Amphilochus lacertus, Azman, 2009

Azman, B. A. R., 2009, Amphilochidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 143-152 : 147-151

Amphilochus lacertus sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 4 )

Type material. Holotype, female, 2.7 mm, AM P76251 (in slides) . Paratypes: 37 specimens, AM P 73185, 100 m off Freshwater Beach , Lizard Island (~ 14°41’S 145°27’E), sediment sample from sand bottom, 1.5 m, C. J. Short, 10 October 1978 (QLD 35) .

Type locality. Freshwater Beach , Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (~ 14°41’S 145°27’E) .

Etymology. Named ‘lacertus’ in Latin for lizard, after the type locality, Lizard Island.

Description. Based on holotype female, 2.7 mm, AM P76251.

Head. Head lateral cephalic lobes apically round, rostrum decurved, slightly beyond peduncular article 1 of antenna 1; eyes large, irregularly round with black core. Antenna 1 slightly shorter than antenna 2, peduncular articles 1–3 with few short setae distally; flagellum with about 7 articles; accessory flagellum vestigial. Antenna 2 flagellum with 6 articles. Labium bilobed, densely pubescent apically. Lower lip shoulders densely, produced inward, with 2 small teeth on each lobe, mandibular process small. Maxilla 1 inner plate missing; outer plate with 7 large teeth; palp biarticulate, extending beyond outer plate, distal segment apical margin with several fine and robust setae. Maxilla 2 inner plate broader than outer plate with several stiff setae apically. Mandible, incisor serrate; palp 3-articulate, article 2 shorter than 1, article 3 attenuate. Maxilliped inner plate margin rounded apically, distally serrate with several fine setae; outer plate apical margin with fine and robust pectinate setae; palp stout, dactylus with unguis.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa subquadrate; basis lined with several long setae along anterior margin, posterodistal margin with one seta; carpus subtriangular, slightly produced posterodistally with several pectinate setae; propodus distally expanded, anterior margin without setae; palm transverse, serrate, lined with slender setae, corner defined by 2 robust setae; dactylus inner margin serrate, distally attenuate. Gnathopod 2 coxa longer than wide; basis anterior margin without seta, anterodistal with flange, posterior margin expanded distally without setae along margin, posterodistal with one short robust seta; carpus with elongate posterior lobe extending beyond edge of palm, outer margin of lobe with 3 basal robust setae, distal part with 3 robust setae; propodus broad, gradually expanding, anterior margin without setae on medial margin, palm transverse with fine setae along margin and defined by 2 robust setae; dactylus inner margin serrate, distally attenuate. Pereopod 3 coxa subrectangular; basis elongate, anterior margin with 4 medium length setae along margin; dactylus falcate. Pereopod 4 coxa expanded medially; basis slender; carpus, propodus and dactylus lost. Pereopod 5 coxa bilobed; basis subquadrate, anterior margin with 4 robust setae, posterior with fine setae along margin; merus expanded posterodistally; dactylus falcate. Pereopod 6 basis anterior margin with 5 robust setae, posterior margin medially expanded with fine setae along margin; dactylus falcate. Pereopod 7 basis expanded, anterior margin with 4 short robust setae, posterior margin with fine setae; dactylus falcate.

Pleon. Uropod 1 rami subequal in length, with short setae along margin; peduncle slightly shorter than rami with several short setae on inner margin. Uropod 2 inner ramus longer than outer ramus, lined with short setae along medial margin; peduncle shorter rami. Uropod 3 lost. Telson entire, longer than wide, apically acute.

Male (sexually dimorphic characters). Unable to determine adult male among broken specimens.

Habitat. Sandy bottom.

Remarks. Amphilochus lacertus sp. nov. appears to be closely related to A. justi . They more or less agree in the structure of the pleonal epimera 1–3, antennae and uropods. The gnathopods are also nearly identical, except that basis of gnathopod 1 lined with medium length setae along its anterior margin. Further, the rostrum is extending beyond article 1 of antenna 1. Among the more important features characteristic of the present species is the overall structure of maxilliped. In A. lacertus the maxilliped is somewhat stouter especially in palp articles 1–3, the presence of the dactylar unguis also add to these differences.

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

Figures

FIGURE 3. Amphilochus lacertus sp. nov., holotype female, 2.7 mm, AM P76251, Freshwater beach, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 4. Amphilochus lacertus sp. nov., holotype female, 2.7 mm, AM P76251, Freshwater beach, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.