Ampithoe, Leach, 1814

Peart, R. A. & Hughes, L. E., 2013, Ampithoid amphipods from the South Pacific: Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia and New Caledonia, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 48 (13 - 14), pp. 739-861 : 756-766

Ampithoe cf ramondi Audouin, 1826

( Figures 13–20 )

Type locality

Egypt.

Material examined

Austral Isles: Male, 5 mm, dissected, three slides, AM P.82705, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 1–3 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. and mixed red algae off front of inner reef, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-45); female, 5 mm, dissected, one slide, AM P.82706, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 1–3 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. and mixed red algae off front of inner reef, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-45); one male specimen AM P.82707, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 1–3 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. and mixed red algae off front of inner reef, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP- 45); several specimens, AM P.82708, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 1–3 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. and mixed red algae off front of inner reef, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-45); many specimens, AM P.47068, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 1–3 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. and mixed red algae off front of inner reef, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-45); 10 specimens, AM P.47063, lagoon in front of Puatai Rock, Avera, Rurutu (22 ◦ 28 ′ 30 ′′ S, 151 ◦ 21 ′ 23 ′′ W), 1 m, rubble and some algae from in front of reef platform, 10 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-17); many specimens, AM P.47065, reef platform in front of Mataura, Tubuai (23 ◦ 20 ′ 45 ′′ S, 149 ◦ 29 ′ 15 ′′ W), 0.5 m, brown alga near beach, growing on sides of old coral outcrops, 12 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-32); many specimens, AM P.47066, reef platform in front of Mataura, Tubuai (23 ◦ 20 ′ 45 ′′ S, 149 ◦ 29 ′ 15 ′′ W), 0.5–2 m, calcareous and bottle brush red algae on coral outcrops, 12 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-33); many specimens, AM P.47067, reef platform in front of Mataura, Tubuai (23 ◦ 20 ′ 45 ′′ S, 149 ◦ 29 ′ 15 ′′ W), 1.5 m, calcareous and bottle brush red algae on coral outcrops, 12 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-34); AM P.47069, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 1–1.5 m, thick short-branching brown alga, dense cover, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-46); 18 specimens, AM P.47070, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 0.5–1 m, rubble and sand, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-47); 24 specimens, AM P.47071, near edge of inner lagoon at Rairua, Raivavae (23 ◦ 51 ′ 56 ′′ S, 147 ◦ 41 ′ 12 ′′ W), 0.5–1 m, coarse rubble and sand, 14 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry (FRP-48); 17 specimens, AM P.47074, Point Maomao, Ha’urei Bay, Rapa (27 ◦ 36 ′ 51 ′′ S, 144 ◦ 19 ′ 03 ′′ W); one specimen AM P.47075, Pointe Venus, Baie de Matavai, Tahiti (17 ◦ 29 ′ 36 ′′ S, 149 ◦ 29 ′ 57 ′′ W), 9 m, coral rubble, 26 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry and M. Arakino (FRP-71); one specimen AM P.47076, Pointe Venus, Baie de Matavai, Tahiti (17 ◦ 29 ′ 36 ′′ S, 149 ◦ 29 ′ 57 ′′ W), 9 m, coral rubble, yellow sponge, 26 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry and M. Arakino (FRP-73); four specimens, AM P.47077, Baie de Matavai, Tahiti (17 ◦ 30 ′ 06 ′′ S, 149 ◦ 29 ′ 51 ′′ W), 3 m, fine black sand bottom, 28 August 1991, coll. J.K. Lowry and H. Treuil (FRP-79).

