Bemlos ephippium Myers, 1988

Myers, Alan A., 2009, Aoridae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 220-278 : 239-242

Bemlos ephippium Myers, 1988

( Figs 15 , 16 , Pl. 2A)

Bemlos ephippium Myers, 1988b: 275 , figs 7–10.

Bemlos ephippium disjuncta Myers, 1988b: 278 , fig. 10. — Lowry & Stoddart, 2003: 68 (catalogue).

Material examined. 1 female AM P70975 (QLD 1684) ; 1 female, AM P70831 (QLD 1687) ; 1 male, 1 female, AM P70962 (QLD 1687) .

Type locality. Blue Lagoon , Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (~ 14°41'S 145°27'E) .

Description. Based on holotype, male, 2.8 mm, AM P37407 ( Myers, 1988b).

Head. Head lateral cephalic lobes apically truncate. Antenna 1 flagellum with about 16 articles; accessory flagellum multiarticulate. Antenna 2 with few long setae. Lower lip with fine setae and stout setae. Maxilla 1 inner plate with 1 long pectinate apical seta. Mandible, palp article 3 longer than 2, posterior margin weakly falcate, posterior margin with setae of two distinct lengths, long setae and an under-story of shorter regularly spaced setae.

Pereon. Pereonites 2–4 with sternal spines, apically acute on segments 2–3. Gnathopod 1 enlarged in males only; coxa weakly produced anterodistally, sub-acute; basis robust, half or more as broad as long, without a spine, posterodistal margin with two long setae, anterodistal margin with strong flange; ischium anterior margin without flange, posterior margin without setae; merus not greatly elongated, fused along its entire length with carpus, posterior margin without posterodistal spine; carpus one quarter length of propodus, anterior margin with few setae; anterior margin without spine; without an oblique row of long setae on inner face, posterior margin without spines; propodus anterior margin weakly setiferous, posterior margin evenly convex, palm present, delimited from posterior margin, margin forming a broad excavate sinus, palm defined by strong posterodistal spine, with robust seta defining palm, without spine near base of dactylus; dactylus more than half length of propodus, fitting palm. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; basis anterodistal margin without flange, posterodistal margin without robust setae and with few fine setae; merus not enlarged or produced away from carpus; carpus longer than propodus, anterior margin not lobate, anterior margin with short sparse setae; propodus with short dense setae, palm with robust seta defining palm. Pereopod 3 without brush of long setae on merus. Pereopod 6 basis not produced posterodistally. Pereopod 7 significantly less than 125% length of pereopod 6.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posterodistal margin produced into a small spine. Uropod 1 rami subequal, peduncle much longer than broad, distoventral spine shorter than peduncle. Uropod 2 biramous; peduncle with distoventral spine subequal in length with peduncle. Uropod 3 biramous, rami subequal, inner ramus subequal with length of peduncle. Telson with distal fine setae only.

Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype female, 3.0 mm, AM P37408 ( Myers, 1988b). Sternal spines absent. Gnathopod 1 carpus less than two thirds length of propodus; palm with distal shallow excavation, defined by robust seta; dactylus overlapping palm .

Habitat. Rubble, algal turf, Ecklonia radiata holdfasts, Sargassum sp. , Jania .

Remarks. The dorsal pigmentation of this species is unique in the genus.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island ( Myers 1988b and current study); New South Wales: Broom Heads, Byron Bay, Woolgoolga ( Myers 1988b); Western Australia: Ned’s Camp, Cape Range National Park ( Myers 1988b).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Bemlos ephippium Myers, 1988b, male, 2.8 mm, AM P37407, Blue Lagoon, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 16. Bemlos ephippium Myers, 1988b, male, 2.8 mm, AM P37407, Blue Lagoon, Lizard Island, female, 3.0 mm, AM P37408, between Bird Island and South Island, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.