Lepidepecreum cf. magdalenensis (Shoemaker, 1942)

Figs 8, 11 C

Orchomenella magdalenensis Shoemaker, 1942: 4–7, fig. 1.

Lepidepecreum magdalenensis Lowry & Stoddart, 2002: 173–174; LeCroy 2007: 580, fig. 492.

Material examined.

Panama • 2–3 mm • 6 ♂, 16 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Drago Beach; 9.4172°N, 82.3248°W; depth 0–1 m, in sand; 27 June 2023; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1739786 .

Diagnosis.

Head ocular lobe subrectangular. Gnathopod 1 carpus as long as propodus. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate. Urosomite 1 with dorsodistally acute carina. Uropod 3 inner ramus with two marginal spines.

Distribution.

USA: Pacific California (Shoemaker 1942); Florida from Cape Romano to the lower Florida Keys (LeCroy, 2007); Cuba? (Ortiz 1978); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

These amphipods are associated with sand at depths of 0.5– 27 m. Panamanian specimens closely resemble previously described specimens, except for a weak callynophore in females (strong in original description) and uropod 3 inner ramus having 2 marginal spines (3 in original description). LeCroy (2007) notes that Florida specimens of L. cf magdalenensis have only one spine, suggesting that this may vary among specimens of this genus. The weak callynophore on antenna 1 of females may suggest that L. magdalenensis represents a species complex, but this can only be resolved with further examination of all collections. Panamanian specimens are white in color when alive.