58 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Eurycope, G. 0. Sars. 



Eurycope, G. O. Sars, Om en anormal gruppe af Isopoden, Forhandl. Vidensk. Selsk., 18G3, p. 208. 



Of the fourteen species of Munnopsidse dredged during the voyage of the Challenger, I 

 have referred eight to the genus Eurycope. Certain of these species, viz., Eurycope 

 novae-zealandiae, Eurycope fragilis, Eurycope intermedia, and Euryi-t>j>e atlantica, are, 

 I am convinced, rightly placed in this genus. The remaining species I have preferred 

 for the present to include in this genus, until the examination of more specimens 

 enables certain doubtful points in their structure to be determined; a characteristic 

 feature of the genus Eurycope, as opposed to Hyarachna, is the form of the posterior 

 thoracic appendages ; in Hyarachna the first two pairs of these appendages are entirely 

 similar to those of Eurycope ; the last pair, however, are not natatory but ambulatory 

 limbs. Such a point as this I have been quite unable to determine in the species 

 referred to, as well as many other anatomical features which distinguish Eurycope from 

 Hyarachna and Desmosoma, owing to the imperfect condition of the specimens ; I do 

 not therefore pretend to fix definitely the systematic position of these species, merely 

 placing them in the genus Eurycope as a matter of convenience, and because there is 

 nothing in their organisation, so far as I have been able to study it, which is at variance 

 with such a determination. Sars's definition of Eurycope is as follows : — 



Body depressed, oval when seen from above, almost equally narrowed at the anterior 

 and posterior extremities. Head moderately large, somewhat projecting between the 

 antennae, and often furnished with a distinct rostrum. First four segments of the thorax 

 subequal, short, hollowed out above ; three posterior segments convex above, larger, but 

 not narrower than the preceding; abdominal segment moderately large, broader than 

 long, obtusely rounded at the extremity. Lower antennae very slender and greatly 

 elongated, three or four times as long as the body, the flagellum longer than the peduncle. 

 Mandibles powerful in structure ; mandibular palp moderately large, three-jointed, last 

 joint swollen at base and curved like a claw. Legs of the first pair much shorter than 

 the rest, narrowed, non-prehensile, the last joint forming a short thick claw ; following 

 pairs of legs subequal, very elongated, with a long terminal claw; three posterior pairs 

 of legs natatory, penultimate and antepenultimate joints dilated and compressed, and 

 fringed with numerous plumose setas ; last joint narrow and styliform. Abdominal 

 operculum subpentagonal, with rounded angles, much shorter than the abdominal segment. 

 Caudal appendages short, biramose, with one-jointed branches. 



Eurycope sarsii, F. E. Beddard (PI. XL figs. 1-12). 



Eurycope sarsii, F. E. Beddard, Proc. ZooL Soe. Lond., 1SS5, part iv. p. 919. 



At Station 146, from a depth of 1375 fathoms, two specimens were dredged of a 

 large species of Munnopsid, apparently new to science. 



