Koekotroides ngaokiroa, J.-P & Myers & Shepherd, 2025

J. - P, Olivier, Myers, Alan A. & Shepherd, Lara D., 2025, A new genus and six new species of endemic landhopper in the family Arcitalitridae (Amphipoda: Talitroidea) from New Zealand, Zootaxa 5691 (2), pp. 277-311 : 300-304

Koekotroides ngaokiroa sp. nov.

( Figs 16–18 )

Puhuruhuru sp. A ( Fenwick & Webber, 2008)

Genus A sp. 1 ( Ball et al. 2024).

Type material. Holotype: female ( MNZ CR.027747 ), body length 7.5 mm, Kohuroa (A), Northland, New Zealand, broadleaved native forest, pitfall trap, coll. Ball O.J.-P., 14 May 2007 . Allotype: male ( MNZ CR.027732 ), body length 5.5 mm, same data as holotype . Paratypes: 2 females (body lengths 6.0– 7.5 mm), 1 male (body length 5.0 mm), 1 juvenile (body length 5.5 mm) ( MNZ CR.027746 ), same data as holotype ; 2 males (body lengths 5.0– 5.5 mm), 1 juvenile (body length 5.0 mm) ( MNZ CR.027745 ), 13 November, 2006, otherwise same data as holotype ; 3 females ( MNZ CR.027731 ), body lengths 6.0– 7.5 mm, 13 November 2006, otherwise same data as holotype .

Other material. 6 females, 5 juveniles ( NMNZ CR.10, 260 ), Herekino Forest , Kaitaia, Northland, New Zealand, lowland forest, collection method not known, coll. Botany Division, DSIR, 18 February 1981 .

Etymology. Ngaokiroa means ‘the long crawl’, referring to the relentless, single-focused journey, towards ensuring the maintenance of healthy and sustainable ecosystems. Ngaokiroa aligns its environmental adventures from the distribution of the species, from the low-lying plains of Tāputaputa (to appear, emerge, come into view) to the natural mountainous terrain of Kohuroa (the long mountain range shrouded in mist).

Description. Adult female 6.0–8.0 mm.

Head. Antenna 1 extending to at least half of the way along peduncle article 5 of antenna 2; article 3 of peduncle subequal in length with article 2; flagellum consisting of 4–5 articles. Antenna 2 as long as head and first 2.5–3.5 pereonites combined, article 4 length 2.5 times breadth; article 5, 1.7 times length of article 4; flagellum subequal to or a little longer than peduncle, consisting of about 12–15 articles. Maxilliped strongly splayed; endopodite apex subacute, inner margin weakly arcuate; exopodite distally arcuate with subacute apex; palp article 2 without distomedial lobe; article 4 absent.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa sub-trapezoidal, anterior margin nearly straight; basis slightly broadening distally; merus posterior margin without lobe covered in palmate setae; carpus elongate, posterior margin evenly convex, without lobe covered in palmate setae; propodus, about 0.6–0.7 times length of carpus, anterior margin nearly straight, posterior margin convex, posterior margin with 3 long, straight or weakly curved, spear-like robust setae, palm simple. Gnathopod 2 basis slender, 3.5 times as long as broad; merus produced posterodistally into a lobe covered in palmate setae; carpus stout, posterior margin lobed, covered in palmate setae; propodus moderately slender and mitten-shaped in both sexes (femipod), slightly longer than carpus, distal lobe apically rounded, covered in palmate setae; dactylus very short. Pereopod 3–4 parallel-sided in lateral view, anterior margin concave distally in frontal view. Pereopod 5 basis broad medioproximally, narrower distally; carpus and merus subequal in length; propodus approximately 1.4 times longer than carpus. Pereopod 6 basis subelliptical to subrectangular, anterior margin convex, posterior margin weakly convex to nearly straight; propodus approximately 1.3 times length of carpus. Pereopod 7 basis orbicular to weakly elliptical, almost, as broad as long, posterior margin with small serrations each with a small seta; merus, carpus and propodus each progressively a little longer than the preceding article.

Pleon. Epimeron 1 shortest, posterior margin nearly straight; posteroventral corner nearly a right angle. Epimeron 2 ventral margin nearly straight to weakly convex, deepest posteriorly; posteroventral corner with or without small subacute process; posterior margin nearly straight along distal half, widest medially. Epimeron 3 as deep as epimeron 2 at anteroventral corner; ventral margin convex anteriorly, concave posteriorly; posteroventral corner with or without small, rounded or subacute process; posterior margin weakly notched, sinuate. Pleopods 1–3 biramous; exopodites usually slightly shorter than endopodites. Pleopod 1 endopodite 0.4 times length of peduncle. Pleopod 2 approximately 0.8 times length of pleopod 1, endopodite 0.4 times length of peduncle. Pleopod 3 shortest and narrowest, endopodite 0.4 times length of peduncle. Uropod 1 peduncle longer than subequal rami, outer margin with 2 dorsal robust setae distally; distolateral robust seta approximately 0.5 times length of exopodite; exopodite without dorsal robust setae; endopodite with 2–3 dorsal robust setae. Uropod 2 peduncle subequal in length with endopodite; endopodite a little longer and stouter than exopodite, with 2–3 marginal robust setae; exopodite without marginal robust setae. Uropod 3 peduncle bulbous, with 1 very long lateral robust seta; ramus approximately 0.3 times length of peduncle, with 1 long apical seta, sometimes with an additional short seta. Telson as broad as long, undulate, not incised apically, deep longitudinal furrow present ventrally, 1 large apical robust seta and 3 large dorsal robust setae on each side.

Habitat. Early to later successional native forest, including diverse shrubland.

Distribution. North Island, Northland, Te Paki Ecological District ( Kohuroa, Radar Bush, Darkies Ridge, Tāputaputa, Shenstone Block, Te Huka ), Ahipara Ecological District (Herekino) and Maungataniwha Ecological District (Mangamuka Forest).

Remarks. Koekotroides ngaokiroa sp. nov. shares with K. pekehau sp. nov. the complete loss of article 4 on the maxilliped palp and the presence of 3 dorsal setae on the telson. It can be distinguished from K. pekehau sp. nov. by the simple palm on the propodus of gnathopod 1 in both sexes (parachelate in K. pekehau sp. nov.).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Koekotroides ngaokiroa sp. nov., female (antennae, maxilliped, pleopods 1–3, epimera 1–3, uropods 1–3, telson), Tāputaputa, Te Paki Ecological District, Northland. Scale bars a = maxilliped; b = antennae, pleopods, uropods 1–2; c = uropod 3, telson; d = epimera.

FIGURE 17. Koekotroides ngaokiroa sp. nov., female (gnathopod 1 (detail of propodus), gnathopod 2), Tāputaputa, Te Paki Ecological District, Northland.

FIGURE 18. Koekotroides ngaokiroa sp. nov., female (pereopods 3–7), Tāputaputa, Te Paki Ecological District, Northland.