Aora spinimerus (Ledoyer) Myers, 1998

Myers, Alan A., 1998, The Amphipoda (Crustacea) of New Caledonia: Aoridae, Records of the Australian Museum 50 (2), pp. 187-210 : 188-193

Aora spinimerus (Ledoyer) n.comb.

Figs. 3-4

Lembos spinimerus Ledoyer, 1984: 37 , fig. 17A.

Material examined. NCL-4 (1 6), NCL-15 (1 6), NCL-21 (6 66, 9 繾⤬ NCL-25 (4 66, 9 ~~, 1 immature), NCL-26 (3 ~~, 2 immature), NCL-28 (9 66, 16 ~~, 1 immature), NCL­ 29 (1 6, 2 ~~, 2 immature), NCL-33 (2 繾⤬ NCL-40 (2 ~~, 1 immature), NCL-47 (5 66, 6 ~~, 2 immature), NCL-49 (3 66, 1 縬 1 immature), NCL-60 (1 6, 3 繾⤬ NCL-63 (1 6), NCL-64 (16, 2 繾⤬ NCL-68 (2 繾⤬ NCL-79 (I 6, 2 繾⤬ NCL-98 (2 66, 4 繾⤬ NCL-II0 (2 (6), NCL-ll1 (3 66, 5 繾⤬ NCL-112 (1 ~), NCL-116 (4 66, 11 ~~, 1 immature), NCL-128 (1 ~), NCL-129 (6 66, 9 繾⤬ NCL-130 (4 66, 6 繾⤬ NCL-139 (12 66, 9 ~~, 3 immature), NCL-153 (3 66, 1 ~), NCL-154 (16, 2 ~~, 1 immature), NCL-156 (1 6, 3 繾⤬ NCL-237 (7 繾⤬ NCL-246 (1 6, 3 繾⤮

Description. Male and female to 5.5 mm. Male pereon segments lacking sternal processes. Head lateral lobes only moderately produced; eye moderately large situated proximal to lobes; distoventral margin poorly recessed, shallow. Antenna 1 a little shorter than body length; peduncular articles in the basi-distallength ratios 3:4: 1;

accessory flagellum well developed with six articles, the terminal article rudimentary; flagellum poorly setiferous, twice length of peduncle, with about 30 articles. Antenna 2 only moderately setiferous; twothirds length of antenna 1; peduncular articles 4 and 5 subequal in length; flagellum subequal in length with peduncular article 5 with 7 articles, the terminal ones with strong setae. Mouthparts conforming to normal Aora structure, mandible palp article 3 longer than 2, slender, posterior margin substraight with a few long marginal setae and an understory of short setae. Male gnathopod 1 weakly setiferous; coxa strongly produced forward, subacute; basis elongate, anterior margin with rounded flange; merus produced into acute ending tooth, shorter than and strongly deflected from the carpus; carpus subrectangular, broader proximally; propodus subrectangular but more slender than carpus, palm obsolete; dactylus large, falcate, only a little shorter than propodus. Female gnathopod 1 coxa subrectangular deeper than broad; merus unproduced; carpus subtriangular, shorter than that of male; propodus a little longer than carpus, palm very oblique defined by a stout seta; dactylus of moderate length, fitting palm. Male gnathopod 2 coxa subround; basis elongate and slender; carpus elongate over three times as long as broad, anterior margin with dense brush of long setae; propodus subovoid, about two thirds length of carpus, anterior margin with dense brush of long setae, palm oblique, scarcely distinct from posterior margin; dactylus short. Female gnathopod 2 coxa much larger and basis less slender, than that of male; carpus a little shorter than propodus, subtriangular; propodus palm evenly convex, defined by a stout seta; dactylus short, fitting palm. Pereopods 5-7 in the length ratios 6:9:12; propodus posterior margin with stout setae. Epimera 2-3 each with a small distoventral tooth. Uropod 1 peduncle a little longer than outer ramus and with strong distoventral spine a little less than one third length of peduncle; outer ramus a little longer than inner; both rami with marginal stout setae. Uropod 2 peduncle subequal in length with inner ramus and with short triangular distoventral spine; inner ramus distinctly longer than outer; both rami with marginal stout setae. Uropod 3 rami longer than peduncle; rami subequal in length; outer ramus with slender distal setae, but lacking marginal setae and with small second article; inner ramus with marginal stout setae and a pair of slender distal setae. Telson dorsolateral crests each with three slender setae.

Remarks. Adult material of this species was not available to Ledoyer (1984). It is therefore figured here and redescribed in more detail. This species is larger and more robust than the preceding species. For other separating characters see remarks on that species.

Habitat. Amongst Padina , Sargassum , large yellow sea fans, rubble and red algae and fine sand, 0- 38 m.

Distribution. New Caledonian endemic.