A new species of Ammothella (Pycnogonida: Ammotheidae) from deep water off San Nicolas Island, California

Ammothella killix n. sp. is described from upper bathyal depths on the Cortez Ridge; it is the tenth in the genus from the eastern Pacific, and sixth from California. It differs from its congeners most noticeably in having chelifore fusion, and in bearing slender spiny tubercles on all of the following parts: the chelifore scapes, ocular tubercle, abdomen, lateral processes, first coxae, mid-dorsal surface, and anterior cephalic corners. A key to the species of adult Ammothella from California waters is included.