Pereionotus testudo ( Montagu, 1808 )

Rousou, Maria, Plaiti, Wanda, Lowry, Jim, Charalambous, Stephanos & Chintiroglou, Chariton Charles, 2020, Amphipoda species (Suborders: Amphilochidea and Senticaudata) from Vasiliko Bay, Cyprus: New records, information on their biogeography and an annotated checklist from the coasts of Cyprus, Zootaxa 4896 (3), pp. 373-408 : 393

49. Pereionotus testudo ( Montagu, 1808)

Materials examined. 16 individuals; Stations Vas. 5(1), 10(1), 18(1), 20(3), 23(1), 24(1), 25(2), 26(4), 30(1), 36(1).

Distribution. Atlanto-Mediterranean ( Bellan-Santini & Ruffo 2003). The species was reported from Cyprus by Kocatas et al. (2001). In Vasiliko Bay (current study), it is considered as a rare species (FI: 23.8 %).

Ecology. Pereionotus testudo was found in association with algae, on rocks and stones and on soft-bottom sedi-ments (mud, mud and sand mixture) at 3–70 m depth ( Kocatas et al. 2001). In Vasiliko Bay it was found at depths of 13–59 m (34 + 14 m), mainly in muddy sand and also sand substrates, with organic matter ranging between 3.179 –9.414 % (6.012 + 1.617 %) and in association with C. prolifera , C. cylindracea , C. nodosa and Dictyota spp . It was found in stations classified according to the Bentix Index as in: “high” (1 station, 1 individual), “good” (5 stations, 8 individuals) and “moderate” (4 stations, 7 individuals). It was recorded at a fish farm station (1 individual) and at the buoy (2 individuals).