Amaryllis quokka, Lowry & Stoddart, 2002

Lowry, J. K. & Stoddart, H. E., 2002, The Amaryllididae of Australia (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Lysianassoidea), Records of the Australian Museum 54, pp. 129-214 : 169-172

Amaryllis quokka n.sp.

Figs. 35–37

Type material. HOLOTYPE, female, 13.4 mm, ovigerous, AM P 37373; 1 PARATYPE, male, 8.0 mm, AM P 37374; Cathedral Rock, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, eastern Indian Ocean , 32°01.5'S 115°27'E, 3 m, orange tunicates under limestone rock overhangs , J. K. Lowry , 21 December 1983, stn WA-247 .

Additional material. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 10 specimens, AM P 57867, Blanche Harbour, Spencer Gulf, [approx. 32°42'S 137°46'E], 9 m, K. Sheard , 8 March 1938 , FL Whyalla. 7 specimens, AM P 57868, behind Lowly Point, Spencer Gulf, [approx. 33°S 137°46'E], 18 m, K. Sheard , 7 March 1938 , FL Whyalla. 1 specimen, SAMA C5985 , Dangerous Reef, Spencer Gulf, [approx. 34°49'S 136°12'E], dredged, K. Sheard . 1 specimen, AM P 57869, Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, 35°42'S 137°37'E, dredged, F. Moorhouse , May 1938 . 1 specimen, SAMA C5986 , Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, [approx. 35°42'S 137°37'E], dredged, F. Moorhouse , 7–9 May 1938 . 3 specimens, AM P 57870, Gulf St Vincent, Fulton , 1902 . WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 2 specimens, NMV J 13980 , N side of Cape Riche, 34°37'S 118°47'E, 6 m, sponges on vertical rock face, G. C. B. Poore & H. M. Lew Ton , 14 April 1985 , stn SWA-47. 1 specimen, NMV J 13981 , N end of Little Beach, Two Peoples Bay, 34°58.4'S 118°11.7'E, 6 m, tufted algae on boulders, G. C. B. Poore & H. M. Lew Ton , 5 April 1985 , stn SWA-11. 1 specimen, AM P 37375, Vancouver Peninsula, near Mistaken Island, King George Sound , 35°04'S 117°56'E, 2 m, sponges, J. K. Lowry , 13 December 1983 , stn WA-103. 10 specimens, AM P 37376, off Possession Point, King George Sound, 35°02'S 117°55'E, 7 m, brown algae, bryozoans and sponge, R. Springthorpe & J. K. Lowry , 14 December 1983 , stn WA-133. 9 specimens, AM P 37377, same locality, 7 m, mixed sponges and algae, J. K. Lowry , 14 December 1983 , stn WA-135.

Type locality. Cathedral Rock , Rottnest Island, Western

Australia, eastern Indian Ocean , 32°01.5'S 115°27'E, 3 m depth .

Description. Based on holotype female, 13.4 mm, AM P37373. Head much deeper than long, anterior margin with notch extended into a slit; rostrum absent; eye present, elongate, reniform. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 not ballshaped proximally, distal margin with small medial spine; peduncular article 2 medium length; flagellum with callynophore (vestigial), calceoli absent. Antenna 2 flagellum about as long as that of antenna 1, without calceoli. Mouthpart bundle subconical. Epistome/upper lip with broad mid-anterior bulge (lateral view). Mandible lacinia mobilis a stemmed, cup-like blade; accessory setal row with intermediate setae; palp article 2 with 3 posterodistal setae, article 3 without A3-seta. Maxilliped outer plate with distal margin smooth, medial margin without notch.

Gnathopod 1 carpus subequal in length to propodus; propodus, posterior margin without robust setae. Gnathopod 2 palm transverse, without lateral robust setae, with 1 medial robust seta. Pereopods 3 and 4 merus and carpus without setal fringe. Pereopod 4 coxa with anterior and posterior margins subparallel, anteroventral corner rounded. Pereopods 5–7 with distal articles elongate, dactyls short and stocky. Pereopod 5 basis expanded posteriorly, rounded. Pereopod 7 basis rounded posteriorly, posteroventral corner rounded, posteroventral margin curved.

Epimeron 3 posterior margin smooth, with notch well above rounded posteroventral corner. Uropod 1 peduncle dorsolateral margin with 9 robust setae; outer ramus without large spines between robust setae. Uropod 2 inner ramus slightly constricted. Uropod 3 rami lanceolate; without plumose setae; outer ramus 1-articulate. Telson moderately cleft (about 46%).

Male (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype male, 8.0 mm, AM P37374. Antenna 1 flagellum with callynophore. Mandible palp article 2 with 11 posterodistal setae.

Etymology. The species name quokka is a reference to the small marsupials that inhabit Rottnest Island.

Remarks. Amaryllis quokka belongs to the group of species with a smooth posterior margin on epimeron 3 and a rounded posteroventral corner on the basis of pereopod 7 ( A. brevicornis , A. kamata , A. moona , A. olinda ). Within this group it differs from all other species in the transverse palm of gnathopod 2.

Habitat. Amaryllis quokka has been collected on sedentary invertebrates, most often sponges.

Distribution. Southern and southwestern Australia, from the South Australian Gulfs to Rottnest Island; 3–18 m depth.