New Caledonia: Male, 7 mm, dissected, three slides, AM P.84439, Grand Recif Mbere, New Caledonia (22 ◦ 20.19 ′ S, 166 ◦ 14.24 ′ E), 2 m, backside of the outer reef, top of the coral reef, brown alga cf Sargassum sp. , 24 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-194); female, 5 mm, dissected, one slide, AM P.84440, Grand Recif Mbere, New Caledonia (22 ◦ 20.19 ′ S, 166 ◦ 14.24 ′ E), 2 m, backside of the outer reef, top of the coral reef, brown alga, cf Sargassum sp. , 24 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL- 194); male, dissected, one slide, AM P.84441, Grand Recif Mbere, New Caledonia (22 ◦ 20.19 ′ S, 166 ◦ 14.24 ′ E), 2 m, backside of the outer reef, top of the coral reef, brown alga, cf Sargassum sp. , 24 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-194); few specimens, AM P.84442, between Ilot Maitre and Croissant Reef (22 ◦ 19 ′ 42 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 23 ′ 18 ′′ E), 2 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. , 6 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-31); few specimens, AM P.84443, off Ilot Maitre (22 ◦ 20 ′ 34 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 25 ′ 26 ′′ E), 20 m, dead Coral Acropora sp. with epiphytes, 7 November 1995, coll. ORSTOM divers (NCL- 35); two specimens, AM P.84444, off Ilot Maitre (22 ◦ 20 ′ 34 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 25 ′ 26 ′′ E), 20 m, red alga Amansia glomerata , 7 November 1995, coll. ORSTOM divers (NCL-42); few specimens, AM P.84445, Passe de Boulari, off Recif To (22 ◦ 30 ′ 09 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 26 ′ 26 ′′ E), 13 m, coral rubble, 8 November 1995, coll. ORSTOM divers (NCL-47); few specimens, AM P.84446, between Ile Ngé and Sèche Croissant (22 ◦ 19 ′ 25 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 20 ′ 53 ′′ E), 20 m, algae brown alga Sargassum sp. and green alga Caulerpa , 9 November 1995, coll. ORSTOM divers (NCL-54); two specimens, AM P.84447, off Ilot Maitre (22 ◦ 19 ′ 21 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 25 ′ 51 ′′ E), 21 m, large hard coral block and coarse sand, some algae, 10 November 1995, coll. J.K. Lowry (NCL-64); few specimens, AM P.84448, centre of Baie de Citron (22 ◦ 18 ′ 06 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 26 ′ E), less than 3 m, fouling from a buoy, 13 November 1995, coll. ORSTOM divers (NCL-78); few specimens, AM P.84449, entrance of Baie de Citron (22 ◦ 18 ′ 10 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 26 ′ 04 ′′ E), 1.5 m, brown alga Sargassum sp. , 13 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-79); few specimens, AM P.84450, entrance of Baie de Citron (22 ◦ 18 ′ 10 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 26 ′ 04 ′′ E), 1.5 m, red algae, 13 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-80); one specimen AM P.84451, midway between Ilot des Goelands and Grand Recif Abore (22 ◦ 24 ′ 06 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 20 ′ 54 ′′ E), 10 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. and fine red alga, 16 November 1995, coll. J.K. Lowry (NCL-111); few specimens, AM P.84452, Poé Plage (21 ◦ 36 ′ 25 ′′ S, 165 ◦ 22 ′ 44 ′′ E), 2 m, red algae from rocks on white sand, 19 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-138); few specimens, AM P.84453, Poé Plage (21 ◦ 36 ′ 25 ′′ S, 165 ◦ 22 ′ 44 ′′ E), 2 m, mixed algae from rocks on white sand, 19 November 1995, coll. J.K. Lowry (NCL-139); few specimens, AM P.84454, Grand Recif Mbere (22 ◦ 20 ′ 11 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 14 ′ 14 ′′ E), 2.0 m, brown alga cf Sargassum sp. , 4 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-194); few specimens, AM P.84455, Grand Recif Mbere (22 ◦ 20 ′ 11 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 14 ′ 14 ′′ E), 2 m, dead coral covered with very filamentous algae, 4 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-196); two specimens, AM P.84456, Thio (21 ◦ 36 ′ 23 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 21 ′ 26 ′′ E), 1 m, green calcareous alga Halimeda sp. from fringing reef, 20 November 1995, coll. A.A. Myers (NCL-215); few specimens, AM P.84457, Thio (21 ◦ 36 ′ 23 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 21 ′ 26 ′′ E), 1 m, living coral Acropora sp. from fringing reef, 20 November 1995, coll. A.A. Myers (NCL-216); few specimens, AM P.84458, Prony Bay, 10 m from coast (22 ◦ 21 ′ 16 ′′ S, 166 ◦ 50 ′ 42 ′′ E), 2 m, brown alga Sargassum sp. covered with red muds, 26 November 1995, coll. I. Takeuchi (NCL-246).

Remarks

Material is attributed to the Ampithoe ramondi Audouin, 1826 complex which has previously been cited throughout the Indo-Pacific and up into the Mediterranean (Krapp-Schickel 1982; Myers 1990, 1997, 2012). The Austral Isles material varies from illustrated Fijian specimens ( Myers 1985) in the telson, which has a narrower apical truncation and shorter lateral setae. The New Caledonia specimens also show minor variation from both the Fijian and Austral Isles material including: in the lower lip with shorter outer lobes and more prominent inner lobes; the male gnathopod 2 propodus palm corner is less produced; and the uropod 1 has less robust setae. The variation presented here can be considered intra-specific. A much broader study is required to adequately assess the fauna attributed to the A. ramondi complex ( Myers 2012).

Habitat

Living in association with red, green and brown algae.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan.

Figures

Figure 13. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 7 mm, AM P.84439; female 5 mm, AM P.84440, New Caledonia.

Figure 14. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 7 mm, AM P.84439; female 5 mm, AM P.84440, New Caledonia. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 15. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 7 mm, AM P.84439; female 5 mm, AM P.84440, New Caledonia. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 16. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 7 mm, AM P.84439, New Caledonia. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 17. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 5 mm, AM P.82705; female 5 mm, AM P.82706, Austral Isles.

Figure 18. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 5 mm, AM P.82705; female 5 mm, AM P.82706, Austral Isles. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 19. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 5 mm, AM P.82705; female 5 mm, AM P.82706, Austral Isles. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 20. Ampithoe cf ramondi male 5 mm, AM P.82705; female 5 mm, AM P.82706, Austral Isles. Scale bars 0.2 mm.