Seba mariolgae, Yerman & Coleman, 2009

Yerman, Michelle N. & Coleman, Charles Oliver, 2009, Sebidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 861-871 : 865-868

Seba mariolgae sp. nov.

( Figs 4 , 5 )

Type material. Holotype, female, 1.5 mm, AM P 70603, 300 m off south-east corner of Palfrey Island , Lizard Island (14°41.71’S 145°27.06’E), coral rubble, rubble patches between coral bommies, airlift, 3.7 m, R. T. Springthorpe, J.K. Lowry, O. Coleman, 23 February 2005 (QLD 1621).

Type locality. 300 m off south-east corner of Palfrey Island , Lizard Island (14°41.71’S 145°27.06’E) .

Etymology. Named after my parents (MNY), Mario and Olga Yerman in recognition of their constant support.

Description. Based on the female holotype, 1.5 mm, AM P70603.

Head. Head eyes present. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 subequal in length to article 2; article 2 length 3.0 x breadth. Maxilla 1 palp 1-articulate. Maxilla 2 with two plates.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; larger than gnathopod 2; coxa with posteroventral corner rounded; propodus thumb absent, palm obtuse, smooth, straight; dactylus curved. Gnathopod 2 chelate; ischium long, 5 x breadth; carpus not lobate, carpus about 0.5 x length of propodus. Pereopod 3 coxa with posteroventral corner subquadrate to rounded. Pereopod 4 coxa with posteroventral lobe small or absent. Pereopod 5 basis evenly expanded, margins subparallel; merus expanded, extending half way along carpus. Pereopod 6 basis evenly expanded, margins subparallel. Pereopod 7 basis broadly expanded, posterior margin evenly convex; merus expanded, extending about half way along carpus.

Pleon. Epimeron 2 posteroventral corner strongly produced. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate. Urosomites 2–3 coalesced. Uropod 1 peduncle shorter than uropod 2 peduncle; outer ramus shorter than inner ramus. Uropod 2 outer ramus subequal in length to inner ramus. Uropod 3 peduncle about a third of the length of ramus. Telson longer than broad, lateral margins slightly convex.

Habitat. Patches of coral rubble between coral bommies.

Remarks. Seba mariolgae is readily distinguished from other similar species, such as S. gruneri sp. nov.,

S. tropica McKinney, 1980 , S. saundersii Stebbing,1875 , S. dubia Schellenberg, 1926 , S. chiltoni Moore,

1987 and S. antarctica Walker, 1907 by the presence of eyes and its extremely long gnathopod 2. Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Lizard Island (current study).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Seba mariolgae sp. nov., holotype, female, 1.5 mm, AM P70603, Palfrey Island, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.

FIGURE 5. Seba mariolgae sp. nov., holotype, female, 1.5 mm, AM P70603, Palfrey Island, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.