Paranthura algophila, Kensley & Schotte, 2000

Kensley, B. & Schotte, M., 2000, New species and records of anthuridean isopod crustaceans from the Indian Ocean, Journal of Natural History 34, pp. 2057-2121 : 2112-2114

Paranthura algophila sp. nov.

(Figures 37, 38)

Type material. HOLOTYPE: USNM 253170 , ovigerous m 5.0 mm, sta K-AL-106, intertidal coralline algal mat, near Passe Du Bois, Aldabra, 21 March 1986 . PARATYPES: USNM 253171 , two non-ovigerous m 5.1±5.9 mm, four juveniles, same data as holotype . USNM 253172 , one l 4.3 mm, two ovigerous m 5.7 mm, sta K-AL-103, intertidal coralline alga, Passe Hoareau, Aldabra, 19 March 1986 .

Other material examined. USNM 253173 , one, l ten ovigerous m, 15 nonovigerous m, 16 juveniles , from 19 stations, algal turf and rubble, Aldabra, intertidal, 8 m.

Diagnosis. Female: Telson 2.5 times longer than greatest width at midlength, posterior margin evenly rounded, bearing simple elongate setae. Antennular ¯agellum of three articles, two distal articles each bearing two aesthetascs. Antennal ¯agellum of two setose articles. Pereopod 1, carpus triangular, with three distal setae; propodus somewhat expanded, palm convex, separated from low proximal lobe, row of about 14 setae on mesial surface near palm. Pereopods 2 and 3, propodus barely expanded, with four sensory setae on slightly convex palm. FIG. 37. Paranthura algophila sp. nov.: (A) m dorsal view; (B) m antennule; (C) antenna; (D) lantennule; (E) pleotelson; (F) lpleopod 2; (G) pleopod 1; (H) uropodal exopod; (I) uropodal protopod and endopod.

Pereopod 7, carpus with anterior margin slightly shorter than posterior, latter with two setae on posterior margin; propodus three times longer than greatest width, with three sensory setae and several fringed scales on posterior margin. Pleopod 1, exopod 4.5 times wider than endopod, latter not reaching apex of exopod, with eight plumose marginal setae on distal margin. Uropodal exopod elongate-ovate, apically acute, laterodistal margin serrate, setose; endopod distally rounded, setose, about 1.5 times longer than basal width.

Male: Antennular ¯agellum of ®ve articles, aesthetascs on articles 2±4. Pleopod 2, copulatory stylet articulating in proximal half of mesial margin of endopod, club-shaped, reaching well beyond distal margin of ramus.

Remarks. Species of Paranthura , aside from total length, tend to be morphologically very similar. DiOEerences in appendages are subtle. The characters used in the above key serve to diOEerentiate the species. The total lengths are included as a guide to the possible size at maturity, thereby providing one more clue to aid in identi®cation.

Etymology. The speci®c name, from the Greek for`love of ’, plus alga, refers to the habitat of the species.