Leucothoe flammosa Thomas & Klebba, 2007

Dugger, Abigail R. & White, Kristine N., 2025, Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part V: parvorder Amphilochidira, ZooKeys 1259, pp. 57-102 : 57-102

Leucothoe flammosa Thomas & Klebba, 2007

Figs 15 , 23 H

Leucothoe spinicarpa Ortiz 1975: 8.

Leucothoe flammosa Thomas & Klebba, 2007: 10–15, figs 4–6, 7 C, D; LeCroy 2011: 629, fig. 505; White 2011: 28–29, fig. 5.

Material examined.

Panama • 4.5–6.5 mm • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, STRI Point ; 9.3487°N, 82.2626°W; depth 12 m; commensal in Lima scabra ; 06 Aug 2021; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1762953 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Almirante ; 9.2900°N, 82.3429°W; depth 10–11 m; commensal in Lima scabra ; 07 Aug 2021; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1762954 • 3 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Almirante ; 9.2900°N, 82.3429°W; depth 10–11 m; from ark clams; 07 Aug 2021; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1762955 .

Diagnosis.

Head anteroventral margin round. Coxae 1–4 smooth; coxa 4 posterior margin rounded. Gnathopod 1 basis expanded, posterior margin lacking setae; carpus expanded, posterior margin with row of long setae; propodus palm smooth; dactylus reduced, nail-like. Gnathopod 2 basis with few setae; carpus narrowing distally, tridentate; propodus mediofacial setal row above midline, reaching 0.6 × length of propodus, dense row of submarginal setae present, palm with several tubercles; dactylus reaching 0.5 × length of propodus. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin subquadrate, with a single seta.

Distribution.

USA: Florida Keys ( Thomas and Klebba 2007); Belize: Pelican Cays ( Thomas and Klebba 2007); Cuba: Gulf of Batabanó and Baracoa Beach, Barlovento ( Ortiz 1975); Panama: Bocas del Toro ( White 2011; present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs in the mantle cavities of bivalve mollusks at depths of 1– 20 m. Panamanian specimens differ from the original description in being generally less setose (specifically on coxae and epimera) and lacking setae on gnathopod 1 basis posterior margin. White (2011) illustrated specimens of L. flammosa from Panama with fewer shorter setae on the gnathopod 1 basis posterior margin, suggesting that this character may vary within the species. Living specimens are translucent white with brown eyes. Ommatidia separated with white coloration. Females have yellow-green eggs.

Figures

Figure 15. Leucothoe flammosa, male, 5 mm, gnathopod 1 medial, epimeron 3, head, coxa 4, gnathopod 2 medial. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 23. Photographs of live specimens unless noted. A. Anamixis cavatura anamorph; B. Anamixis cavatura leucomorph; C. Anamixis vanga anamorph (ethanol-preserved specimen); D. Anamixis vanga leucomorph; E. Leucothoe alata (ethanol-preserved specimen); F. Leucothoe ashleyae; G. Leucothoe barana; H. Leucothoe flammosa. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.