Latigammaropsis pseudojassa, Myers, Alan A. & Nithyanandan, Manickam, 2016

Myers, Alan A. & Nithyanandan, Manickam, 2016, The Amphipoda of Sea City, Kuwait. — The Senticaudata (Crustacea), Zootaxa 4072 (4), pp. 401-429 : 415-416

Latigammaropsis pseudojassa sp. nov.

( Figs 11–13 )

Type material. Male holotype 4.3 mm ( NHMUK 2015. 3185), floating Sargassam, Sea City, D.A. Jones, 16 October 2011. Paratypes, 5 males, 1 female ( NHMUK 2015. 3186–3191), same data as holotype.

Other material. 18 males, 9 females ( NHMUK 2015.3248 –3257), mixed rubble, Ocklemann dredge on mixed rock/sand benthos at station NS04 phase A1 Sea City, M. Nithyanandan, 21.10.2014; 4 males, 2 females ( NHMUK 2015. 3258–3263) tunicates collected by diving and removing tunicates attached to concrete sides of north tidal gate in phase A3 Sea City, D.K. Raja, 20.4.2014.

Etymology. Named for the shape of the male gnathopod 2 that superficially resembles that of some members of the genus Jassa (Ischyroceridae) .

Description. Based on male holotype 4.3 mm.

Head. Head elongate, lateral cephalic lobes strongly produced, rounded; eye lageniform. Mandible palp article 3 shorter than 2, spatulate with long distal setae. Maxilla 1 inner plate with setae along entire margin. Maxilla 2 with oblique setal row. Labium mandibular projections acute. Maxilliped palp elongate, second article extending beyond distal end of outer plate. Antenna 1 about half body length, peduncular article 2 a little longer than 1; primary flagellum subequal with peduncle, with 12 articles; accessory flagellum long with 5 articles. Antenna 2 unknown.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa subsquare, weakly produced forward; basis enlarged, weakly excavated for reception of carpus when folded; carpus moderate, longer than broad; propodus longer than carpus, subrectangular, palm excavate, with blunt posterodistal spine. Gnathopod 2 coxa subrectangular; basis stout, excavated for reception of carpus when folded, strongly setose on anterior margin; carpus very short, cup-shaped; propodus grossly enlarged widening distally, with one strong posterodistal spine and one strong medial spine, anterior margin strongly setose; dactylus enlarged, overlapping palm. Pereopods 3–4 of normal Latigammaropsis form, dactylus short, much less than half length of propodus. Pereopod 5 basis moderately expanded. Pereopods 6–7 missing.

Pleon. Uropod 1 peduncle with long, distal, interramal spine, half length of peduncle; inner ramus subequal with peduncle, outer ramus shorter than inner. Uropod 2 lacking interramal spine, peduncle shorter than rami, inner ramus a little longer than outer. Uropod 3 peduncle longer than broad; rami subequal, shorter than peduncle. Telson with each dorsolateral crest bearing a pair of robust setae

Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Gnathopod 1 propodus longer than carpus, subovoid, palm oblique; dactylus fitting palm. Gnathopod 2 basis relatively slender; carpus short, cup-shaped; propodus subround with small posterodistal spine, palm evenly rounded; dactylus fitting palm.

Remarks. Latigammaropsis pseudojassa sp. nov. shows no close relationship with any described species of the genus. The shape of the male gnathopod 2 is unique.

Distribution. Kuwait.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Latigammaropsis pseudojassa sp. nov., male, 4.3 mm, Sea City, Kuwait.

FIGURE 12. Latigammaropsis pseudojassa sp. nov., male, 4.3 mm, female 4.0 mm, Sea City, Kuwait.

FIGURE 13. Latigammaropsis pseudojassa sp. nov., male, 4.3 mm, Sea City, Kuwait.