Cochinorchestia morrumbene, Lowry, J. K. & Springthorpe, R. T., 2015

Lowry, J. K. & Springthorpe, R. T., 2015, Coastal Talitridae (Amphipoda: Talitroidea) from north-western Australia to Darwin with a revision of the genus Cochinorchestia Lowry & Peart, 2010, Zootaxa 3985 (2), pp. 151-202 : 170-172

Cochinorchestia morrumbene sp. nov.

( Fig. 12 )

Orchestia notabilis .― Griffiths, 1973: 300, fig. 11 (from Mozambique).— Griffiths, 1976: 79 (key), 80, fig. 52a, 103, Appendix 1 (Checklist).

Type. Holotype, male, 9 mm, SAM, Morrumbene estuary, southern Mozambique, University of Cape Town Ecological Survey, 3 and 11 July 1954.

Type locality. Morrumbene estuary, southern Mozambique.

Additional material. 9 specimens, SAM, Morrumbene estuary, southern Mozambique, University of Cape Town Ecological Survey, 1953–1968 [stations MOR 85 B (6), MOR 95 C (4)].

Etymology. Named for the type locality, Morrumbene estuary, Mozambique.

Habitat. Supralittoral, mangroves.

Description. Based on holotype, male, 9 mm ( Griffiths 1973: 300, fig. 11).

Head slender scales on ventroproximal surface unknown. Antenna 1 reaching slightly beyond end of antenna 2 peduncle. Antenna 2 peduncular articles slender, article 5 longer than article 4, final flagellar article large, coneshaped, forming virgula divina. Mandible unknown. Maxilla 1 with small palp, 1-articulate. Maxilliped palp article 2 distomedial lobe well developed; article 4 small, well defined.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 slightly chelate; posterior margin of merus, carpus and propodus each with lobe covered in palmate setae; carpus subequal in length to propodus, 0.9 × as long as propodus, 1.3 × as long as broad; propodus 'subtriangular' with well developed posterodistal lobe, anterior margin apparently without groups of robust setae, lateral surface with 5 cuspidate setae, palm slightly obtuse, without spine patch on posterodistal corner; dactylus slightly longer than palm. Gnathopod 2 sexually dimorphic; subchelate; basis slightly expanded; ischium with rounded lobe on mid-anterior margin, without anterodistal lobe on medial surface; carpus triangular, reduced (enclosed by merus and propodus), posterior lobe absent, not projecting between merus and propodus; propodus subovate, twice as long as wide; palm extremely acute, reaching about 73% along posterior margin, strongly toothed, incised and sinuous, with broad distal shelf, small sinus, tooth, slightly larger sinus, smaller tooth and broad slightly concave sinus, palm lined with 9 lateral robust setae; dactylus subequal in length to palm, sinusoidal, without anteroproximal bump, posterior margin smooth, not modified distally, apically acute.

Pleon. Uropods 1–2 unknown. Uropod 3 peduncle with 1 robust seta; ramus not fused to peduncle; ramus shorter than peduncle, 1.7 × as long as broad, linear (tapering distally), with 3 apical setae. Telson as broad as long, entire, dorsal midline vestigial or absent, with 4 apical robust setae per side.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. This species is not well known and the material is not available for study. It has a distinctive propodus and dactylus on male gnathopod 2 unlike other species in the genus.

Distribution. Mozambique. Morrumbene Estuary ( Griffith 1973).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Cochinorchestia morrumbene sp. nov., male, holotype, 9 mm, Morrumbene estuary, southern Mozambique (After Griffiths, 1973: 300, fig. 11).