Munnidae from Japan (Crustacea : Isopoda : Asellota)

Abstract

Six species of Munna including two new to science and a species of Uromunna in Munnidae (Isopoda, Asellota) are reported from Japanese waters. Munna bispina sp. nov. is distinctive in having a pair of marked long robust sensory setae on frontal margin of the head, a long robust sensory seta on anterior margin of the eyestalk, and very long and slender antenna 2. Munna japonica sp. nov. lacks conspicuous dorsal and lateral setae both on pereon and pleon as in M. limicola G. O. Sars, 1866, M. subneglecta Gurjanova, 1936, M. tenuipes Kussakin, 1962, M. chilensis Menzies, 1962, M. lundae Menzies, 1962 and M. hovelli Poore, 1984, but distinguished from them in having the character combination of the pereopod I without sexual dimorphism, the pleopod I with a pair of distolaterally directed, long projections, and big pear-shaped pleotelson. Munna avatshensis Gurjanova, 1936, previously reported from the east coasts of Russia, were recorded from Japan for the first time. Munna stephenseni Gurjanova, 1933, M. tenuipes Kussakin, 1962 and Uromunna serricauda Muller, 1992 were redescribed in detail based on the Japanese materials newly collected.