Pseudopleonexes lessoniae ( Hurley, 1954 )

Peart, Rachael A., 2006, A revision of Pseudopleonexes Conlan, 1982 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) with description of three new species from Australia, Zootaxa 1344, pp. 1-22 : 15

Pseudopleonexes lessoniae ( Hurley, 1954)

( Fig. 9 )

Pleonexes lessoniae Hurley, 1954: 620 –626, figs. 1–2.

Pseudopleonexes lessoniae .— Conlan, 1982: 2020.— Just, 2002: 31 –40. Not Ampithoe (Pleonexes) lessoniae .— J. L. Barnard, 1972: 44, figs 13–14.

Type material. (Not examined). Holotype: male, 9 mm, Slide 90–Hurley's personal collection, Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand, 41°17’S 174°46’E (latitude and longitude estimated), 1 August 1950, on Lessonia variegata, J. G. Gibbs. Paratype: female, 5 mm, type locality.

Diagnosis. (Based on Hurley, 1954). Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2. Antenna 2 robust, peduncle more expanded than antenna 1 peduncle, not densely setose on ventral margin. Maxilla 1 palp with 2 articles. Gnathopod 1 carpus shorter than propodus, carpal lobe absent; propodus narrow; palm transverse, entire, without midmedial tooth, without posterodistal tooth defining palm, with one defining robust seta; dactylus overreaching palm. Gnathopod 2 with long plumose setae on margins; basis posterodistal lobe large and rounded; carpus longer than merus, shorter than propodus; propodus broad, ovoid, not produced into an anterodistally setose lobe; palm acute, entire, with small rounded midmedial tooth, with small subacute posterodistal tooth defining palm, with one defining robust seta; dactylus longer than palm. Pereopod 5 merus subrectangular; distal articles slender. Pereopod 6 distal articles slender. Pereopod 7 distal articles slender. Uropod 3 peduncle without distal robust setae.

Habitat. Pseudopleonexes lessoniae has been found on the brown alga, Lessonia variegata .

Distribution. Pseudopleonexes lessoniae is endemic to New Zealand.

Remarks. J. L. Barnard (1972) reported specimens as Ampithoe (Pleonexes) lessoniae from several New Zealand localities. Judging by Barnard’s (1972) account, his material probably represents one or more undescribed species. Unfortunately, however, the location of Hurley’s type material and Barnard’s (1972) specimens is presently unknown ( Just 2002).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Pseudopleonexes lessoniae (Hurley, 1954), holotype, male, 9 mm, Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand. (Modified after Hurley 1954).