Elasmopus levis (Smith, 1873)

White, Kristine N. & Sir, Sally J., 2024, Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part II: parvorder Hadziidira, ZooKeys 1195, pp. 249-296 : 249

Elasmopus levis (Smith, 1873)

Figs 6 , 27F

Maera levis Smith, 1873: 559.

Elasmopus laevis : LeCroy 2000: 87, fig. 137.

Material examined.

Panama • 5-10 mm • 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro, Playa Bluff; 9.3905°N, 82.23725°W; depth 0 m, among algae; 5 Aug 2005; T.A. Haney leg.; GCRL 6631 • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Point ; 9.3336°N, 82.218883°W; depth 15 m, among coral rubble; 6 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave leg.; GCRL 6632 • 2 ♀, 2 ♂, 3 juvenile; Pigeon Key Reef; depth 0.5-1 m, among Halimeda ; 9 Aug 2005; T.A. Haney leg.; GCRL 6633 • 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro, STRI Point; 9.34872°N, 82.26258°W; depth 12 m, among coral rubble; 6 Aug 2021, K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703501 • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro, Drago; 9.418056°N, 82.3375°W; depth 2-3 m, among coral rubble, 9 Aug 2021; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703502 • 2 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Cayo Zapatilla 1; 9.269967°N, 82.0587°W; depth 10-11 m, among coral rubble; 28 June 2023; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703503 .

Diagnosis.

Gnathopod 1 propodus subrectangular, palm transverse. Gnathopod 2 male propodus with deep medial depression, lined with groups of long setae along ventral margin, with one small medial tooth, female propodus with two spines at palmar angle slightly longer than spines on palmar margin. Pereopod 5 basis posterior margin evenly convex. Pereopod 7 basis posterior margin without long setae, articles 4 and 5 of male expanded, articles 5 and 6 with long posterior setae. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin with small tooth, sometimes with serrated edge. Telson inner lobes longer than outer lobes, apically subacute.

Distribution.

U.S.A.: Cape Cod, Massachusetts ( Bousfield 1973) to South Florida ( LeCroy 2000); Mexico: Yucatan ( McKinney 1977); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

These amphipods are associated with seagrass, algae, and coral rubble at depths of 0-11 m. Panamanian specimens show variation in the level of acuteness of the telson apices and the posterior margin of epimeron 3. Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic specimens are described as having acute telson lobes (subacute in Panamanian specimens) and all Panamanian specimens show the posteroventral tooth on epimeron 3, whereas this species is sometimes described as having an entire epimeron 3.

Figures

Figure 6. Elasmopus levis, male, 4.2 mm, gnathopod 1 lateral, gnathopod 2 medial, epimeron 3, telson. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 27. Photographs of live specimens A Dulzura schoenerae B Ceraocus sheardi C Ceradocus shoemakeri D Elasmopus balkomanus E Elasmopus elieri (ethanol preserved specimen) F Elasmopus levis G Elasmopus longipropodus. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.