Narapheonoides lowryi, Azman, 2009

Azman, B. A. R., 2009, Cyproideidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 380-392 : 388-391

Narapheonoides lowryi sp. nov.

( Figs 6 , 7 , Pl. 3A)

Type material. Holotype, sex unknown, 1.9 mm, AM P70830 (in slides), Cobia Hole , Lizard Island (14°39.09’S 145°26.51’E), coarse sediment, 17 m, J.K. Lowry, 25 February 2005 (QLD 1666).

Additional material examined. 1 sex unknown, AM P70799 (QLD 1654).

Type locality. Cobia Hole , Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (14°39.09’S 145°26.51’E) .

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Dr J.K. Lowry (The Australian Museum), collector of most of the type series for this study.

Description. Based on holotype, AM P70830.

Head. Head dorsal margin longer than pereonites 2 and 3 combined. Eyes large, circular. Antenna 1 slightly shorter than antenna 2; accessory flagellum 1-articulate; primary flagellum 4 articulate, each bearing a tuft of long aesthetascs ventrodistally. Antenna 2 slender, sparsely setose; gland cone stout, almost reaching distal end of peduncular article 3. Mandible molar well developed; palp absent. Maxilla 1 palp 1 articulate. Maxilla 2 outer plate longer than inner plate. Maxilliped inner plate narrow; outer plate extending beyond palp article 1; palp 4 articulate; palp article 3 with lobe on inner margin; article 4 falcate. Upper lip asymmetrically bilobed. Lower lip inner lobes undefined; shoulders of outer lobe risen, densely bristly.

Gnathopod 1 scarcely subchelate; carpus gradually widening, carpal lobe extended distally to one fourth of propodus with three stout robust setae on distal margin; propodus almost straight and parallel, anterior margin with robust seta, palm with three robust setae; dactylus falcate with serrations along inner margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; merus subcylindrical, gradually narrowing distally, with several robust setae; carpus anterodistally produced, posterodistal end produced as gnathopod 1, with a number of robust setae along the margin; propodus as long as carpus, posterior margin gradually expanding distally with several robust setae at distal end; palm transverse; dactylus falcate with serrations along inner margin. Pereopod 3 coxa expanded, posterior margin gently concave; basis slender; merus gradually expanding on anteroproximal margin. Pereopod 4 coxa subquadrate, posterior margin extended backward; basis to dactylus slender. Pereopod 5 basis rectolinear. Pereopod 6 coxa expanded backward and downward; basis uniform in width with flange, anterior margin with several robust setae along margin; merus posterior margin gradually expanding. Pereopod 7 coxa semicircular; basis subovate, anterior margin slightly rounded with several robust setae along margin, posterior margin slightly rounded with flange; merus posterior margin gradually expanding proximally, distal extension subtriangular.

Pleon. Urosomite 1 with dorsal keel. Uropod 1 well developed; extending beyond uropod 2, slender; peduncle subequal to rami in length with ventromedial process; both rami subequal to each other in length. Uropod 2 well developed; peduncle shorter than rami; outer ramus slightly longer than inner. Uropod 3 reduced; peduncle with ventromedial process; outer ramus longer than inner. Telson elongate, semioval, reaching two thirds of peduncle of uropod 3.

Habitat. Coarse sediment, 17 m depth.

Remarks. Narapheonoides can be easily distinguished from the remaining genera of the family Cyproideidae by these combined characters: (1) mandible with well developed molar and the absence of mandibular palp; (2) pereopod 6 basis expanded; (3) maxilla 1 palp 1-articulate; (4) urosomite 1 with keel. As mentioned by J.L. Barnard (1972), the genus Narapheonoides has the closest affinity with the Caribbean Hoplopheonoides Shoemaker, 1956 , but differs from the latter in the presence of an accessory flagellum, the stronger palm of gnathopod 1 and pereopod 6 basis expanded. To date the genus contained only a single species, Narapheonoides mullaya J.L. Barnard based on material from Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia. However, the present specimen is readily distinguished from N. mullaya by having a narrower propodus and less defined palm of gnathopod 1, basis of pereopod 6 broader and by the posterodistal flange of pereopods 6 and 7.

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

Figures

FIGURE 6. Narapheonoides lowryi sp. nov., holotype, sex unknown, 1.9 mm, AM P70830, Cobia Hole, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 7. Narapheonoides lowryi sp. nov., holotype, sex unknown, 1.9 mm, AM P70830, Cobia Hole, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.