Leucothoe wuriti Thomas & Klebba, 2007

Figs 21, 24 F

Leucothoe spinicarpa: Ortiz 1975: 10, fig. 5.

Leucothoe wuriti Thomas & Klebba, 2007: 30–35, figs 19, 21, 22 C, D; LeCroy 2011: 634–635, fig. 513; White 2011: 31–32, fig. 9.

Material examined.

Panama • 3.6–7 mm • 2 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Point; 9.3336°N, 82.2188°W; depth 15 m; among coral rubble and Halimeda; 6 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave, M. Salazar leg.; GCRL 6700 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Bight; 9.3045°N, 82.1316°W; depth 1.5 m; among sponges, coral rubble and sand; 7 Aug 2005; R. Collin, M. Faust, E. Gaiser, S. LeCroy, S. Richardson, M. Sorensen leg.; GCRL 6701 • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Laboratory Dock; 9.3511°N, 82.2570°W; depth 1 m; light trap; 8 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave leg.; GCRL 6702 • 2 juveniles; Bocas del Toro, Weather Instrument Platform; 9.3333°N, 82.2185°W; depth 1 m; commensal in lavender sponge; 8 Aug 2005; T. A. Haney leg.; GCRL 6703 • 1 ♂, 3 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Isla Solarte; 9.2901°N, 82.1897°W; depth 1–5 m; commensal in ascidian and mangrove scraping; 8 Aug 2021; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1762975 .

Diagnosis.

Head anterior margin rounded; ventral keel anterodistal margin quadrate. Gnathopod 1 coxa with one mediofacial seta; basis anterior margin with few short setae, posterior margin bare; carpus proximal margin dentate, with several facial setae; propodus palm dentate; dactylus reaching more than 0.2 × propodus length. Gnathopod 2 basis anterior margin with several short setae, posterior margin bare; carpus distally truncate, anterior margin dentate; propodus primary mediofacial setal row displaced to midline, reaching 0.8 × propodus length, secondary mediofacial setal row with three setae, palm with distinct tubercules, one row of submarginal setae present. Coxa 4 smooth, posterior margin concave. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate, slightly produced.

Distribution.

USA: Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys (Thomas and Klebba 2007); Belize: Pelican Cays (Thomas and Klebba 2007); Panama: Bocas del Toro (White 2011; present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs as commensal in ascidians and among sponges, coral rubble, Halimeda, and sand at depths of 0– 15 m. Panamanian specimens agree closely with the original description except for a shorter facial seta on gnathopod 1 coxa (see White 2011 for other variations in these specimens). Living specimens are translucent white with maroon stripes on antenna 1 and along pereonite edges.