First record of the genus Harpinia Boeck, 1876 (Amphipoda: Phoxocephalidae: Harpiniinae) from the southern hemisphere, with description of three new species

ABSTRACT Three new species of Harpinia are described from north-eastern Brazil, documenting the first record of the genus from the southern hemisphere. The material examined was collected using a Mini Box Corer within the project ‘Avaliação da Biota Bentônica e Planctônica da Bacia Potiguar e Ceará’ in Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte state, from depths ranging from 283–998 m. Harpinia bidens sp. nov. is characterized by the following: head with dorsal keel; antenna 2 peduncle article 1 weakly ensiform; gnathopod 2 palm defined by a large excavation producing a spine; epimeral plate 1 posteroventral corner as a short blunt lobe; and epimeral plate 3 with an oblique facial row of setae, posteroventral corner as a large spine. Harpinia kingae sp. nov. can be diagnosed by the following: antenna 2 peduncle article 1 ensiform; gnathopod 1 palm defined by a u-shaped excavation; coxa 7 posterior margin crenulate; epimeral plate 3 posteroventral corner as a spine; and uropod 2 outer ramus with subapical nail. Finally, H. longidactyla sp. nov. has the following diagnostic characters: head with lower lateral blunt projection; antenna 2 article 1 not ensiform; gnathopods 1–2 palm defined by a sinuous excavation; pereopod 6 dactylus longer than propodus; and epimeral plate 3 posteroventrally rounded. Also, a discussion about the genus and an identification key to world species of Harpinia are provided.