Lepidepecreum dampieri, Lowry & Stoddart, 2002

Lowry, J. K. & Stoddart, H. E., 2002, The Lysianassoid Amphipod Genera Lepidepecreoides and Lepidepecreum in Southern Waters (Crustacea: Lysianassidae: Tryphosinae), Records of the Australian Museum 54 (3), pp. 335-364 : 351

Lepidepecreum dampieri n.sp.

Figs. 14–16

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, 3.5 mm, NMV J7670, between Port Hedland and Dampier, North West Shelf, Western Australia, eastern Indian Ocean , 19°05'00"S 117°26'00"E to 19°05'00"S 117°46'23"E, 120–122 m, muddy sand, dredge, 6 December 1983, G.C.B. Poore & H.M. Lew Ton, FRV Soela stn S03/83 [NMV stn NWA-52].

Type locality. Between Port Hedland and Dampier , North West Shelf , Western Australia, eastern Indian Ocean , 19°05'00"S 117°26'00"E to 19°05'00"S 117°46'23"E, 120– 122 m depth.

Description. Based on holotype male, 3.5 mm. Body expanded to form a lateral bulge. Head with lateral cephalic lobe a semidome, apically subacute. Antenna 1 peduncular articles 1 and 2 without anterodistal lobe; accessory flagellum 2-articulate; flagellum with strong 2-field callynophore [not known for female]; robust setae absent from proximal articles; calceoli present. Antenna 2 peduncular article 3 elongate; flagellum elongate; calceoli present. Epistome/upper lip [not known]. Mandible molar columnar with oval, fully triturating surface; mandibular palp attached proximally, article 3 withoutA3-setae. Maxilla 1 outer plate with setal-tooth 7 [symmetry unknown] cuspidate distally; palp distal margin with apical robust setae. Maxilliped outer plate with 1 short, slender apical robust seta.

Gnathopod 1 subchelate; coxa large, about as long as coxa 2, subrectangular with straight anterior margin; basis sparsely setose along anterior margin; ischium short; carpus long, subequal in length to propodus, without posterior lobe; propodus margins subparallel, palm acute, entire, straight. Gnathopod 2 palm slightly obtuse. Pereopod 4 coxa without distinct lateral ridge, with a well-developed posteroventral lobe. Pereonite 5 dorsally smooth. Pereopod 5 coxa without distinct lateral ridge, without umbo, basis about as long as broad. Pereopod 7 basis posterodistally produced beyond merus.

Pleonite 1 without mid-dorsal carina, not produced dorsodistally. Pleonite 2 without mid-dorsal carina, not produced dorsodistally. Pleonite 3 with mid-dorsal carina, produced dorsodistally, apically acute, posterodorsal margin produced. Epimeron 3 posterior margin smooth, posteroventral corner subquadrate. Urosomite 1 with deep notch and a narrow vertically produced acute spine. Uropod 3 inner and outer rami well developed; outer ramus article 2 short; with plumose setae on each ramus. Telson moderately cleft , with dorsal robust setae, with 1 apical robust seta on each lobe.

Etymology. Named for the English privateer William Dampier, who visited northwestern Australia in 1688 and 1699 and has been described as Australia’s first naturalist.

Remarks. Lepidepecreum dampieri is also one of a group of seven species in which the basis of pereopod 7 is developed beyond the merus. Lepidepecreum dampieri is most similar to L. baudini (see L. baudini remarks).

Distribution. North West Shelf, Australia, eastern Indian Ocean; 120–122 m depth.

Figures

Figure 14. Lepidepecreum dampieri n.sp. Holotype male, 3.5 mm, NMV J7670, North West Shelf, Australia.

Figure 15. Lepidepecreum dampieri n.sp. Holotype male, 3.5 mm, NMV J7670, North West Shelf, Australia. Scales represent 0.1 mm.

Figure 16. Lepidepecreum dampieri n.sp. Holotype male, 3.5 mm, NMV J7670, North West Shelf, Australia. Scales represent 0.1 mm.