New species of the genus Collettea Lang, 1973 (Peracarida: Tanaidacea, Colletteidae) from the Antarctic

Three new species of Collettea Lang, 1973: C. alicjae , C. lilliputa and C. longipleona are described from the Antarctic, based on the collections made on board the R/V Eltanin and R/V Polarstern from the abyssal depth of range 2281–4304 m. Apart from the three species described in this paper three other Collettea species were found in the region of the West Antarctic but lack of the material prohibited formal description of those species. Currently 20 species belong to Collettea (including the six enumerated in this paper) are known from deep-sea location in all major oceans. A key for Collettea species is proposed. The genus is considered a deep-sea taxon and the few findings at localities with relatively shallow water are all at high latitudes which is considered a case of polar or isothermic emergence .