Family Podoceridae

Podocerus cristatus (G. M. Thomson), 1879.

Cyrtophium cristatum Thomson, 1879: 331–332, pl. XVI, figs. 9–15.

Thomson, 1881: 219–220, fig. 8.

Podocerus cristatus, Chilton, 1926: 513–515, fig. 2.

Material Examined: Station GUL (VUZ. 54), 4 specimens, 2–5 mm, one at 5 mm a female with developed broodplates.

Distribution: Cook Strait; Otago Harbour.

Discussion: The second gnathopod is slightly shorter and stouter than that shown by Stebbing but this may be a normal sexual difference. Chilton mentions specimens from Cook Strait. "The New Zealand species (of Podocerus) are common on the coast, frequently being found at the roots of seaweed, on the sea-squirt Boltenia. ... Other specimens were ... taken on sertularians". I can confirm that this species is commonly found in similar habitats in Otago Harbour.