Talitrus, Latreille, 1802

Lowry, J. K. & Myers, A. A., 2019, Talitrus saltator (Montagu, 1808), a species complex (Amphipoda, Senticaudata Talitroidea, Talitridae), Zootaxa 4664 (4), pp. 451-480 : 464

Talitrus ? saltator ( Montagu, 1808)

( Figs 11 , 12 )

Material examined. Three males, 5 females (MNHN-IU- 2019-2268), traps just above high tide mark on black sand (high energy with surf zone) beach, Praia do Populo, San Miguel, the Azores, Portugal (37°45’02.47”N 25°37’23.91”W), Lucia Fanini, 15–16 August 2018; 2 unsexed, Azores, 1955, G. Chapman.

Discussion. Azores specimens are white with brown suffusions and jet black saddles. This colouration may confer a degree of camouflage against the black volcanic sand of the island. The material agrees well with the neotype of T. saltator from Ireland, but differs in proportions. The appendages of Azores specimens are more slender; gnathopod 1 of both sexes is more elongate and slender, the propodus almost 3 × as long as broad, whereas in the neotype, it is only a little more than 2 × as long as broad. Pereopod 7 propodus is also more long and slender than that of the neotype. Uropod 3 peduncle and ramus are a little longer and the terminal robust seta is only about three quarters the length of the ramus in Azores males, whereas ramus and setae are subequal in length in the neotype. Antenna 2 peduncular articles 4 and 5 are much longer in Azores material and the anterior margin of article 4 is naked but with several setae in the neotype. In the Azores material the anterior margins of antenna 1 peduncular articles 2 and 3 are also naked but with a medial seta in the neotype.

The Azores population has been isolated from other Atlantic populations for millions of years and may represent a distinct species. However, as we have not assessed the variation amongst other Atlantic populations, we hesitate to raise the Azores population to specific rank.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Talitrus?saltator Montagu, Praia do Populo, San Miguel, Azores.

FIGURE 12. Talitrus?ssaltator Montagu, Praia do Populo, San Miguel, Azores, living specimens.