Gnathia variobranchia Holdich and Harrison, 1980

N, Jörundur Svava R S S O & Bruce, Niel L., 2012, New and little-known gnathiid isopod crustaceans (Cymothoida) from the northern Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea, Zootaxa 3380, pp. 1-33 : 26

Gnathia variobranchia Holdich and Harrison, 1980

Gnathia variobranchia Holdich and Harrison 1980: 231 , figs 7a–h.– Poore and Lew Ton, 2002: 190.

Material examined. 1 3, Lizard Island, North Point, 14.64553°S, 145.45335°E, 12 April 2008, small rubble in hollow on crest, 1.0 m, CReefs stn CGLI 020B, coll. N.L. Bruce (MTQ W14122). 1 3, Lizard Island, stn 7, 1980 (MTQ W10737). 1 3, Long Island, Chesterfields reefs, 19.8833°S, 158.3167°E, 5 May 1979, seaward reef face, dead coral, 12 m, coll. N.L. Bruce (MTQ W10734). 1 3, Wistari Reef, from dead coral, 3 December 1979, 21 m, coll. N.L. Bruce (MTQ W10711). 1 3 (damaged), Wistari reef, southwest corner, 11 m, 4 December 1979, coll. N.L. Bruce (MTQ W10712). 1 3 (poor condition), Heron Island, “Canyons”, reef slope, 1 December 1979, coral rock, 7 m, coll. N.L. Bruce (MTQ W10713).

Remarks. The present specimens agree well with the description of Gnathia variobranchia Holdich and Harrison, 1980 in body shape and the general appearance of the head. The rami of the pleopods vary considerably in their lengths as shown for G. variobranchia . The appendages were, however, sparsely illustrated by Holdich and Harrison (1980).

Distribution. Occurs the length of the Great Barrier Reef from Lizard Island in the north to Heron Island and Wistari Reef, Capricorn Group in the south; here reported from Chesterfield Reefs, Coral Sea; at depths of 1 to 21 metres.