Saurodocus hobbit, Yerman, Michelle N. & Krapp-Schickel, Traudl, 2008

Yerman, Michelle N. & Krapp-Schickel, Traudl, 2008, A new genus and two new species of Saurodocus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Melitidae) from Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia, Zootaxa 1820, pp. 60-66 : 64

Saurodocus hobbit sp. nov.

( Fig. 3 )

Type material. Holotype: AM P77695, female, 2.2 mm ovigerous with one large egg, on slide, Mermaid Cove, Lizard Island, 14°38.90' S, 145°27.26’E, swash/subtidal, protected beach with patch reefs offshore, coarse coral sand with pieces of coral, 0.5–1.0 m, S.E. LeCroy, 2 July 2001, stn SEL/LZI-1-1. Paratype: AM P77696, 1 incomplete female, approximately 1.8 mm, type locality.

Etymology. Named after the fictional small people of "halflings" in the fantasy novels written by J.R.R. Tolkien in the traditions of a fairy tale; used as a noun in apposition.

Description of holotype. Head with anteroventral corner rounded; without notch or slit; eyes ovate to reniform. Antenna 1 without robust setae along posterior margin, peduncle strong, flagellum lost, therefore accessory flagellum unknown. Antenna 2 peduncular article 2 cone gland not reaching to end of peduncular article 3; article 3 globular, article 4 subequal to or longer than article 5. Mandible palp inner margin of article 1 without tooth-shaped prolongation; article 2 longer than article 3, article 3 longer than article 1, slim (subovoid with straight posterior margin), with 3 pectinate setae laterally, 3 smooth setae distally. Maxilla 1 inner plate subtriangular, as wide as high, with 6 setae on inner margin. Maxilla 2 with oblique setal row.

Pereon Gnathopod 1 coxa anteroventral corner not produced; carpus 0.9 x length of propodus, propodus shorter than coxa, hind margin rounded, palm acute, defined by posterodistal corner. Gnathopod 2 dactylus inner margin with 2 incisions, propodus similar to gnathopod 1, but narrower, on anterior and posterior margin beset with setae; carpus triangular, shorter than propodus. Pereopods 3–7 dactyli without anterodistal spine. Pereopods 5–7 slender, with few short setae, basis posterior margin smooth.

Pleon Pleonites 1–3 dorsally smooth. Epimeron 1 posteroventral corner narrowly rounded or subquadrate. Epimeron 2 posteroventral corner smooth with acute posterodistal spine. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin smooth. Urosomite 1 without spines or gape. Urosomite 2 posterior margin smooth. Urosomite 3 without dorsal setae. Uropod 1 peduncle longer than rami. Uropod 2 peduncle subequal to rami. Uropod 3 rami 7 x longer than broad, lanceolate, distally acute, about double the length of the peduncle. Telson quadrangular, deeply cleft; longer than broad with 2 or 3 short, subapical robust setae on each lobe, no lateral setation found.

Habitat. Marine; living in coarse coral sand with pieces of coral at 0.5–1 m; probably interstitial.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island.

Remarks. The tiny holotype was carrying one large egg, and was undoubtedly adult.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Saurodocus hobbit sp. nov. holotype female, 2.2 mm, AM P 77695, Lizard Island.