Leucothoe tumida, Myers, A. A., 2013

Myers, A. A., 2013, Amphipoda (Crustacea) from Palau, Micronesia: Families Dexaminidae, Eusiridae, Hyalidae, Ischyroceridae, Leucothoidae and Lysianassidae, Zootaxa 3731 (3), pp. 301-323 : 316

Leucothoe tumida sp. nov.

( Figs 12 , 13)

Type material. Holotype male, 4.5 mm. (OUMNH.ZC.2002.24.107) Iro Wreck, N of Ngeruktabel Island, from Pteria penguin Röding (Mollusca: Pteriidae ), - 25m depth; 07°17.666'N, 134°25.222'E; leg. S. De Grave & C. Burras, 1 June 2002. Paratype (OUMNH.ZC.2002.24.108) 2 males, same data as holotype.

Etymology. From the latin tumidus = swollen, describing the greatly inflated propodus of the male gnathopod 1.

Description. (based on male holotype, 4.5 mm).

Head. Eye lobes triangular; eye very large. Antenna 1 short, one quarter body length, peduncular article 2 shorter than 1, peduncular article 3 over one third length of article 2; flagellum one and a half times length of article 3 with six articles. Antenna 2 subequal in length with antenna 1, peduncular article 4 longer than 5; flagellum shorter than peduncular article 5 with 6 articles. Mandible palp article 3 longer than article 1 and about half length of article 2, with two unequal apical setae. Maxilla 1 palp two articulate. Maxilliped outer plate posterior margin smooth, palp articles 1 and 2 broader than long.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa anterior margin concave; basis slender, asetiferous; carpus short, expanded, posterodistal spine stout, curved, setose on posterior margin; propodus grossly swollen distally, subovoid; dactylus slender about one third length of propodus. Gnathopod 2 coxa subquadrangular, basis parallel-sided, anterior margin weakly crenulate and with numerous long setae; carpus setose, distally narrow; propodus elongate, more than twice as long as broad, inner face with dense submarginal setae, palm multiple lobed with one large, flatbottomed excavation; dactylus stout, fitting palm. Pereopod 3 coxa longer than broad, anterior and posterior margins substraight. Pereopod 4 coxa posteroproximal margin weakly excavate. Pereopods 5-7 bases very broad, almost as broad as long.

Pleon. Epimera rounded. Epimeron 1 posterodistal margin rounded. Epimeron 2 posterodistal margin rounded. Epimeron 3 posterodistal margin weakly truncate, ventral margin with robust setae. Uropod 1 rami subequal, a little longer than peduncle. Uropod 2 inner ramus longer than outer. Uropod 3 rami short, half length of peduncle. Telson minutely tridentate.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. This species, with its inflated gnathopod 1 propodus is like no other described species. With its relatively equal width coxae 1–4 this species resembles species of Paraleucothoe . However that genus is characterised by a one-articulate maxilla 1 palp and L. tumida sp.nov. has a two-articulate palp on maxilla 1.

Habitat. From Pteria penguin (Mollusca) .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Leucothoe tumida sp. nov., holotype male, Palau.