Leucothoe barana, Thomas, James Darwin & Klebba, Kristine N., 2007

Thomas, James Darwin & Klebba, Kristine N., 2007, New species and host associations of commensal leucothoid amphipods from coral reefs in Florida and Belize (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Zootaxa 1494, pp. 1-44 : 5-10

Leucothoe barana n.sp.

Figures 1–3 ; 7a–b

Holotype. Male “A,” 10.17 mm, YPM 38640: JDT Bel 03/12B— 16Dec03; Co Cat Kay, Pelican Cays, Belize; N 16º39.527’ x W 88º12.032’; patch reef, in the sponge Amphimedon compressa , 1–15m; J.D. Thomas and K.N. Klebba, collectors.

Paratypes. Female “B,” 8.27 mm, YPM 38641: JDT Bel 03/12B— 16Dec03; Co Cat Kay, Pelican Cays, Belize; N 16º39.527’ x W 88º12.032’; patch reef, in the sponge Amphimedon compressa , 1–15m; J.D. Thomas and K.N. Klebba, collectors.

Other material examined. YPM 38642: 24April04; North Pine Channel, Big Pine Key, Florida, U.S.A., N 24º40.000’ x W 81º21.044’; seagrass bed, in the loggerhead sponge Spheciospongia vesparium ; J.D. Thomas and K.N. Klebba, collectors; JDT Bel 03/9D— 12Dec03; Carrie Bow Caye, Belize; N 16º48.136’ x W 88º04.723’; patch reef, in the sponge Amphimedon compressa ; J.D. Thomas and K.N. Klebba, collectors.

Diagnosis. Head: anterior margin with sharp projection; mid-ventral keel pronounced, anterior margin vertical, projecting anteroventrally as sharp point. Maxilliped: apical lobes of inner plate each with three stout, toothed, conate setae; anterolateral margins of outer plate with numerous serrate setae; palp article 1 apical and apicolateral margins with approximately 10 serrate setae, article 4 anteromedial margin with dense covering of short pubescent setae. Coxae 1–4: anterior and ventral margins with series of sharp cusps. Gnathopod 1: basis with slightly expanded posterior margin; anterior margin with nine medium setae. Gnathopod 2: propodus with secondary row of nine mediofacial setae. Pereopods 5–7: bases narrow, posterior margins serrate.

Description of male holotype “A”. Ratios of antennae 1 and 2, 0.33 and 0.28 X body length; relative lengths of antennae 1 and 2, 1.00:0.88, flagellae 13 and 7-segmented. Anterior margin of head with small upturned angular projection; mid-ventral keel pronounced, anterior margin vertical, projecting anteroventrally as a sharp point, ventral margin straight. Coxae 1–4, width ratios 1.00:1.45:1.15:1.55; coxae 5–6 bilobed; coxa 7 reduced, ovate.

Upper lip asymmetrically lobate, anterior margin setose. Mandibles lacking molar; palp 3-articulate, ratio of articles 1–3, 1.00:2.89:1.56; article 2 with 12–13 posterior and one apical seta; article 3 with two apical setae; incisors strongly dentate. Left mandible, lacinia mobilis large, strongly toothed; 10 raker spines. Right mandible, lacinia mobilis a small flake; 12 raker spines. Lower lip, inner lobes fused; outer lobes with moderate gape, anterior margins continually setose. Maxilla 1, palp 2-articulate with four apical setae; outer plate with 12 spines. Maxilla 2, inner plate with 11 stout medial marginal and 17 long facial setae; outer plate with nine stout apical and eight lateral marginal setae. Maxilliped, inner and outer plates reduced; inner plate fused, apical lobes each with three stout, toothed, conate setae; outer plate, anterolateral margins with numerous serrate setae; palp 3-articulate; palp article 1 apical and apicolateral margins with approximately 10 serrate setae, article 4 anteromedial margin with dense covering of short pubescent setae.

