Elasmopus pocillimanus (Bate, 1862)

White, Kristine N. & Sir, Sally J., 2024, Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part II: parvorder Hadziidira, ZooKeys 1195, pp. 249-296 : 249

Elasmopus pocillimanus (Bate, 1862)

Figs 8 , 28A

Maera pocillimanus Bate, 1862: 191, pl. 34, fig. 7.

Elasmopus pocillimanus : Della Valle 1893: 733, pl. 1, fig. 4, pl. 22, figs 23-25; LeCroy 2000: 89, fig. 138.

Material examined.

Panama • 4-8 mm • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro , Isla Solarte; 9.2475°N, 82.1290°W; depth 1-4 m, among coral rubble; 8 Aug 2021; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703512 • 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro, Drago; 9.418056°N, 82.3375°W; depth 2-4 m, among coral rubble; 9 Aug 2021; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703513 • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro , Hospital Point; 9.331967°N, 82.214817°W; depth 1-3 m, among coral rubble, 22 Jun 2023; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703514 • 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro , Swan Cay; 9.4536°N, 82.300033°W; depth 1-4 m, among coral rubble, 24 Jun 2023; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703515 .

Diagnosis.

Gnathopod 1 propodus subrectangular, palm transverse. Gnathopod 2 male propodus with deep medial depression, lined with groups of long setae along ventral margin, with one small medial tooth, female propodus with two spines at palmar angle slightly longer than spines on palmar margin. Pereopod 5, basis posterior margin evenly convex. Pereopod 7 basis posteroventral margin with long setae, articles 4 and 5 of male expanded, articles 5 and 6 with long posterior setae. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin entire, sometimes with small tooth or weakly crenulate. Telson inner lobes longer than outer lobes, apically rounded.

Distribution.

Cosmopolitan distribution in warm temperate and tropical waters ( McKinney 1977; Karaman 1982; Thomas 1993) most likely refers to multiple species. U.S.A.: New England through Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean ( LeCroy 2000); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

These amphipods are associated with algae and coral rubble at depths of 0-30 m. Panamanian specimens show variation in the amount of crenulation of epimeron 3 posterior margin, but consistently have rounded apices on the telson. Other characters align well with previous descriptions of E. pocillimanus . See LeCroy (2000) for a discussion of the status of the species.

Figures

Figure 8. Elasmopus pocillimanus, female, 5.0 mm, telson; male, 6.1 mm, pereopod 7, gnathopod 1 lateral, setae removed from propodus, gnathopod 1 propodus medial enlarged, epimeron 3 (two variations), gnathopod 2 medial. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 28. Photographs of live specimens unless noted A Elasmopus pocillimanus B Elasmopus thomasi C Meximaera diffidentia D Quadrimaera ceres (ethanol preserved specimen) E Quadrimaera cristianae F Quadrimaera miranda G Quadrimaera quadrimana. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.