Bolttsia myersi, Azman & Lowry, 2009

Azman, B. A. R. & Lowry, J. K., 2009, Bolttsiidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 285-289 : 286-289

Bolttsia myersi sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 2 )

Type material. Holotype, female, 1.9 mm, AM P 70898 (in slides), Ferriers Creek , Lizard Island (14°39.95’S 145°27.05’E), algae from among roots at edge of red mangroves ( Rhizophora stylosa ), surface, A. Myers, 25 February 2005 (QLD 1680).

Type locality. Ferriers Creek , Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (14°39.95’S 145°27.05’E) .

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Professor Alan Myers who collected the material for this study and who has contributed so much to the description of the Australian amphipod fauna.

Description. Based on holotype, female, 1.9 mm, AM P70898.

Head. Head lateral cephalic lobes apically round, rostrum decurved, inserted between both antennae 1, not beyond peduncular article 1 of antenna 1. Eyes large, circular. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2, peduncular articles 1-3 with few long setae; flagellum with about 10 articles; accessory flagellum absent. Antenna 2 flagellum with 4 articles. Upper lip bilobed. Lower lip inner lobes small, shoulders densely pubescent. Maxilla 1 outer plate with 6 large teeth; palp biarticulate, extending beyond outer plate, distal segment apical margin with fine medium length setae. Maxilla 2 inner plate broader than outer plate with several stiff setae apically. Mandible, incisor serrate; palp triarticulate, article 2 much longer than 1with fine setae posterodistally, article 3 spatulate with fine long setae along posterior margin. Maxilliped inner plate margin rounded apically, with several fine and robust setae; outer plate apical margin lined with several fine and robust setae; palp article 3 longer than wide, dactylus with unguis.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa subquadrate; basis with two medial setae along anterior margin and 6 long setae along posterior margin, posterodistal margin with one seta; carpus slightly produced posterodistally with several pectinate setae; propodus subtriangular, expanded distally, anterior margin straight and without setae, posterodistal with two robust setae; palm straight and finely pectinate; dactylus long, with nail-like process terminally. Gnathopod 2 coxa subrectangular, lower margin with one fine seta and posterodistal tooth; basis anterodistal margin straight, posterior margin expanded distally with 6 long setae; carpus subtriangular, posterior margin not lobate with several long pectinate setae; propodus broad, gradually expanding, anterior margin with short setae on medial margin, posterior margin with sparse setae on proximal area, palm straight with fine setae along margin and defined by one robust seta; dactylus slightly stout with nail-like process. Pereopod 3 coxa subrectangular, lower margin with one fine seta and posterodistal tooth; dactylus falcate. Pereopod 4 coxa expanded medially; basis slender; dactylus falcate. Pereopod 5 coxa bilobed; basis subquadrate, anterior margin with 3 robust setae, posterior with fine setae along margin; merus expanded posterodistally; carpus, propodus and dactylus lost. Pereopod 6 coxa bilobed; basis anterior margin with 3 robust setae, posterior margin medially expanded without setae; dactylus falcate. Pereopod 7 coxa small; basis subquadrate, anterior margin with 4 short robust setae, posterior margin with five short robust setae; dactylus falcate.

Pleon. Uropod 1 rami subequal in length, without setae along margin; peduncle slightly shorter than rami with two fine setae on inner margin. Uropod 2 inner ramus longer than outer ramus; peduncle shorter rami. Uropod 3 rami subequal in length; peduncle as long as rami. Telson entire, longer than wide.

Male. Unknown.

Habitat. Among the roots at the edge of mangroves.

Remarks. Bolttsia looks most like an amphilochid, but can be separated from members of this family by the well developed antenna 1 (longer than 2), the well developed coxa 1 (as large as 2) and by the lack of a carpal lobe on gnathopod 2. Bolttsia myersi differs from the only other species in the genus, B. minuta Griffiths, 1976 , by the longer first antenna, by the setose inner margin of maxillipedal palp article 3 and by the more slender uropods.

The extraordinarily disjunct distribution of this family may indicate a common ancestor that reaches back to the splitting of East Gondwana from Africa at least 120 Ma.

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

Figures

FIGURE 1. Bolttsia myersi sp. nov., holotype, female, 1.9 mm, AM P70898, Ferriers Creek, Lizard Island, Great barrier Reef.

FIGURE 2. Bolttsia myersi sp. nov., holotype, female, 1.9 mm, AM P70898, Ferriers Creek, Lizard Island, Great barrier Reef.