Bonassa bonairensis (Stephensen, 1933)

White, Kristine N., 2024, Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part III: parvorder Lysianassidira, ZooKeys 1216, pp. 149-171 : 149-171

Bonassa bonairensis (Stephensen, 1933)

Figs 2 , 10 B

Lysianassa (?) bonairensis Stephensen, 1933 a: 416–420, figs 1, 2; Stephensen 1948: 1, 3.

Lysianassa bonairensis J. L. Barnard, 1958: 94; Ortiz 1979: 19.

Bonassa bonairensis Barnard & Karaman, 1991: 472; Lowry and Stoddart 1997: 54–58, figs 21–23.

Material examined.

Panama • 2–3 mm • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Swan Cay ; 9.4533°N, 82.2983°W; depth 2–3 m, among algae; 4 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave leg.; GCRL 6655 • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Drago ; 9.418056°N, 82.3375°W; depth 2–3 m, among coral rubble, 9 Aug 2021; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1739773 • 1 juvenile; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Point ; 9.331967°N, 82.214817°W; depth 1–3 m, among coral rubble; 22 June 2023; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1739774 .

Diagnosis.

Epistome produced, rounded, subequal to produced upper lip. Antenna 1 with strong callynophore in female. Gnathopod 1 propodus distally narrowing. Pereopod 7 basis greatly expanded, posteriorly rounded; merus greatly expanded, approximately 3 × width of carpus. Uropod 3 rami narrow, apically acute, and lacking plumose setae in female. Telson distal margin truncate, slightly emarginate.

Distribution.

Lesser Antilles: Bonaire Island ( Stephensen 1933 a; Lowry and Stoddart 1997); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

These amphipods occur among algae and coral rubble at depths of 1– 3 m. Panamanian specimens agree closely with previous descriptions of the species, with the exception of a slightly emarginate telson, with the exception of the uropod 3, which is documented for the first time in a female. This species is easily distinguishable based on the expanded pereopod 7 basis and merus. Panamanian specimens are a translucent white color when alive.

Figures

Figure 2. Bonassa bonairensis, female, 2.8 mm, pereopod 7, gnathopod 1 lateral, telson, uropod 3, head, epistome and upper lip. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 10. Photographs of live specimens unless noted A Aruga holmesi (ethanol preserved specimen) B Bonassa bonairensis C Concarnes concavus D Lysianopsis hummelincki E Lysianopsis ozona. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.