Podocerus clavicarius, Hughes, 2013

Hughes, L. E., 2013, Podoceridae of Tropical Australia (Peracarida: Amphipoda), Records of the Australian Museum 65 (1), pp. 1-37 : 7-9

Podocerus clavicarius sp. nov.

Fig. 6

Type material. Holotype male, 4.0 mm, dissected, 2 slides, WAM C51370, Tish Point, Rosemary Island, Dampier Archipelago (20°29'40"S 116°35'53"E), 0.5 m, on brown algae Sargassum sp., 30 August 1999, coll. R. A. Peart (WA 683); paratype male, AM P.90229, Tish Point, Rosemary Island, Dampier Archipelago (20°29'40"S 116°35'53"E), 0.5 m, on brown algae Sargassum sp., 30 August 1999, coll. R. A. Peart (WA 683).

Type locality. Tish Point, Rosemary Island, Dampier Archipelago , Western Australia (20°29'40"S 116°35'53"E) .

Etymology. The name is a reference to the male gnathopod 2 resembling a key, clavicarius is Latin for key maker, locksmith.

Diagnosis. Body cuticle dorsally smooth. Gnathopod 1 coxa larger than coxa 2, as broad as long, anteroventral corner weakly produced ventrally, apically subacute. Gnathopod 2 basis 0.9 times as long as broad; carpus free, distinct from propodus; propodus subovate, length 1.3 times width, medial surface with a few sparse plumose setae, palm half the length of the propodus with 1 tooth, defined by corner with 2 robust setae; dactylus closing short of palm end.

Description. Based on holotype male, 4.0 mm. WAM C51370. Body cuticle dorsally smooth. Head dorsally smooth; rostrum short, one tenth of head length; eyes greatly bulging; lateral cephalic lobe rounded; anteroventral corner subquadrate. Mandible accessory setal row with 3 setae. Maxilla 1 palp distal margin with 5 robust setae, 2 cuspidate.

Gnathopod 1 coxa larger than coxa 2, as broad as long, anteroventral corner weakly produced ventrally, apically subacute; basis 3 times as long as broad, without anterodistal setae; carpus rectolinear, twice as long as broad with truncate lobe; propodus subtriangular, produced distally, anterior margin with clusters of long slender setae, palm margin minutely crenulate, with 2 robust setae near corner of palm; dactylus posterior margin with serrate teeth, cuticle surface with raised serrations. Gnathopod 2 basis 0.9 times as long as broad; anterodistal corner with subacute produced lobes, with long slender setae; carpus free, distinct from propodus; propodus subovate, length 1.3 times width, anterior margin with a few long slender setae, medial surface with a few sparse plumose setae, palm subacute, half the length of the propodus, with broad, well developed distal shelf, shelf margin smooth, palm with 1 tooth, defined by corner with 2 robust setae; dactylus closing short of palm end.

Epimera 2–3 posteroventral corner rounded. Urosomite 1 length 2.2 times as long as broad. Uropod 1 peduncle 3 times as long as broad, ventromedial spine absent; inner ramus 0.8 times peduncle length; outer ramus 0.7 times length of inner ramus. Uropod 2 biramous; peduncle ventromedial spine absent; outer ramus 0.33 times length of inner ramus. Uropod 3 uniramus; ramus without setae. Telson dorsal lobe with 2 apical setae, lower margin without lateral or apical setae.

Remarks. Podocerus clavicarius sp. nov. has a spheroid propodus on male gnathopod 2 with the dactylus closing short of the palm. This combination of characters is unique within the genus Podocerus . See also remarks for P. miscix sp. nov.

Distribution. Australia. Western Australia: Dampier Archipelago.

Figures

Figure 6. Podocerus clavicariussp. nov., holotype male, 4.0 mm, WAM C51370, DampierArchipelago, WesternAustralia (scale 0.1 mm).