Ampithoe katae, Peart, 2007

Peart, Rachael A., 2007, A review of the Australian species of Ampithoe Leach, 1814 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) with descriptions of seventeen new species, Zootaxa 1566 (1), pp. 1-95 : 37-42

Ampithoe katae sp. nov.

( Figs 26–29 )

Type material. Holotype: AM P61842, male, 5 mm, Mangrove Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, QLD, 14°40.99’S 145°27.63’E, 19 Nov 1999, 1 m, on Turbinaria sp. , R. Peart . Paratypes: AM P61843, female, 6 mm, type locality ; AM P61844, 6 specimens, type locality ; AM P61845, 1 specimen, Coconut Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, 14°40.81’S 145°28.41’E, 17 Nov 1999, 1.5 m, on seagrass , R. Peart ; AM P61846, 2 specimens, Coconut Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, 14°40.81’S 145°28.41’E, 17 Nov 1999, 1.5 m, on Turbinaria sp. , M. Huggett & K. Dempsey ; AM P61847, 1 specimen, Crystal Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, 14°40.99’S 145°28.38’E, 18 Nov 1999, 3.2 m, on Turbinaria sp. , M. Huggett & R. Peart ; AM P61848, 4 specimens, Mangrove Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, 14°40.99’S 145°27.63’E, 19 Nov 1999, 3 m, on green algae , R. Peart ; AM P61849, 6 specimens, Mangrove Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, 14°40.99’S 145°27.63’E, 19 Nov 1999, 1 m, on Turbinaria sp. , M. Huggett ; AM P61850, 2 specimens, off Casaurina Beach , Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, 14°40.63’S 145°26.71’E, 21 Nov 1999, 1 m, on green algae, M. Huggett , R. Peart & K. Dempsey .

Diagnosis. Antenna 2 slender, similar to antenna 1, not densely setose on ventral margin. Lower lip with lateral lobe longer than medial lobe. Maxilla 1 inner plate with three slender setae. Gnathopod 1 carpal lobe subacute; carpus shorter than propodus; palm convex, without midmedial tooth, without posterodistal tooth defining palm; dactylus subequal in length to palm. Gnathopod 2 without densely setose margins; basis posterodistal lobe large and rounded, with 1 robust seta; carpus shorter than propodus; palm acute, excavate, without a midmedial tooth, with a small subacute posterodistal tooth defining palm; with 1 defining robust seta; dactylus subequal in length to palm. Pereopod 3 basis narrow; merus narrow. Pereopods 5–7 simple. Pereopod 5 merus subrectangular. Uropod 3 peduncle with 4 distal robust setae, outer ramus subequal in length to inner ramus, without patch of small conical lateral denticles, without lateral setal fringe; inner ramus with 3 distal robust setae. Telson distally truncated, apical cusps small.

Description. Based on holotype male, 5 mm, AM P61842. Head as long as deep. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 subequal to article 2 (0.98 x), article 2 longer than article 3 (2.56 x), article 3 shorter than article 1 (0.4 x); primary flagellum with 17–20 articles. Antenna 2 peduncular article 4 subequal to article 5; flagellum 11 articulate. Mandible molar with 4–6 robust setae in the accessory setal row; palp stout, long, setose along posterior margin, article 1 shorter than article 2 (0.33 x), article 2 longer than article 3 (1.35 x), article 3 longer than article 1 (2.22 x). Lower lip mandibular lobe with curved margins, rounded apically. Maxilla 1 palp with apical robust setae. Maxilla 2 inner plate narrow, outer plate broader. Maxilliped outer plate with developed setation (robust setae large).

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 without densely setose margins; coxa larger than gnathopod 2 coxa, produced distoventrally, distoventral margin rounded, anterior margin concave, ventral margin, with a row of small setules; basis shorter than coxa, with sparse (sometimes plumose) slender setae, posterodistal lobe small and rounded, 1 slender seta; merus produced to form a small, subacute distoventral lobe, anterior margin with setae absent; carpus longer than merus, subtriangular, anterior margin with 2 robust setae and slender setae; propodus narrow (length 1.94 x width), subrectangular; palm with 1 defining robust seta; dactylus inner margin denticulate. Gnathopod 2 coxa ventral margin with a row of small setules; basis subequal to coxa, with sparse slender setae; merus produced to form a short, subacute distoventral lobe, anterior margin with setae absent; carpus longer than merus, subtriangular, anterior margin with 2 robust setae and slender setae; propodus broad (length 1.31 x width), ovoid, produced into an anterodistally setose lobe; dactylus tapering evenly, acute, inner margin denticulate. Pereopod 5 basis with marginal robust setae, without medial slender setae; distal articles slender; propodus not expanded distally, subrectangular, with 3 distal simple striated robust setae; dactylus strongly curved. Pereopod 6 basis posterior margin rounded proximally, straight distally, with marginal robust setae, without medial slender setae; merus subrectangular; propodus slightly expanded distally, with 3 distal simple striated robust setae; dactylus strongly curved. Pereopod 7 basis with marginal robust setae, without medial slender setae; propodus defined distally by 3–5 simple robust setae.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Uropod 1 peduncle with 3–5 robust setae, with long setal fringe; inner ramus slightly longer than outer ramus, with 1 or 2 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent; outer ramus with more than 5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent. Uropod 2 peduncle with 1 or 2 robust setae, setal fringe absent; inner ramus slightly longer than outer ramus, with more than 5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent; outer ramus with more than 5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent. Uropod 3 peduncle longer than broad (1.49 x width), short with respect to the rami length (1.92 x), with marginal robust setae absent, marginal slender setae absent, with 1 or 2distal slender setae; inner ramus with 1 or 2distal slender setae. Telson with oblique lateral and medial rows of slender setae.

Female. (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype, female, 6 mm, AM P61843. Gnathopod 1 subequal in size to gnathopod 2; coxa subequal in size to gnathopod 2 coxa; merus produced to form a short, rounded distoventral lobe; carpus anterior margin with 1 robust setae and slender setae. Gnathopod 2 basis shorter than coxa, posterodistal lobe small and round, with 2 or 3 slender setae; propodus not produced anterodistally; palm entire, without tooth defining palm.

Etymology. This species is named for Kate Dempsey who assisted in the collection of this species and others from Lizard Island.

Remarks. Ampithoe katae sp. nov. is most similar to A. cookana sp. nov. Characters distinguishing A. katae and A. cookana are outlined under the account of the latter.

Habitat. Ampithoe katae was collected from Turbinaria sp. and green algae from 1–3.5 m depth.

Distribution. Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Ampithoe katae sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61842, 5 mm. Paratype, female, AM P61843, 6 mm. Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia.

FIGURE 27. Ampithoe katae sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61842, 5 mm. Paratype, female, AM P61843, 6 mm. Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. Scales represent 0.5 mm for antennae 1–2 and 0.2 mm for mouthparts. Female antennae missing.

FIGURE 28. Ampithoe katae sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61842, 5 mm. Paratype, female, AM P61843, 6 mm. Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. Scales represent 0.2 mm for male and 0.5 mm for female.

FIGURE 29. Ampithoe katae sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61842, 5 mm. Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. Scales represent 0.2 mm. Pereopod 4 identical to pereopod 3.