Family Ampeliscidae

Ampelisca chiltoni Stebbing. 1888.

                Ampelisca chiltoni Stebbing, 1888: 1042–1046, pl. CIII.

Chilton, 1906: 267–268.

Barnard, 1932: 81:

        Ampelisca eschrichtii, Chilton, 1917: 75–93 (Not Krøyer).

Chilton. 1920: 6 (Not Krøyer).

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Material Examined: Station CUF (VUZ. 19), 23 females, 5–11 mm, some ovigerous.

Distribution: Cook Strait, N.Z.; Challenger Stn. 167, "off N.Z., June 24, 1874; lat. 39° 32′S., long. 171° 48′E., depth 150 fathoms; bottom blue mud"; Great Barrier Island, 120 fathoms; off Poor Knights Islands, 60 fathoms; Kaipara Harbour, coll. Dr. Cockayne (Chilton, 1906). Undoubtedly taken elsewhere around New Zealand, but true distribution masked by confusion with A. acinaces.

Discussion: Barnard (1932) rejects the inclusion of A. chiltoni and A. acinaces in A. eschrichtii as previously proposed by Chilton. After seeing these specimens and comparing them with Stebbing's figures (1888), I am convinced of the distinctness also of the two New Zealand species, A. chiltoni and A. acinaces. Apart from other small differences, Stebbing shows clearly a difference in the placement of the lower eyes. In A. chiltoni these are right on the lower corner of the head; in A. acinaces they are on the lower margin of the head behind the corner.