Lepidepecreoides bassi, Lowry & Stoddart, 2002

Lowry, J. K. & Stoddart, H. E., 2002, The Lysianassoid Amphipod Genera Lepidepecreoides and Lepidepecreum in Southern Waters (Crustacea: Lysianassidae: Tryphosinae), Records of the Australian Museum 54 (3), pp. 335-364 : 337-340

Lepidepecreoides bassi n.sp.

Figs. 1–3

Type material. HOLOTYPE, sex not known, 10.0 mm, NMV J47713 ; 1 PARATYPE, sex not known, AM P57732 ; 76 km S of Point Hicks , Victoria, Australia, 38°29.33'S 149°19.98'E, 1840 m, sandy mud, fine shell, WHOI epibenthic sled, G.C.B. Poore et al., 26 October 1988, RV Franklin, stn SLOPE 69 .

Type locality. 76 km S of Point Hicks , Victoria, Australia, 38°29.33'S 149°19.98'E, 1840 m depth .

Description. Based on holotype, sex not known, 10.0 mm. Head with lateral cephalic lobe subtriangular, apically subacute; eyes apparently absent. Antenna 1 peduncular articles 1 and 2 without anterodistal lobe; accessory flagellum 2-articulate, with small terminal article offset; flagellum with strong 2-field callynophore; robust setae present on proximal articles; calceoli absent. Antenna 2 flagellum short; calceoli absent. Epistome/upper lip with epistome less produced than upper lip, straight; upper lip slightly produced, straight. Mandible molar columnar with oval, fully triturating surface; palp attached distally, article 3 with proximal A3-seta. Maxilla 1 outer plate with left and right setal-tooth 7 symmetrical, cuspidate distally along inner margin; palp distal margin with apical robust setae. Maxilliped outer plate with 2 (one long and slender, one short and broad) apical robust setae.

Gnathopod 1 subchelate; coxa large, about as long as coxa 2, subrectangular with straight anterior margin; basis without setae along anterior margin; ischium short; carpus 3, T represent 0.2 mm, remainder represent 0.5 mm.

long (2.6 × breadth), longer than propodus, without posterior lobe; propodus small, margins subparallel, palm acute. Pereonite 2 with mid-dorsal carina. Gnathopod 2 palm slightly obtuse. Pereonite 3 with mid-dorsal carina. Pereonite 4 with mid-dorsal carina. Pereopod 4 coxa with a weak posteroventral lobe (posterior margin concave). Pereonite 5 with mid-dorsal carina. Pereopod 5 coxa with distinct lateral ridge; basis about as long as broad, posterior margin with mid-central spine, with well-developed wedgeshaped posteroventral lobe. Pereonite 6 with mid-dorsal carina. Pereonite 7 with mid-dorsal carina. Pereopod 7 basis posterodistally produced, not reaching merus, not posterodistally excavate.

Pleonite 1 with mid-dorsal carina. Pleonite 2 with middorsal carina. Pleonite 3 with mid-dorsal carina, dorsodistally produced, apically acute, posterodorsal margin produced. Epimeron 3 posterior margin smooth, posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Urosomite 1 with deep notch and a narrow vertically produced acute spine. Uropod 3 outer ramus article 2 short; with plumose setae on each ramus. Telson deeply cleft, with dorsal robust setae, without apical robust setae.

Etymology. Named after George Bass who, in December 1798 with Matthew Flinders in the sloop Norfolk, circumnavigated Van Diemans Land, so proving the existence of the strait, which now bears his name, between mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Remarks. Lepidepecreoides bassi is most similar to L. xenopus but is distinguished by the lack of anterodistal lobes on antenna 1 peduncle, the wedge-shaped posteroventral spine on pereopod 5 basis, the apically acute projection on pleonite 3 and the absence of apical robust setae on the telson.

Distribution. Bass Strait, Australia; 1840 m depth.

Figures

Figure 1. Lepidepecreoides bassi n.sp. Holotype, 10.0 mm, NMV J47713, Point Hicks, Australia.

Figure 2. Lepidepecreoides bassi n.sp. Holotype, 10.0 mm, NMV J47713, Point Hicks, Australia. Scales represent 0.2 mm.

Figure 3. Lepidepecreoides bassi n.sp. Holotype, 10.0 mm, NMV J47713, Point Hicks, Australia. Scales for U1–