Photis pirloti Myers, 1985

Myers, Alan A., 2009, Photidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 771-799 : 793-794

Photis pirloti Myers, 1985

( Figs 17 , 18 )

Photis pirloti Myers, 1985: 88 , fig. 68. –– Myers, 1995: 72, figs 37, 38.

Material studied. 1 female, AM P70843 ( QLD 1661 ) .

Type locality. Nananui Ra , Fiji (17 o 20’S 177 o 76’E) .

Description. Based on female, 2.5 mm, AM P70843.

Head. Head anteroventral margin strongly recessed, extending behind posterior margin of eye. Eye oval, medium size, about one quarter head length, situated entirely within the lateral lobe. Mandible palp article 3 distinctly shorter than article 2, spatulate, widest subdistally. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 shorter than article 3; flagellum with 8 articles and bearing aesthetascs on alternate articles; accessory flagellum absent. Antenna 2 long, more than half body length; flagellum distinctly longer than peduncular article 5 with 7 articles.

Pereon. Coxae 15 longer than broad, sparsely fringed with short setae; coxa 1 unproduced. Gnathopod 1 carpus subequal to propodus; propodus between 1.5 and 3 x as long as wide, posterodistal margin evenly rounded. Gnathopod 2 basis anterior margin with a few short setae; carpus with distinct free posterior expansion; propodus less than 2.5 x as long as carpus, posterodistal margin without robust seta, palm with a single excavation; dactylus longer than half length of propodus. Pereopod 3 merus with many very long setae on anterior margin; propodus less than 4 x as long as broad. Pereopod 5 basis slightly expanded, distinctly longer than broad; with few setae on anterior margin. Pereopods 5–7 dactylus each with accessory spine on the anterior margin.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posterodistal margin rounded. Uropod 1 peduncle without distoventral spine; rami subequal in length. Uropod 2 peduncle without distoventral spine; rami distinctly unequal in length. Uropod 3 peduncle slender, subequal to the outer ramus; inner ramus vestigial; outer ramus with terminal fine setae. Telson without robust setae.

Male (not yet collected in Australia). Coxae 3–5 with stridulating ridges. Gnathopod 2 basis with anterodistal flange bearing stridulating ridges, propodus with more deeply indented excavation.

Habitat. Among coral rubble, sponges and Halimeda .

Remarks. This species is distinguished from other species recorded from Australia, by the single, smooth excavation on the palm of gnathopod 2 in both sexes.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island (current study). Fiji. Viti Levu: Nananui Ra ( Myers 1985). Papua New Guinea. Madang Lagoon ( Myers 1995).

Figures

FIGURE 17. Photis pirloti Myers, 1985, female, 2.5 mm, AM P70843, Cobia Hole, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 18. Photis pirloti Myers, 1985, female, 2.5 mm, AM P70843, Cobia Hole, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.