A Global Mission

The mission of the Ocean Census is to accelerate the discovery of ocean life to advance fundamental science, empower conservation, and fuel innovation for the future of our planet.

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Gallery

Phylum

OC-SP-0000779

Species ID

OC-SP-0000779

Discovered

Phylum

Arthropoda

Species ID

OC-SP-0000779

Accepted Binomial Name

Libanius intonsus

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Libanius intonsus

Lowest Known Rank

Species

Status

Discovered

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Malacostraca

Order

Tanaidacea

Family

Arthruridae

Genus

Libanius

New Higher Taxon Rank

family;genus

New Higher Taxon Name

Arthruridae;Libanius

Date Identified

01/02/2025

Taxonomic Remarks

This large Libanius species appears as the basal taxon of the NZ clade. Libanius intonsus n. sp. is the only NZ arthrurid species that sometimes has scattered setules on the basis of pereopods 1–3, although these are also present in A. andriashevi and L. clisicola, possibly as plesiomorphies. Some specimens lack these structures, perhaps through loss during preservation or as variation. This species has similar cephalothorax proportions similar to those of L. tangaroa and a longer, more rounded pleotelson but can be distinguished from this and the other Libanius species by the more slender chela (≈ 2.7 L: W) and carpus of pereopods 2–3, and stouter merus of pereopods 4–6.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

01/01/2025

Etymology

From the Latin adjective intonsus, “unshaved,” alluding to the sparsely setulate pereopods 1–3.

Distribution

45.8717°S 171.0817°E, Chatham Rise (southern flank), NZEEZ, Southwest Pacific, 1676 m. Recorded from the Hikurangi Margin, Kaikoura Canyon, southern flank of the Chatham Rise, and Bounty Trough.

Scientific Name Authorship

Bird & Błażewicz, 2025

Associated References

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91383-4

Join the census

The Ocean Census Alliance unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.