Pseudotanaidae Sieg, 1976 (Crustacea: Peracarida) from the Southern Ocean: diversity and bathymetric pattern.

From the BIOPEARL 1 and 2 Programs to the Amundsen and Scotia Seas a large series of Tanaidacea was collected using an epibenthic sled. We carried out a thorough morphological analysis of 169 individuals and provide a description of 14 pseudotanaid species distributed in three genera. Twelve species of the genus Pseudotanais are represented by three morphogroups: "affinis+longisetosus", "denticulatus+abathagastor", and "forcipatus". We provide a redescription of Akanthinotanais gaussi, supplement the definitions of the genera Akanthinotanais and Beksitanais, and transfer Pseudotanais abyssi to the genus Beksitanais. Based on the literature and new data, we summarize knowledge of the Antarctic Pseudotanaidae and discuss this family's spatial and bathymetric distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]