Virgammaropsis artemis, Myers, 2009

Myers, Alan A., 2009, Photidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 771-799 : 796

Virgammaropsis artemis sp. nov.

( Figs 19 , 20 )

Type material. Holotype, male, 1.7 mm, AM P71493, Yonge Reef, Half Mile Opening (14°34'33"S 145°3a6'43"E), Halimeda and other algae from channel between reefs, 10 m, C.S. Serejo, 4 March 2005 ( QLD 1819 ).

Type locality. Yonge Reef , Half Mile Opening, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (14°34.556’S 145°36.726’E) .

Etymology. Greek mythology: Artemis , virgin goddess of the hunt.

Description. Based on holotype, male, 1.7 mm, AM P71493.

Head. Head lateral cephalic lobes rounded, anteroventral margin weakly recessed, not extending behind posterior margin of eye. Eye round, large, one quarter or more head length, partially situated within the lateral lobe. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 longer than article 3; flagellum with 11+ articles (broken); accessory flagellum distinct and multiarticulate. Antenna 2 missing. Mandible palp article 3 subequal in length with article 2, parallel-sided.

Pereon. Coxae 1–2 without spines on distal margin. Coxa 1 not distally acute. Gnathopod 1 of distinctly different 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 few setae; carpus with distinct free posterior expansion; propodus long, more than four x as long as carpus, posterodistal margin with robust seta, and with multiple excavations; dactylus distinctly longer than half length of propodus. Pereopod 3 merus with few setae on anterior margin. Pereopod 5 basis with few setae, slightly expanded, distinctly longer than broad. Pereopods 6– 7 missing.

Pleon. Urosomites 1–2 without dorsolateral spines. Epimeron 3 posterodistal margin with small spine and notch. Uropod 1 peduncle with short distoventral spine; rami subequal in length. Uropod 2 peduncle without distoventral spine; rami subequal in length. Uropod 3 biramous; peduncle subequal to the longest ramus; outer ramus with terminal robust setae. Telson with terminal robust seta on each side.

Female. Unknown

Habitat. Halimeda and other algae.

Remarks. Virgammaropsis artemis sp. nov. is readily distinguished by its weakly recessed head, its weakly expanded pereopod 5 basis and its rod-shaped mandibular palp article 3.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Yonge Reef, Lizard Island (current study).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Virgammaropsis artemis gen. nov. sp. nov., holotype, male, 1.7 mm, AM P71493, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 20. Virgammaropsis artemis gen. nov. sp. nov., holotype, male, 1.7 mm, AM P71493, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.