Africorchestia spinifera ( Mateus, 1962 )

Lowry, James K. & Coleman, Charles Oliver, 2011, Africorchestia a new genus of sand-hoppers (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) from western Africa and south-western Europe, Zootaxa 2825, pp. 55-68 : 62-65

Africorchestia spinifera ( Mateus, 1962)

( Figs 5 , 6 )

? Orchestoidea fischeri . ― Chevreux, 1911: 231 (in part).

Orchestia spinifera Mateus, 1962: 10 , figs 1–20. ― Marques & Bellan-Santini, 1985: 332, 352, table 1. Talorchestia spinifera . ― Amanieu & Salvat, 1963: 69, fig. ― El Kaim, 1963: 169. ― Amanieu & Salvat, 1965: 59, figs 2–6. ― Marfin, 1983: 232, figs 2, 3. ― Menioui & Bayed, 1986: 112.

Types. Holotype, male, 16 mm, IZAN 90. Paratypes: IZAN.

Type locality. Beaches of River Guadiana at Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal (~ 37°10.9’N 7°24.2’W).

Diagnosis. Based on male. Gnathopod 2 propodus ovate, palm extremely acute, subsigmoidal, extending about 75% along posterior margin, without rounded protuberance near dactylar hinge, with shallow distal notch, with two rows of robust setae along entire margin, without proximal tooth; dactylus subequal in length to palm. Pereopods 6–7 much longer than pereopods 3–5. Pereopod 6 longer than pereopod 7; basis expanded posteriorly. Pleonite 1 with a pair of dorsodistal pointed spines. Pleonite 2 with 2 pairs of dorsal pointed spines. Pleonite 3 with 1 anterior pair of longer pointed spines and a pair of ridge-like posterodistal rounded protrusions. Uropod 3 ramus subequal in length to peduncle, 3.3 x as long as broad. Telson entire apically notched with 11 apical robust setae on each side.

Remarks. Apparently A. fischeri and A. spinifera both have two dorsodistal spines on pleonite 1. They have very differently shaped male second gnathopods and in A. fischeri the basis of pereopod 6 is grossly enlarged and vertically ovate.

Distribution. France. Bay of Biscay: Isle aux Oiseaux, Arcachon, 44°42.1’N 1°10.5’W ( El Kaim 1963); Arcachon, 44°39.6’N 1°8.6’W ( Amanieu & Salvat 1965). Morocco. Estuaries of Oued Ghrifa, Asilah, ~ 35°31’N 06°00’W (current study); Bou Regreg, 34°2.3’N 6°49.9’W ( El Kaim 1963; Amanieu & Salvat 1965; Meniou & Bayed 1986); Agadir, Massa, Sidi Ifni, 29°23’N 10°10.5’W ( Marfin 1983). Portugal. River Guadiana, 37°10.2’N 7°22.8’W ( Mateus 1962). Spain. Cadiz, 36°31.8’N 6°18.4’W ( Chevreux 1911; Amanieu & Salvat 1983).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Africorchestia spinifera (Mateus, 1962), habitus, male and female. Oued Ghrifa, Asilah, Morocco.

FIGURE 6. Africorchestia spinifera (Mateus, 1962), male. Oued Ghrifa, Asilah, Morocco.