Metaphoxus varanus, Taylor, 2009

Taylor, Joanne, 2009, Phoxocephalidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 800-827 : 824-826

Metaphoxus varanus sp. nov.

( Figs 17 , 18 , Pl. 5H)

Type material. Holotype female, 2.2 mm, AM P71481, Back Reef , Yonge Reef , Lizard Island (14°36.761’S 145°37.362’E), rubble and sediment, bommie on back reef surrounded by sand, airlift, 14.9 m, R. T. Springthorpe, 4 March 2005 ( QLD 1809 ) . Paratypes: 2 females, 2.3–2.4 mm, AM P77848, same station data .

Type locality. Yonge Reef , Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia .

Additional material examined. 1 female, AM P54646 ( QLD 44 ) ; 1 female, AM P54650 ( QLD 52 ) ; 3 females, AM P54823 ( QLD 805 ) ; 16 females, AM P54827 ( QLD 809 ) ; 8 females, AM P77849 ( QLD 907 ) ; 1 male, AM P77850 ( QLD 940 ) ; 1 female, AM P71004 ( QLD 1620 ) ; 1 female, AM P70879 ( QLD 1700 ) ; 1 female, AM P71144 ( QLD 1707 ) ; 1 female, AM P71049 ( QLD 1718 ) ; 1 female, AM P71306 ( QLD 1761 ) ; 1 female, AM P77851 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 female, AM P71255 ( QLD 1725 ) ; 5 males, AM P71525 ( QLD 1805 ) ; 1 male, AM P71343 ( QLD 1805 ) ; 4 unsexed ( QLD 2014 ) .

Etymology. Named for the genus Varanus which includes Gould's Sand Goanna, a common inhabitant of Lizard Island that inspired the Island’s name.

Description. Based on holotype female.

Head. Rostrum unconstricted; eyes present. Antenna 1 peduncle article 2 without ventral setae. Antenna 2 peduncle article 4 without facial robust setae, with a single slender setae, dorsal setae absent; article 5 midfacial robust setae absent; flagellum reduced to 6 or fewer articles. Mandible palp article 2 without outer setae; molar simple. Maxilla 1 inner plate without setae; outer plate without an especially thickened robust seta; palp uniarticulate.

Pereon. Coxae, long ventral setae present on coxae 1–4, main ventral setae of coxae 1–4 = 4–4–4–5. Coxa 1 expanded distally. Gnathopods dissimilar in size. Gnathopod 1 palm almost transverse, carpus of gnathopod 1 free (not cryptic), of gnathopod 2 cryptic. Pereopods 3–4, carpus lacking posteroproximal robust setae, propodus slender setae present. Pereopod 5 basis of broad form, basis equal to or greater than twice width of ischium, basis not tapering distally, without facial ridge. Pereopod 6 basis without facial ridge. Pereopod 7 basis with few or no long ventral setae, without facial ridge.

Pleon. Epimera 1–3 without facial and marginal setae. Epimeron 3 without ventral setae or with very short setules only posteriorly. Uropods 1–2 rami without apical nails. Uropod 1, peduncle basofacial setae absent, without major displaced robust setae, with 1 apicolateral spine; inner ramus naked, without subapical accessory robust setae; outer ramus not continuously spinose to apex. Uropod 3 outer ramus article 2 elongate with 3 apical setae.

Habitat. Rubble and sediment.

Remarks. The broad form of the basis of pereopod 5 and the uniarticulate palp of maxilla 1 place this new species in the Phoxocephalinae. It is placed in the genus Metaphoxus differing from closely related Parametaphoxus in the length of pereopod 1 carpus and shape of gnathopods. A combination of traits, such as the shape and length/width ratio of propodi of gnathopods and setation and length of uropodal rami, distinguishes this new species from known species of the genus.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island (current study).

Figures

FIGURE 17. Metaphoxus varanus sp. nov., holotype, female, 2.2 mm, AM P71481, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 18. Metaphoxus varanus sp. nov., holotype, female, 2.2 mm, AM P71481, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.