Lepidepecreum flindersi, Lowry & Stoddart, 2002

Lowry, J. K. & Stoddart, H. E., 2002, The Lysianassoid Amphipod Genera Lepidepecreoides and Lepidepecreum in Southern Waters (Crustacea: Lysianassidae: Tryphosinae), Records of the Australian Museum 54 (3), pp. 335-364 : 351-354

Lepidepecreum flindersi n.sp.

Figs. 17–19

Type material. HOLOTYPE, female, ovigerous (4 eggs), 4.0 mm, NMV J47720 ; 1 PARATYPE, male, 4.8 mm, NMV J47721 ; 5 PARATYPES, NMV J47722 ; 5 PARATYPES, AM P57737 ; 85 km NE of North Point, Flinders Island , eastern Bass Strait, Australia, 39°02.4'S 148°30.6'E, 120 m, muddy sand, dredge, R. Wilson, 15 November 1981, RV Tangaroa , cruise 81- T-1 , stn BSS 169. —2 PARATYPES, NMV J 47723 , 100 km NE of North Point , Flinders Island, eastern Bass Strait, Australia, 38°51.8'S 148°26.5'E, 130 m, fine sand, epibenthic sled, R. Wilson, 15 November 1981, RV Tangaroa , cruise 81- T-1 , stn BSS 170. —2 PARATYPES, NMV J47724 , S of Point Hicks , Victoria, Australia, 38°17.70'S 149°11.30'E, 400 m, coarse sand, gravel, mud, many sponges, WHOI epibenthic sled, M.F. Gomon et al., 24 July 1986, RV Franklin, stn SLOPE 40 .

Type locality. 85 km NE of North Point, Flinders Island , eastern Bass Strait, Australia, 39°02.4'S 148°30.6'E, 120 m depth .

Description. Based on holotype female, 4.0 mm. Body expanded to form a lateral bulge. Head with lateral cephalic lobe semidome, apically rounded. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 without anterodistal lobe, peduncular article 2 with well-developed anterodistally rounded lobe; accessory flagellum 2-articulate; flagellum with weak 1-field callynophore; robust setae absent from proximal articles; calceoli absent. Antenna 2 peduncular article 3 elongate; flagellum short; calceoli absent. Epistome/upper lip with epistome produced beyond upper lip, broadly rounded; upper lip not produced. Mandible molar columnar with oval, fully triturating surface; mandibular palp attached proximally, article 3 without A3-setae. Maxilla 1 outer plate with setal-tooth 7 present, left and right asymmetrical, cuspidate distally; palp distal margin with apical robust setae. Maxilliped outer plate with 1 short, slender apical robust seta.

Gnathopod 1 subchelate; coxa large, about as long as coxa 2, subrectangular with straight anterior margin; basis sparsely setose along anterior margin; ischium short; carpus long, subequal in length to propodus, without posterior lobe; propodus with margins subparallel, palm acute, entire, straight. Gnathopod 2 palm obtuse. Pereopod 4 coxa without distinct lateral ridge, with a well-developed posteroventral lobe. Pereonite 5 dorsally smooth. Pereopod 5 coxa without distinct lateral ridge, without umbo, basis about as long as broad. Pereopod 7 basis posterodistally produced beyond merus.

Pleonite 1 without mid-dorsal carina, not produced dorsodistally. Pleonite 2 without mid-dorsal carina, not produced dorsodistally. Pleonite 3 with mid-dorsal carina, produced dorsodistally, apically acute, posterodorsal margin produced. Epimeron 3 posterior margin smooth, posteroventral corner subquadrate. Urosomite 1 without notch, with subtriangular, acutely produced boss. Uropod 3 inner and outer rami well developed; outer ramus article 2 short; without plumose setae on rami. Telson moderately cleft , without dorsal robust setae, with 1 apical robust seta on each lobe.

Male (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype male, 4.8 mm. Antenna 1 flagellum with strong 2-field callynophore; calceoli present. Antenna 2 flagellum elongate, calceoli present. Urosomite 1 with notch, with subtriangular, acutely produced boss. Uropod 3 with plumose setae on each ramus. Telson with dorsal robust setae.

Etymology. Named for Matthew Flinders, captain of the first vessel to circumnavigate Australia.

Remarks. Lepidepecreum flindersi is one of a group of seven species in which the basis of pereopod 7 is developed beyond the merus. It is most similar to the Australian species L. baudini and L. dampieri , but differs from these species in the strongly produced dorsodistal lobe on peduncular article 2 of antenna 1 and in the dorsal shape of urosomite 1.

Distribution. Bass Strait, Australia; 120–400 m depth.

Figures

Figure 17. Lepidepecreum flindersi n.sp. Paratype male,

Figure 18. Lepidepecreum flindersi n.sp. Holotype female, 4.0 mm, NMV J47720; paratype male, 4.8 mm, NMV J47721; Bass Strait, Australia.

Figure 19. Lepidepecreum flindersi n.sp. Holotype female, 4.0 mm, NMV J47720; paratype male, 4.8 mm, NMV J47721; Bass Strait, Australia.