(Brady and Norman, 1896)
Description
A species similar to C. borealis [Conchoecia borealis], but is larger, less reticulated, with less well developed shoulder vaults which are rounded rather than sharp-edged. In lateral aspect the dorsal margin of the carapace almost straight [C.maxima-fem-lat; C.maxima-male-lat], whereas in C. borealis [Conchoecia borealis] the sharp-edged shoulder vaults appear clearly bowed.
Female, frontal organ stem similar in length to first antenna, capitulum slightly down-turned, curved, spinose, ending in a slightly curved point [C.maxima-1]. First antenna with a long dorsal seta extending almost to the tip of the capitulum, podomeres covered extensively with fine bristles.
Male, frontal organ stem also similar in length to first antenna, capitulum down-turned, swollen basally but distally parallel-sided ending in a straight point, spinose over basal half and ventral two thirds [C.maxima-3]. First antenna "e" seta armature 44-49 pairs of spines which are more robust than in C. borealis , "b" seta with a ridged pad and two spines immediately distal of the pad.
Size
Female 3.25-3.5 mm, male 3.0-3.2 mm carapace length.
Depth range
Deep water species.
Distribution in the North Sea
No information available.
World distribution
Endemic to the Arctic region extending just into the North Pacific and to about 60°N in deep water in the N Atlantic.
Remarks
According to recent taxonomic revision, the species maxima is placed in the genus Boroecia (M.V. Angel, pers. com.). However, for technical reasons, the former generic name Conchoecia had to be remained in the multimedia files.
Originally described by Brady and Norman (1896), but synonymised with C. borealis [Conchoecia borealis] by Müller (1906). Skogsberg (1920) considered it to be a subspecies of C. borealis. Poulsen (1973) then split it off again. Examination of material both from Atlantic Discovery Collections and from the high Arctic has confirmed it to be a distinct species.
[After Angel, 2000]