Maeropsis griffini ( Berents, 1983 )

Krapp-Schickel, Traudl, 2009, Maeridae, the Ceradocus group *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 598-642 : 625

Maeropsis griffini ( Berents, 1983)

( Fig. 19 )

Maera griffini Berents, 1983: 125 , Fig. 20–21

Maeropsis griffini . — Lowry & Springthorpe, 2005: 238.

Material examined. 29 adults and juveniles, AM P70602 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 juvenile, AM P70610 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 adult, 1 juvenile, AM P70615 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 adult, 3 juveniles, AM P70626 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 juvenile, AM P70659 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 female, AM P70660 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 3 females, AM P70999 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 2 females, AM P71201 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 2 adults, AM P77720 ( QLD 1622 ) ; 1 female, AM P70741 ( QLD 1645 ) ; 1 adult, 1 juvenile, AM P70769 ( QLD 1653 ) ; 1 adult, AM P70892 ( QLD 1653 ) ; 2 juveniles, AM P70996 ( QLD 1663 ) ; 1 adult, AM P71046 ( QLD 1718 ) ; 1 juvenile, AM P71336 ( QLD 1724 ) ; 7 adults, AM P71254 (1725) ; 5 females, AM P71266 (1725) ; 2 adults, AM P71074 ( QLD 1727 ) ; 2 adults, AM P71120 ( QLD 1735 ) ; 2 adults, AM P71068 ( QLD 1737 ) ; 3 adults, AM P71118 ( QLD 1748 ) ; 23 adults and juveniles, AM P71236 ( QLD 1768 ) ; 1 adult, 2 juveniles, AM P71513 ( QLD 1777 ) ; 1 adult, 2 juveniles, AM P71602 ( QLD 1803 ) ; 1 female, AM P71485 ( QLD 1809 ) ; 1 juvenile, AM P71596 (1838).

Type locality. Between Bird Islet and South Island, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (14° 42'S 145° 28'E) .

Description. Based on male, 5.5 mm, AM P71068.

Head. Head, anteroventral corner rounded, anteroventral slit absent. Eye ovate. Antenna 1 peduncular article 2 shorter than article 1, article 3 minute; accessory flagellum with 3 articles. Antenna 2 gland cone surpassing end of peduncle article 3, article 4 longer than article 5. Upper lip thickened. Mandible palp article 1 nearly 3 x as long as wide, distally triangularly lengthened but not pointed; article three subequal with or somewhat longer than article 2.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa anteroventral corner produced, acute; merus without sharp posterodistal prolongation; carpus anterior margin rounded. Gnathopod 2 significantly enlarged in both sexes, symmetrical; merus without sharp posteroventral prolongation; propodus palm with well defined palmar corner (about 90°), with two shallow excavations and strong robust setae. Pereopods 5–7 basis with short robust setae on anterior margin; dactylus simple. Per eopod 7 basis posterodistal corner rounded, lengthened and widened into lobe; merus swollen and lengthened posterodistally; all articles except ischium with bundles of long, fine setae.

Pleon. Epimera 1–3 posterodistally not acutely lengthened, no upturned spine; posterior and ventral margins smooth. Uropod 3 rami unequal, dorsoventrally flattened, longer ramus about 1.5 to 2 x length of peduncle, distally subacute, tapering; with apical robust and long fine setae, about 3/4 length of ramus; outer ramus with 1 article. Telson deeply cleft, trapezium-shaped, lobes distally excavated twice, the outer corner of excavations being the longer; inner and outer margins of lobes lacking setae, but long ones (approximately telson length) inserted in excavations.

Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on female, 5.0 mm, AM P70602 Gnathopod 2 palm poorly defined, rounded. Telson apically less excavated.

Habitat. Coral rubble or bommies, 2–22 m depth.

Remarks. The dorsoventrally flattened rami of uropod 3 in the species are characteristic.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island ( Berents 1983 and current study).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Maeropsis griffini (Berents, 1983), male, 5.5 mm, AM P71068, Granite Bluff, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 20. Quadrimaera pacifica (Schellenberg, 1938), male, 5.0 mm, ovigerous female, juvenile, AM P77721, Palfrey Island, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 21. Quadrimaera quadrimana (Dana, 1853), male, 5.0 mm, AM P71041, Mermaid Cove, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.