Gnathopod 1, anteroventral margin produced, serrate, ventral margin straight, posteroventral margin rounded with three serrations; basis linear, anterior margin with nine medium setae, posterior margin slightly inflated, setae lacking; carpal lobe thin, geniculate, LW 5, anterior margin deeply grooved with numerous short plumose setae, each margin bordered by four rows of denticles, lateral margin with three short setae; propodus, posterior margin finely serrate, lateral margin with 14 short submarginal and five-six long thick setae set in basal incision; dactyl long, with linear striations, reaching 0.47 of propodus. Gnathopod 2, coxa subquadrate, LW 1.11, anterior, ventral, and posterior margins straight, smooth, posteroventral corner with six serrations; basis linear, anterior margin with mix of 17 short to medium length setae, posterior margin bare; carpal lobe distally rounded, weakly dentate, reaching 0.53 of propodus, medial margin setose; propodus, palm convex with five blunt projections near insertion of dactyl, medial posterior margin with nine short submarginal setae, primary mediofacial setal row reaching 0.77 of propodus, secondary mediofacial row with eight linear and three oblique setae; dactyl strong, recurved, reaching 0.67 of propodus.

Pereopod 3, coxa narrow, LW 1.25, anterior margin straight, anteroventral margin with five serrations, ventrally rounded, posteroventral margin with seven serrations. Pereopod 4, coxa anterior margin slightly produced with two serrations, ventral margin slightly convex with four midventral serrations, posterior margin straight, smooth. Pereopods 5–7, coxae 5–6 bilobed; coxa 7 small, ventrally convex; pereopods 5–7 bases narrow, LW 1.47:1.45:1.44, posterior margins serrate.

Epimera 1–3, ventral setae 0:4:0, respectively; epimera 3, posteroventral margin broadly rounded. Uropods 1–3, relative lengths 1.00:0.77:1.01; relative lengths of peduncles 1–3, 1.00:0.79:1.24. Uropod 1, peduncle 0.92 X rami length, with zero medial and two lateral marginal setae; outer ramus 0.84 X inner ramus; inner ramus with seven medial and zero lateral marginal setae; outer ramus with five medial and four lateral marginal setae. Uropod 2 shortened, peduncle 0.92 X rami length, with two apical spines; outer ramus 0.83 X inner ramus; inner ramus with four medial and three lateral marginal setae; outer ramus with zero medial and six lateral marginal setae. Uropod 3, peduncle 1.40 X rami length, with six medial and four lateral marginal setae; outer ramus subequal to inner ramus; inner ramus with three medial and four lateral marginal setae; outer ramus with zero medial and four lateral marginal setae. Telson, LW 2.21, apical margin tridentate with two apical setae.

Description of female paratype “B”. Similar to male in all aspects except gnathopod 2, margin of palm with only slight projections.

Etymology. Gari’funa term for “sea.”

Relationship. Leucothoe barana most closely resembles Leucothoe kensleyi in the angular projection on the head and the narrow bases of pereopods 5–7, but is further distinguished by the large projecting mid-ventral keel, and serrate margins of coxae 1–4. Leucothoe barana resembles Leucothoe ashleyi , L. kensleyi , and Leucothoe ubouhu n.sp. in having a secondary row of mediofacial setae on male gnathopod 2. However, L. barana exhibits a higher setal count (eight setae) in the secondary mediofacial row, while the other species generally have four or less setae.

Ecology. In Belize, Leucothoe barana inhabits the interior canals of the sponges Amphimedon compressa , Calyx podatypa , Iotrochota birotulata , Leucetta imberbis , Niphates erecta , Svenzea zeai , and Tedania ignis . In the Florida Keys, it was collected from the Loggerhead sponge, Spheciospongia vesparium .

Distribution. Western Atlantic, Belize to the Florida Keys, 1–15 meters.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Leucothoe barana n. sp., male holotype “ A, ” 10.17 mm.

FIGURE 2. Leucothoe barana n. sp. male holotype “ A, ” 10.17 mm; female paratype “ B, ” 8.27 mm.

FIGURE 3. Leucothoe barana n. sp. male holotype “ A, ” 10.17 mm.