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Abstract. A new species of supergiant isopod, Bathynomus wilsoni, is described from the Sulu Sea, Philippines,
from a depth of 2,500 m, the deepest record for the genus. Bathynomus wilsoni is the fifth Indo-West Pacific species
having upcurved posterior spines on the pleotelson in adults and is readily distinguished from these species by
the combination of longer posterolateral cephalic incisions, proportionally wider uropodal exopods with a more
strongly convex lateral margin and a near semi-circular pleotelson with a bifid instead of simple apex on the central
spine. The new species is most similar to B. kensleyi Lowry & Dempsey, 2006, from northeastern Australia, a
species with which it has been previously confused, but further differs in the stouter uropodal exopod, the shape of
the pleotelson and ornamentation of the anterior surface of the cephalon. Given that 26% of the 23 named extant
species of Bathynomus were described within the last decade, species richness in the genus is probably significantly
underestimated. Aspects of diagnostic characters of B. kensleyi and allies are also discussed.
Key words. Bathynomus, giant isopod, Sulu Sea, South China Sea, Philippines
Read article here: RBZ-2025-0012
