Dulichiella tulear, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, A revision of the tropical / temperate amphipod genus Dulichiella Stout, 1912, and the description of a new Atlantic genus Verdeia gen. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Melitidae), Zootaxa 1424, pp. 1-62 : 51-53

Dulichiella tulear sp. nov.

( Fig. 39)

Melita appendiculata . – Ledoyer, 1978: 282. – Ledoyer, 1979: 86, fig. 50. – Ledoyer, 1982: 570, fig. 216.

Type material. Holotype? subadult male, 5 mm (slide), MNHN Am3964, pente externe du Grand Récif de Tuléar , 29 m depth, Thomassin, stn 172 . Paratype: 1 female (slide), MNHN Am3965, pente externe du Grand Récif de Tuléar , stn 240 .

Type locality. Pente externe du Grand Récif de Tuléar , Madagascar, 29 m depth .

Description. Based on Ledoyer, 1979: 86, fig. 50 and Ledoyer, 1982: 570, fig. 216. Body small. Head eyes round; lateral cephalic lobe broad, truncated, anteroventral corner with acute/subacute spine (no apparent seta). Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 shorter than article 2. Antenna 2 peduncular article 2 cone gland reaching at least to end of peduncular article 3; article 4 subequal to article 5. Mandibular palp article 1 about as long as broad, inner margin not produced distally; article 2 subequal to article 3.

Gnathopod 1 coxa anteroventral corner not produced, anterior margin convex, posteroventral corner notch present; carpus subequal in length to propodus; propodus small, linear, palm convex, defined by posterodistal corner. Gnathopod 2 coxa posteroventral corner notch present; (larger) propodus distolateral crown with 3 rounded indistinct spines, palm sinusoidal, posterodistal corner produced, straight, with dactylus fitting against corner; dactylus apically blunt; (smaller) merus with sharp posteroventral spine; palm straight, without robust setae, posterodistal corner with 1 robust seta near corner; dactylus without setae on anterior margin. Pereopod 5 dactylar unguis anterior margin with accessory spine. Pereopods 6–7 merus, carpus and propodus unknown. Pereopod 6 basis posterior margin straight; dactylar unguis anterior margin with accessory spine. Pereopod 7 basis posterior margin straight.

Pleonite/urosomite dorsal spine formula (7-7-7-5-6-2). Pleonites 1–3 with sparse dorsal setae. Epimeron 2 posteroventral corner acute. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin weakly serrate distally. Urosomite 1 with spine at midline, no conspicuous medial gape. Urosomite 3 without dorsal setae; with 4 dorsal spines (not confirmed). Uropod 3 outer ramus very long, about 2 x peduncle. Telson with dorsal robust setae.

Etymology. Named for the type locality, Grand Récif de Tuléar.

Habitat. Marine epibenthic.

Remarks. Dulichiella tulear is based on the illustrations of Ledoyer (1979: fig. 50, 1982: fig. 216). The lack of setae on the posteroventral corner of the head and the lack of a basofacial seta on the peduncle of uropod 1 may be oversights. The species appears to be most similar to D. australis and D. oahu . Dulichiella tulear differs from both species in the propodus of the smaller male gnathopod 2 which is more robust and in the posteroventral margin of epimeron 3 which is minutely serrate in D. tulear and smooth in D. australis and D. oahu .

In Ledoyer (1978, 1982) all material listed as occurring at station 122 is apparently from station 172. Ledoyer figured a male specimen from station 122, but the material examined section only mentions a male from station 172. Station 122 does not appear in the station list.

Distribution. Madagascar. Grand Récif de Tuléar ( Ledoyer, 1978).