Latigammaropsis atlantica (Stebbing, 1888)

Azman, B. A. R. & Othman, B. H. R., 2013, Shallow water marine gammaridean amphipods of Pulau Tioman, Malaysia, with the description of a new species, ZooKeys 335, pp. 1-31 : 13-14

Latigammaropsis atlantica (Stebbing, 1888) Figure 11

Gammaropsis atlantica Synonymy: Stebbing, 1888: 1101, pl. 114; Ruffo 1969: 43, fig. 13; J.L. Barnard 1970: 174, figs 111-113; Ledoyer 1972: 239, pl. 51-53; Griffiths 1973a: 228; Ledoyer 1979b: 33, figs 13-15; Bussarawich et al. 1984: 4; Myers 1985b: 80, fig. 60; Myers 1995: 52-52, fig. 20; Ortiz and Lalana 1997: 107.

Gammaropsis zeylanicus Walker, 1904: 282, pl. 6 fig. 41; Walker 1909: 339.

Gammaropsis gardineri Walker, 1905: 929, pl. 88 figs 11-14, 16-17.

Gammaropsis atlanticus Stebbing, 1906: 611; Stebbing 1908: 86, pl. 40b; Stebbing 1910: 614, 648; Chilton 1921: 81; Tattersall 1922: 10, pl. 1 figs 17-20; Schellenberg 1926: 375; Hale 1927: 315; Chevreux 1927: 110; Hale 1929: 223, fig. 220. Chevreux 1935: 126; K.H. Barnard 1937: 164; Pirlot 1938: 346; Reid 1951: 258; Pillai 1957: 56, fig. 14; Ruffo 1959: 19; Nayar 1967: 157-158, fig. 13.

Material.

5 specimens, TIO 12, Kampung Tekek, Pulau Tioman, 2 2°49'11"N, 104°9'32"E, macroalgae, Azman, B.A.R., Josim, J.J., 11 November 1997.

Remarks.

Recently Myers (2009) established the genus Latigammaropsis to address J.L. Barnard’s (1970) trepidation on the confusion surrounding the tropical members of the afra-atlantica complex, in relation to Latigammaropsis atlantica (Stebbing, 1888) and Latigammaropsis afra (Stebbing, 1888). The newly proposed Latigammaropsis is characterised by the strongly recessed anterodistal margin of the head; lateral cephalic lobes rounded; labrum lacking acute epistome; mandible palp article 3 spatulate; coxae 1-2 without serrations on distal margin; pleon segments lacking spines; uropod 3 peduncle short and broad, rami short and stout; outer ramus blunt-ended with a small second article bearing two fine setae and inner ramus subequal with or shorter than outer ramus, narrowing distally. Which include 16 species namely Latigammaropsis abbotti (J.L. Barnard, 1965), Latigammaropsis afra , Latigammaropsis athenae Myers, 2009, Latigammaropsis atlantica , Latigammaropsis christenseni (Myers, 1995), Latigammaropsis dionysus Myers, 2009, Latigammaropsis gemina (Myers, 1995), Latigammaropsis grandimana (Ledoyer, 1978), Latigammaropsis hermes Myers, 2009, Latigammaropsis hestia Myers, 2009, Latigammaropsis kaumaka (J.L. Barnard, 1970), Latigammaropsis pacifica (Schellenberg, 1938), Latigammaropsis pali (J.L. Barnard, 1970), Latigammaropsis photisimilis (Ruffo, 1969), Latigammaropsis planodentata (Myers, 1995) and Latigammaropsis togoensis (Schellenberg, 1925).

The Pulau Tioman specimens undoubtedly represent the tropical members (afra-atlantica group) by having an article 2 on the outer ramus of uropod 3 and the inner plate of maxilla 1 has at least 3, often 5+ setae lining the medial margin ( Barnard 1970). The presence of the lageniform eye links the specimens at hand with, Latigammaropsis afra , Latigammaropsis athenae Myers, 2009, Latigammaropsis atlantica , Latigammaropsis photisimilis (Ruffo, 1969) and Latigammaropsis hestia Myers, 2009.

Although the Pulau Tioman specimens are more closely related to Latigammaropsis gemina , with the accessory flagellum with 4 articles, inner plate of maxilla 1 with 5+ setae lining the medial margin and occurence of nobs on the urosomal margin. Latigammaropsis gemina still does not agree with the specimens at hand in having oval eyes and the telson lacking medial setae.

Nevertheless the specimens at hand are apparently very close to Latigammaropsis atlantica in having 1) ocular lobes strongly produced with lageniform eye in hyperadults; 2) antenna 2 shorter than antenna 1; 3) male gnathopod 2 with propodus a little longer than carpus; 4) uropod 1 with strong interramal process, two-thirds length of peduncle; 5) uropod 3, peduncle and outer ramus subequal in length with outer ramus stouter than inner with a small second article and 6) telsonic crests with spines and setae. In addition, the Pulau Tioman specimen appears to be referable to the other known Latigammaropsis atlantica that have been recorded from Japan, Bunaken Island, Indonesia, Madras and South Africa.