Ammothella gertrudae, Müller & Krapp, 2009

Müller, Hans-Georg & Krapp, Franz, 2009, The pycnogonid fauna (Pycnogonida, Arthropoda) of the Tayrona National Park and adjoining areas on the Caribbean coast of Colombia 2319, Zootaxa 2319 (1), pp. 1-138 : 26-28

Ammothella gertrudae n.sp.

Figs. 8–9

Material: Holotype: 5.—Subadult ( SMF 1122 ), coral rubble, 30 m, 18.II.1986

Paratypes: 3 juv. ( SMF 1123 ) together with holotype .

Etymology: Dedicated to Mrs. Gertrud Müller, the wife of the first author, for her manifold and constant help during his research stay in Colombia.

Description of subadult holotype: Trunk outline oval, fully segmented. Crurigers separated by about own diameter at their bases, diverging distally. Cephalon with slender finger-like process above base of palp. Ocular process above base of palps, very high and slender, distally somewhat enlarged and bearing strongly pigmented eyes. Crurigers 1–4 dorso-distally bearing very slender processes, which on crurigers 1–3 measure about half height of ocular process and on crurigers 4 about 1/7 height of ocular process. Abdomen very long, directed obliquely backwards and curved; anterior aspect of abdomen in its proximal half with 3 longer and slender spines, in distal half with 3 setae. Proboscis prolonged oval, of about 3/4 trunk length.

Cheliphores slender, scape two-articled; second article 3 times as long as first; distally somewhat enlarged, armed with some dorsal and lateral setae. Cheliphores with slender, strongly curved and toothless chelae fingers. Palps 9-articled; 2 nd article longest, 4th one slightly shorter; articles 5–9 short, with several longer, ventral, and distal setae; setae 2–3 times as long as diameter of articles. Oviger not yet fully developed—animal not fully mature. Coxa 1 of leg 1 with 3 dorso-distal setae, those of legs 2–4 with two dorso-distal setae; coxa 2 nearly twice as long as coxa 1 and coxa 3; femur, tibia1 and tibia 2 of subequal length, slender and with numerous dorsal, lateral and ventral setae; tibia 1 and tibia 2 each with very long curved dorsal spine, mounted on cylindrical tubercles; tarsus short, with dorsal seta and two short ventral spines; propodus moderately curved, without heel; sole with 2 robust and relatively short spines in basal third; main claw half length of propodus, slender and strongly curved; auxilary claws thin and 4/5 length of main claw.

Measurements: Trunk length 0.98; width 0.83 (at the 2 nd crurigers); length of abdomen 0.86; length of proboscis 0.75; length of cheliphores 0.79. Leg 3: coxa 1, 0.13; coxa 2, 0.33; coxa 3, 0.19; femur 0.68; tibia 1, 0.70; tibia 2, 0.73; tarsus 0.08; propodus 0.37; main claw 0.18; auxiliary claw 0.17.

Remarks: Only 4 immatures and juveniles were available of this very characteristic new species. By the prominent slender tubercles on the crurigers A. gertrudae is distinguished instantly from all species in the Atlantic Ocean. It might be related to Ammothella setacea (Helfer, 1938) from the western Indian Ocean, which is similar in habitus, with crurigers armed with 3 slender tubercles (see Arnaud & Child 1988: 124).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Ammothella gertrudae n. sp., subadult. A lateral, B dorsal, C cheliphore, D leg 3.

FIGURE 9. Ammothella gertrudae n. sp., subadult. A palp, B propodus and tarsus of leg 3.