Arabunnachiltonia, King, Rachael A., 2009

King, Rachael A., 2009, Two new genera and species of chiltoniid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitroidea) from freshwater mound springs in South Australia, Zootaxa 2293, pp. 35-52 : 38

Arabunnachiltonia n. gen.

Type species: Arabunnachiltonia murphyi n. sp.

Diagnosis. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 with ventral spine. Coxae 1-4 as long as pereon segments are deep. Pereopod 4 coxa with a sloped, indistinct proximal corner. Uropod 1 inner ramus with robust seta at mid length, outer ramous without seta at midlength. Uropod 2 peduncle dorsal margin with up to six setae along entire length; inner ramus with robust seta at mid length, outer ramous without seta at midlength. Gnathopod 2 propodus with proximal lobe covering distal margin of carpus; ventral-distal corner not distinctly marked with a robust seta on each of the inner and outer faces (all setae are similarly sized to those along ventral distal margin (adjacent to dactylus).

Etymology. Named for the indigenous Arabunna people of the Lake Eyre region.

Remarks. This genus can be readily distinguished from Wangiannachiltonia n. gen., by the gnathopod 2 propodus of males with a long propodus, uropod 1 peduncle with a row of five to seven robust setae, a robust ventral seta on antenna 1 peduncular article 1, and the lack of a distinct excavated proximal corner on coxal plate 4. Arabunnachiltonia n. gen. shares the robust ventral seta on antenna 1 with Austrochiltonia and Phreatochiltonia and coxal plate 4 shape with Phreatochiltonia but is distinguished from by them by the relatively unadorned uropod 2 with robust setae at the ends of the rami and at mid length on the inner ramous only (not with setae along the lengths of both rami). The genus is found in only two spring groups in the central Lake Eyre region (Strangways and Francis Swamp).