Desmosomatidae (Isopoda: Asellota) from the abyssal plain to the east of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench: New data on diversity with the description of two new species

In the material from the KuramBio expedition (Kuril-Kamchatka Biodiversity Study) Desmosomatidae constituted 20% of all isopod specimens (Crustacea: Malacostraca). 29 species in 10 genera (Desmosoma, Chelator, Eugerda, Eugerdella, Mirabilicoxa, Momedossa, Parvochelus, Prochelator, Pseudomesus and Torwolia) were found in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench at depth of 4830-5780 m. From these taxa five genera are reported for the first time in the Northwest Pacific, 26 species (90%) are new to science. Two species, Chelator michaeli sp.nov. and Prochelator keenani sp.nov. are described. Both described species appear to be very close to the two species previously known from the abyssal of the North Atlantic. Keys to the species of Chelator Hessler, 1970a and Prochelator Hessler, 1970a and the discussion of the genera are provided. The discussion of the Northwest Pacific desmosomatid fauna is presented. The diversity and the generic composition of the Desmosomatidae in the open abyssal of the Northwest Pacific are comparable with those known in other non-isolated deep-sea regions. On the contrary, the generic composition of Desmosomatidae in the adjacent semi-isolated Sea of Japan is impoverished versus the open Pacific abyssal.