Elasmopus thomasi Ortiz & Lalana, 1994

White, Kristine N. & Sir, Sally J., 2024, Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part II: parvorder Hadziidira, ZooKeys 1195, pp. 249-296 : 249

Elasmopus thomasi Ortiz & Lalana, 1994

Figs 9 , 28B

Elasmopus thomasi Ortiz & Lalana, 1994: 297-301, figs 4-6.

Material examined.

Panama • 2-5 mm • 2 ♀, 4 juvenile.; Bocas del Toro, Swan Cay ; 9.453333°N, 82.298333°W; depth 3 m, among algae; 4 Aug 2005; T.A. Haney leg.; GCRL 6636 • 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro tah2005.001; Aug 2005; T.A. Haney leg.; GCRL 6638 • 2 ♂, 3 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Mangrove Inn; depth 1-1.5 m, among Halimeda ; 3 Aug 2005; M. Faust leg.; GCRL 6637 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro , San Cristobal; 9.284977°N, 82.294533°W; depth 1-3 m, among sponges; 21 Jun 2023; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703516 • 4 ♀, 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro , Hospital Point; 9.331967°N, 82.214817°W; depth 1-3 m, among sand and coral rubble; 22 Jun 2023; K.N. White leg.; USNM 1703517 .

Diagnosis.

Gnathopod 1 propodus subovate, palm oblique. Gnathopod 2 propodus subovate, male palm with three processes and two notches; dactylus resting in notch at palmar angle. Pereopod 5 basis posterior margin evenly convex. Pereopod 7 basis posterior margin without long setae, articles 4 and 5 of male unexpanded. Epimeron 3 posterior margin serrate. Uropod 3 inner ramus shorter than outer ramus. Telson inner lobes longer than outer lobes, apically rounded.

Distribution.

Cuba: North coast ( Ortiz and Lalana 1994); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

These amphipods are associated with algae and coral rubble at depths of 0-3 m. Panamanian specimens closely resemble specimens described from Cuba and can be readily distinguished by the shape of gnathopod 2 propodus and the rounded apices of the telson.

Figures

Figure 9. Elasmopus thomasi, male, 3.0 mm, pereopod 5, uropod 3, telson, gnathopod 2 medial, epimeron 3. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 28. Photographs of live specimens unless noted A Elasmopus pocillimanus B Elasmopus thomasi C Meximaera diffidentia D Quadrimaera ceres (ethanol preserved specimen) E Quadrimaera cristianae F Quadrimaera miranda G Quadrimaera quadrimana. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.