Leucothoe wuriti 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 wuriti Thomas & Klebba, 2007

Figs 21 , 24 F

Leucothoe spinicarpa : Ortiz 1975: 10, fig. 5.

Leucothoe wuriti Thomas & Klebba, 2007: 30–35, figs 19, 21, 22 C, D; LeCroy 2011: 634–635, fig. 513; White 2011: 31–32, fig. 9.

Material examined.

Panama • 3.6–7 mm • 2 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Point ; 9.3336°N, 82.2188°W; depth 15 m; among coral rubble and Halimeda ; 6 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave, M. Salazar leg.; GCRL 6700 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Bight ; 9.3045°N, 82.1316°W; depth 1.5 m; among sponges, coral rubble and sand; 7 Aug 2005; R. Collin, M. Faust, E. Gaiser, S. LeCroy, S. Richardson, M. Sorensen leg.; GCRL 6701 • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Laboratory Dock ; 9.3511°N, 82.2570°W; depth 1 m; light trap; 8 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave leg.; GCRL 6702 • 2 juveniles; Bocas del Toro, Weather Instrument Platform ; 9.3333°N, 82.2185°W; depth 1 m; commensal in lavender sponge; 8 Aug 2005; T. A. Haney leg.; GCRL 6703 • 1 ♂, 3 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Isla Solarte ; 9.2901°N, 82.1897°W; depth 1–5 m; commensal in ascidian and mangrove scraping; 8 Aug 2021; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1762975 .

Diagnosis.

Head anterior margin rounded; ventral keel anterodistal margin quadrate. Gnathopod 1 coxa with one mediofacial seta; basis anterior margin with few short setae, posterior margin bare; carpus proximal margin dentate, with several facial setae; propodus palm dentate; dactylus reaching more than 0.2 × propodus length. Gnathopod 2 basis anterior margin with several short setae, posterior margin bare; carpus distally truncate, anterior margin dentate; propodus primary mediofacial setal row displaced to midline, reaching 0.8 × propodus length, secondary mediofacial setal row with three setae, palm with distinct tubercules, one row of submarginal setae present. Coxa 4 smooth, posterior margin concave. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate, slightly produced.

Distribution.

USA: Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys ( Thomas and Klebba 2007); Belize: Pelican Cays ( Thomas and Klebba 2007); Panama: Bocas del Toro ( White 2011; present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs as commensal in ascidians and among sponges, coral rubble, Halimeda , and sand at depths of 0– 15 m. Panamanian specimens agree closely with the original description except for a shorter facial seta on gnathopod 1 coxa (see White 2011 for other variations in these specimens). Living specimens are translucent white with maroon stripes on antenna 1 and along pereonite edges.

Figures

Figure 21. Leucothoe wuriti, male, 6.7 mm, gnathopod 1 medial, coxa 4, epimeron 3, head, gnathopod 2 medial. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 24. Photographs of living specimens unless noted. A. Leucothoe kensleyi; B. Leucothoe laurensi; C. Leucothoe machidai (ethanol-preserved specimen); D. Leucothoe tunica (ethanol-preserved specimen); E. Leucothoe ubouhu; F. Leucothoe wuriti. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.