Ammothella aff. krappi, Sabroux & Hassanin & Corbari, 2022

Sabroux, Romain, Hassanin, Alexandre & Corbari, Laure, 2022, Sea spiders (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) collected during the Madibenthos Expedition from Martinique shallow waters, European Journal of Taxonomy 851 (1), pp. 1-141 : 20-22

Ammothella aff. krappi sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Ammothella sp. 1 – Sabroux et al. 2019b (pro parte): 1522, 1525, 1531, tab. 1, figs 3, 5.

Material examined

MARTINIQUE • 1 ♂; Grande Anse d’Arlets ; 14°29.9ʹ N, 61°05.4ʹ W; depth 28 m; 7 Sep. 2016; st. AB157; MNHN-IU-2016-832 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IU-2016-553 • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IU-2016-567 • 1 ♀ gr.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IU-2016-1316 • 1 juv.; Passe du Marin ; 14°26.9ʹ N, 60°54ʹ W; depth 0–15 m; 11 Sep. 2016; st. AS 066; MNHN-IU-2016-834/ MK411149 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN- IU-2016-1147 • 1 ♂; Les Anses-d’Arlet; 14°28.1ʹ N, 61°05.3ʹ W; depth 72 m; 8 Oct. 2016; st. AD616; MNHN-IU-2016-1042 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IU-2019-3400 • 7 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Rocher du Diamant ; 14°26.5ʹ N, 61°02.4ʹ W; depth 26–32 m; 14 Sep. 2016; st. AS 071; MNHN- IU-2016-1050 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ gr.; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IU-2016-1109 • 1 ♂; Baie du Robert ; 14°42ʹ N, 60°53.8ʹ W; depth 2 m; 24 Sep. 2016; st. AB452; MNHN-IU-2016-1075 • 1 ♂; Passe du Marin ; 14°26.6ʹ N, 60°54.3ʹ W; depth 15 m; 9 Sep. 2016; st. AB058; MNHN-IU-2016-1131 • 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Baie de Fort-de-France ; 14°33.2ʹ N, 61°01.6ʹ W; depth 1–8 m; 6 Oct. 2016; st. AR391; MNHN-IU-2016-1175 • 1 juv.; SW of Vétiver ; 14°37.6ʹ N, 61°08.6ʹ W; depth 66 m; 7 Oct. 2016; st. AD612; MNHN-IU-2017-221 • 1 ♂; Anse Couleuvre ; 14°50.4ʹ N, 61°13.4ʹ W; depth 7 m; 1 Oct. 2016; st. AB463; MNHN-IU-2019-3393 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ gr.; Baie de St-Pierre ; 14°44.5ʹ N, 61°10.8ʹ W; depth 44–47 m; 8 Oct. 2016; st. AS 572; MNHN-IU-2019-3394 • 1 juv.; Fond Boucher ; 14°39.3ʹ N, 61°09.6ʹ W; depth 37–40 m; 1 Oct. 2016; st. AD283; MNHN-IU-2019-3396 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IU-2019-3397 • 2 ♂♂ ov.; Presqu’Île de la Caravelle ; 14°48.4ʹ N, 60°52.8ʹ W; depth 23– 25 m; 20 Sep. 2016; st. AB197; MNHN-IU-2019-3398 • 1 ♂; Baie du Robert ; 14°40.3ʹ N, 60°52.8ʹ W; depth 1–8 m; 25 Sep. 2016; st. AR455; MNHN-IU-2019-3399 .

Remarks

The juvenile specimen MNHN-IU-2016-834 shows strong affinities to A. krappi sp. nov., even sharing with this species a taller ocular tubercle than in A. dirbergi sp. nov. However, this specimen differs slightly from the holotype of A. krappi by having a more acute ocular tubercle tip and more conspicuous lateral sense organs. This distinction from A. krappi is supported by a high molecular barcode divergence (p distance = 0.129 –0.131). Several adults that could not be barcoded (listed above) present a similar shape of the ocular tubercle, and they are likely to belong to the same species as the juvenile, MNHN- IU-2016-834. Their ocular tubercle is taller, but this is coherent with the fact that the barcoded specimen is a juvenile. However, all these specimens are extremely similar to the holotype of A. krappi , except regarding the shape of the distal region of the ocular tubercle. While we regard this group as likely to represent a new species, the similarities between A. krappi and the adults listed here as A. aff. krappi make a new species description untimely, as long as the identification of the adults as the same species as the juvenile, MNHN-IU-2016-834, is not confirmed by barcoding.

These specimens were sampled on both the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts.

Distribution

Only recorded in Martinique at the moment.

Depth range

2– 72 m.

Figures

Fig. 4. Ammothella aff. krappi sp. nov. A–B, D–I, L–M. ♂, MNHN-IU-2019-3400. C. Juvenile, MNHN-IU-2016-834. J–K. ♀, MNHN-IU-2016-1316. A. Body, dorsal view. B. Body, lateral view (same scale as A). C. Ocular tubercle, frontal view. D. Ocular tubercle, frontal view. E. Fourth leg. F. Tarsus and propodus of fourth leg. G. Palp. H. Oviger. I. Oviger strigilis. J. Oviger. K. Oviger strigilis. L. Chelifore. M. Close-up of chela bud.