schnabel and Ms Sadie Mills (NIWA, Wellington) for their kind support during the senior author's stay. James Sturma (NIWA) created the map. We thank Dr Dennis Gordon (NIWA) for critical comments to an earlier version of the manuscript. This research was funded by NIWA's Biodiversity & Biosecurity programme Co1X0502 of the New Zealand Science Foundation, project BBDB1202