Ampithoe ulladulla, Peart, 2007

Peart, Rachael A., 2007, A review of the Australian species of Ampithoe Leach, 1814 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) with descriptions of seventeen new species, Zootaxa 1566 (1), pp. 1-95 : 87-92

Ampithoe ulladulla sp. nov.

( Figs 70–73 )

Type material. Holotype: AM P61898, male, 8 mm, S end of lighthouse, Ulladulla, NSW, 35°22.14’S 150°29.31’E, 30 Apr 1997, 17 m, on brown algae, A. Murray . Paratypes: AM P61899, 1 female, 8 mm, type locality ; AM P61900, 12 specimens, type locality .

Other material examined. AM P61901, 6 specimens, Merimbula Wharf, Merimbula, NSW, 36°53.92’S 149°55.64’E, 18 May 1995, 8 m, on red and brown algae, K. B. Attwood ; AM P61902, 6 specimens, SE of wharf, Merimbula Point, Merimbula, NSW, 36°54.06’S 149°55.79’E, 15 May 1995, 13– 14 m, on branching brown algae, P. B. Berents & K. B. Attwood .

Diagnosis. Antenna 2 robust, better developed than antenna 1, with short, dense setae on ventral margin. Lower lip with lateral lobe longer than medial lobe. Maxilla 1 inner plate with two slender setae. Gnathopod 1 carpal lobe subacute; carpus shorter than propodus; palm entire, with midmedial tooth, with posterodistal tooth defining palm; dactylus subequal in length to palm. Gnathopod 2 with long setae on margins, not plumose; basis posterodistal lobe large and rounded, with more than 3 slender setae; carpus shorter than propodus; palm transverse, entire, without midmedial tooth, with small subacute posterodistal tooth defining palm, with 1 defining robust seta; dactylus subequal in length to palm. Pereopod 3 basis expanded; merus narrow. Pereopods 5–7 simple. Pereopod 5 merus subrectangular. Uropod 3 peduncle with 10 distal robust setae, outer ramus subequal to inner ramus, with patch of small conical lateral denticles, without lateral setal fringe; inner ramus with 5 distal robust setae. Telson distally subacute, apical cusps small.

Description. Based on holotype, male, 8 mm, AM P61898. Head as long as deep. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2 (1.38 x), article 2 longer than article 3 (3.2 x), article 3 shorter than article 1 (0.23 x); primary flagellum with 37 articles. Antenna 2 peduncular article 4 longer than article 5; flagellum 23 articulate. Mandible molar with 5 or 6 robust setae in the accessory setal row; palp stout, long, setose along posterior margin, article 1 shorter than article 2 (0.52 x), article 2 subequal to article 3 (1.09 x), article 3 longer than article 1 (1.77 x). Lower lip mandibular lobe with curved margins, rounded apically. Maxilla 1 palp with apical robust setae. Maxilla 2 inner plate narrow, outer plate broader. Maxilliped outer plate with developed setation (robust setae large).

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 without densely setose margins; coxa larger than gnathopod 2 coxa, produced distoventrally, distoventral margin rounded, anterior margin concave, ventral margin with a row of small setules along ventral margin; basis shorter than coxa, with sparse (sometimes plumose) slender setae, posterodistal lobe small and rounded, 2 or 3 slender setae; merus produced to form a small, subacute distoventral lobe, anterior margin without setae; carpus longer than merus, subtriangular, anterior margin with slender setae only; propodus narrow (length 1.67 x width), ovoid; palm with 1 defining robust seta; dactylus inner margin denticulate. Gnathopod 2 coxa ventral margin with a row of small setules along ventral margin; basis shorter than coxa, with fringe of long, slender, plumose setae; merus produced to form a short, subacute distoventral lobe, anterior margin with setae absent; carpus longer than merus, subtriangular, anterior margin with slender setae only; propodus broad (length 1.02 x width), subtriangular, not produced into an anterodistally setose lobe; dactylus tapering evenly, acute, inner margin denticulate. Pereopod 5 basis with marginal robust setae, with medial slender setae; distal articles slender; propodus not expanded distally, subrectangular, with 3 distal simple striated robust setae; dactylus strongly curved. Pereopod 6 basis posterior margin rounded, with marginal robust setae, with medial slender setae; merus subrectangular; propodus not expanded distally, with 3 distal simple striated robust setae; dactylus strongly curved. Pereopod 7 basis without marginal robust setae, with medial slender setae; propodus defined distally by 3–5 simple robust setae.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate. Uropod 1 peduncle with more than 5 robust setae, with a short setal fringe; inner ramus slightly longer than outer ramus, with 3–5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent; outer ramus with more than 5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent. Uropod 2 peduncle with 3–5 robust setae, setal fringe absent; inner ramus slightly longer than outer ramus, with more than 5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent; outer ramus with 3–5 marginal robust setae, slender setae absent. Uropod 3 peduncle longer than broad (1.27 x width), long with respect to the rami length (2 x), marginal robust setae absent, marginal slender setae absent, with more than 5 distal slender setae; inner ramus with 3–5 distal slender setae. Telson with apical and lateral slender setae.

Female. (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype, female, 8 mm, AM P61899. Antenna 1 primary flagellum 33-articulate. Antenna 2 robust and better developed than antenna 1, with sparse setae on ventral margin; flagellum incomplete with 17–20 articles. Gnathopod 1 subequal in size to gnathopod 2; basis posterodistal lobe with more than 3 slender setae; palm without midmedial tooth, with posterodistal tooth defining the palm. Gnathopod 2 without densely setose margins; merus produced to form a small, rounded distoventral lobe; propodus ovoid; palm acute .

Etymology. The name for this species is derived from the type locality, Ulladulla; used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Ampithoe ulladulla sp. nov. is most similar to A. ningaloo sp. nov.; distinguishing features are outlined under the account of the latter.

Habitat. Brown algae at depths of 8–17 m.

Distribution. Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 70. Ampithoe ulladulla sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61898, 8 mm. Paratype, female, AM P61899, 8 mm. Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia.

FIGURE 71. Ampithoe ulladulla sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61898, 8 mm. Paratype, female, AM P61899, 8 mm. Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia. Scales represent 0.5 mm for antennae 1–2 and 0.2 mm for mouthparts.

FIGURE 72. Ampithoe ulladulla sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61898, 8 mm. Paratype, female, AM P61899, 8 mm. Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia. Scales represent 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 73. Ampithoe ulladulla sp. nov., holotype, male, AM P61898, 8 mm. Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia. Scales represent 0.5 mm for pereopods 3–7 and 0.2 mm for uropods 1–3 and telson. Pereopod 4 identical to pereopod 3.