Protella similis Mayer, 1903

Guerra-García, José M. & Lowry, J. K., 2009, Caprellidae *, Zootaxa 2260 (1), pp. 290-327 : 307-309

Protella similis Mayer, 1903

( Fig. 9 )

Protella similis Mayer, 1903: 34 , pl. 1: figs 19–22, pl. 6: figs 41, 42. — Laubitz, 1991: 119, fig. 16. — Guerra-García, 2002a: 227, figs 13–16. — Guerra-García, 2004a: 52, 54, fig. 42. —Guerra-García, 2006: 448, fig. 53.

Material examined. More than 20 specimens, AM P61707 ( QLD 1525 ). See station list for occurrences ( Lowry & Myers 2009) and Guerra-García (2006) for complete material examined .

Type locality. Indonesia (7º25’S 113º16’E, 7ºS 120º34.5’E, 2º25’S 117º43’E, 0º3.8’S 1303º24.3’E, 1º42.5’S 130º47.5’E) .

Description. Based on male, 8.4 mm, AM P61707.

Head and pereonites slender. Head/pereonite 1 fused (suture present), dorsal margin convex; eye large, distinctive. Antenna 1 well developed; slender, as long or longer than body; peduncle articles 2 and 3 subequal in length, article 3 straight; accessory flagellum absent; flagellum 0.66 x peduncular length or 0.75 x peduncular length, with more than 2 articles. Antenna 2 0.4 x antenna 1 length, slender; peduncle with several feeble setae; flagellum about 1/5 (0.2 x) of peduncular length or about 1/4 (0.25 x) of peduncular length, with 2 articles. Labrum notched, forming rounded quadrilateral projections. Mandible right incisor with 5 teeth, right lacinia mobilis with 2 large teeth; molar well developed; left incisor with 5 teeth, lacinia mobilis with 4 teeth; palp 3–articulate. Maxilla 1 outer plate with 5 stout apical setal-teeth. Maxilliped inner plate smaller than outer plate; subrectangular; 2 x length of inner plate or 2.5 x length of inner plate; palp article 2 setose on inner margin; palp article 4 slightly enlarged, falcate.

Pereon. Pereonites 2 to 7 not fused; pereonite 5 longest (subequal to pereonite 3). Pereonite 1 without projections. Gnathopod 1 distinctly smaller than gnathopod 2; propodus triangular, palm begins 1/4 along posterior margin, smooth, without large, rounded knob proximally; dactylus slightly curved, inner margin serrate. Pereonite 2 without projections. Gnathopod 2 situated toward anterior end or situated near middle of pereonite 2; basis about 0.75 x length of pereonite 2, with anterodistal projection; ischium without anterodistal projection; propodus subovate, anterodistal margin slightly convex, without anterodistal triangular projection, without projections along mid-anterior margin; palm without proximal cavity filled with membranous sack, palm proximal projection with 1 robust (grasping) seta, palm margin straight or irregular, smooth, without hook-like projection at base of dactylus, with narrow well developed distal shelf (poorly developed), with 1 large projection, with 2 shallow sinuses, without midpalmar projection. Pereonite 3 without projections. Pereopod 3 reduced, with 1 article. Pereonite 4 without projections. Pereopod 4 reduced, with 1 article. Pereopod 5 well developed, with 6 articles, slender. Pereopods 6 and 7 prehensile.

Gills on pereonites 3 and 4. Pereonite 3 gill length about 1/2 of corresponding pereonite, straight, ovate. Pereonite 4 gill length about 1/2 of corresponding pereonite or length about 2/3 of corresponding pereonite, straight, ovate. Pereopods 6 and 7 present.

Pleon. Uropod 1 present (in the form of a lateral lobe); peduncle fused to pleon.

Habitat. Living on the hydroids similar to Macrorhynchia philippina , and Aglaophenia delicatula , sediments and an erect brown sponge similar to Pericharax heteroraphis in 2 to 20 m depth. The species has been also found in corals ( Guerra-García, 2002a) and gorgonaceans ( Guerra-García, 2004a).

Remarks. Protella similis appear to be uncommon on the Great Barrier Reef, but it can be locally abundant living mainly on hydroids.

Distribution. Australia. Queensland: Pidgin Point, Watsons Bay; Turtle Beach; Palfrey Island; South Island, all Lizard Island (Guerra-García 2006). Indonesia Mollucca and Ceram Seas; Arafura Sea; Flores Sea; Dongala, Celebes; Banda Sea; Java Sea ( Mayer 1903; McCain & Steinberg 1970). Philippines ( Laubitz 1991). Tanzania ( Guerra-García 2002a). Thailand ( McCain & Steinberg 1970).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Protella similis Mayer, 1903. A, Male, ~4.8 mm, B, female, ~4.5 mm, AM P61707, Palfrey Island, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Refigured from Guerra-García (2006).