ANTHURIDEANS (CRUSTACEA, ISOPODA) FROM THE NORTH-ATLANTIC AND THE ARCTIC-OCEAN

Eight species of the suborder Anthuridea (Crustacea, Isopoda) were col lected in the northernmost part of the North Atlantic and in the Arcti c Ocean during the BIOICE project. Two species were new to science: Ha liophasma mjoelniri sp. nov. found at depths between 340 and 508 m wes t of Iceland, and Quantanthura tyri sp. nov. at depths between 304 and 1212 m south-west and west of Iceland. Other species found were Anant hura sulcaticauda BARNARD, 1925, Calathura brachiata (STIMPSON, 1853), Leptanthura affinis (BONNIER, 1896), L. chardyi NEGOESCU, 1992, L. mi crura KENSLEY, 1982, and L. victori NEGOESCU, 1985. All eight species were found in the North Atlantic Ocean, and only Ananthura sulcaticaud a and Calathura brachiata were additionally found in the Arctic Ocean. A. sulcaticauda and L. affinis are redescribed. The male of L. affini s shows remarkable sexual dimorphism in the shape of pereopods 4 to 6. A new character, the structure of the comb of setae on article 3 of t he mandibular palp, is suggested as valuable for distinguishing the ge nera within the family Antheluridae. It is concluded that most of the North Atlantic anthurideans are shallow water species, mostly restrict ed to the Caribbean Sea. The species living in the northernmost part o f the North Atlantic belong mainly to genera with a wide bathymetrical distribution and to species rich genera in the area. The Greenland-Ic eland-Faeroe Ridge may restrict the dispersal of the deep-living speci es into the Arctic Ocean, while a rapid decline in the temperature may restrict the dispersal of the shallow living species into the Arctic.