Latigammaropsis athenae, Myers, 2009

Myers, Alan A., 2009, Photidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 771-799 : 777-780

Latigammaropsis athenae sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 6 , Pl. 5D)

Type material. Holotype, male, 5.0 mm, AM P71191, North Point , Lizard Island (14°38’45”S 145°27’18”E), coral rubble from granite rock face with some corals, turf algae, 16 m, C. Rakocinski, 28 February 2005 ( QLD 1728 ) . Paratypes: 1 male, 2 females, AM P75470, same data as holotype .

Additional material examined. 1 male, AM P71182 ( QLD 1730 ) ; 1 female, AM P71218 ( QLD 1768 ) .

Type locality. North Point , Lizard island, Queensland, Australia (14°38’45”S 145°27’18”E) .

Etymology. Greek mythology: Athenae , the Goddess of domestic arts.

Description. Based on holotype, male, 5.0 mm, AM P71191.

Head. Head lateral cephalic lobes rounded, anteroventral margin strongly recessed, extending behind posterior margin of eye. Eye lageniform, large, one quarter or more of head length, partially situated within the lateral lobe. Mandible palp article 3 spatulate, widest subdistally. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 longer than article 3; flagellum with 11 articles; accessory flagellum distinct and multiarticulate. Antenna 2 short (distinctly less than 1/2 body length); flagellum distinctly longer than peduncular article 5, with 8 articles.

Pereon. Coxae 1–2 without spines on distal margin. Coxa 1 not distally acute. Gnathopod 1 distinctly different in size from gnathopod 2; carpus anterior margin with fine setae only, subequal in length to propodus; propodus between 1.5 and 3 x as long as wide, posterodistal margin evenly rounded. Gnathopod 2 basis anterior margin with dense long setae; carpus with distinct free posterior expansion; propodus very long, 4 x as long as carpus, posterodistal margin with robust seta, and with a single excavation; dactylus distinctly longer than half length of propodus. Pereopod 3 merus with few setae on anterior margin. Pereopods 5–7 basis with few setae. Pereopod 5 basis extremely expanded, as long as broad.

Pleon. Urosomites 1–2 without dorsolateral spines. Epimeron 3 posterodistal margin rounded. Uropod 1 peduncle with long distoventral spine; rami distinctly unequal in length. Uropod 2 peduncle with distoventral spine; rami distinctly unequal in length. Uropod 3 biramous; peduncle subequal to the longest ramus; both rami well developed; outer ramus with terminal robust seta. Telson with terminal robust seta on each side.

Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype female 5.0 mm, AM P71191. Gnathopod 2 basis anterior margin with few setae; propodus long, less than 2.5 x as long as carpus, palm with weak excavation .

Habitat. Coral rubble and encrusting algae.

Remarks. This species is most similar to material described under the name Gammaropsis atlantica from Hawaii by Barnard (1970), but differs in the female gnathopod 2. In present material the propodus of that appendage has a very weak excavation on the posterior margin, that extends from the short palm to a proximal position. In Hawaiian material the acute palm terminates with a small tooth at the posterior margin.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island (current study).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Latigammaropsis athenae gen. nov., sp nov., holotype, male, 5.0 mm, AM P71191, North Point, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 6. Latigammaropsis athenae gen. nov., sp nov., holotype, male, 5.0 mm, paratype female, 5.0 mm, AM P71191, North Point, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.