Ampelisca lowryi, Momtazi, 2020

Momtazi, Farzaneh, 2020, Ampelisca Krøyer, 1842 (Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, Zootaxa 4852 (3), pp. 333-349 : 341

Ampelisca lowryi sp. nov.

( Figs 5–6 )

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Material examined. Holotype: female, 4.5 mm ( INIOC1–204 S), Persian Gulf , Iran (27°47.21’N 50°43.54’E), depth 67 m.

Paratypes: female, 4.5 mm ( INIOC2–105 ), Gulf of Oman, Iran (25°15.07’N 60°31.205’E), depth 22 m ; female, 5.2 mm ( INIOC1–214 ), Persian Gulf , Iran (29°5.53’N 50°6.74’E), depth 45 m.

Type locality. Persian Gulf , Iran (27°47.21’N 50°43.54’E), depth 67 m.

Description. Based on female 4.5 mm, holotype (INIOC1–204S).

Head. Shorter than three anterior somites, ventral and dorsal margin parallel. Rostrum absent. Eyes present, one pair. Mandibular palp, second article expanded. Maxilla 1, inner lobe without setae. Antennae 1, shorter than peduncle of second antennae, shorter than 1/3 the body length. Antennae 2, fourth article subequal to fifth article, equal to body length.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1, coxa without tooth in posteroventral corner; propodus shorter than carpus; palm well defined and with robust seta. Gnathopod 2, coxa posteroventrally not dentate; propodus larger than 1/2 carpus. Pereopod 3, coxa posteroventrally not dentate; merus with plumose setae along the distal half of anterior margin; dactylus longer than carpus and propodus combined. Pereopod 4, dactylus longer than carpus and propodus. Pereopod 5, basis with well developed rounded posterior projection; carpus longer than propodus. Pereopod 6, carpus longer than propodus. Pereopod 7, posteroventral lobe of basis exceeding ischium; ischium longer than merus; merus anterior lobe present; merus shorter than carpus; carpus is shorter than propodus, carpus anterior and posterior lobes absent; propodus shape rectangular; dactylus not tapered.

Pleon. Third epimeron, posteroventral lobe rounded. Uropod 1, rami equal; outer ramus longer than peduncle and naked, inner ramus with seven robust setae. Uropod 2, rami equal, apices of rami without large apical setae, shorter than peduncle, with numerous setae on rami and peduncle. Uropod 3, rami equal and setose. Urosomite 1–2 fused, urosomite 2 without dorsal setae. Urosomite 3, dorsal keel absent, without dorsal setae. Telson with marginal setae; distal part with apical projection.

Etymology. The epithet lowryi is referring to Dr. Jim Lowry, in recognition for his considerable efforts in amphipod taxonomy and for motivating young scientists.

Remarks. Based on the features of pereopod 7, the present species is most similar to Ampelisca scabripes Walker, 1904 . The scabrous lobe at the distal end of the inner lobe of the carpus of pereopods 5–6 is a diagnostic character of A. scabripes . These lobes do not appear in Ampelisca lowryi sp. nov. The main differences between A. lowryi and A. scabripes are the round posteroventral angle of the third epimeron with a straight posterior margin (vs. acute posteroinferior tooth and a convex posterior margin in A. scabripes ), the nearly straight front margin of the eye lobes (the free margin of the eye lobes in A. scabripes is oblique) and a short second antenna that does not exceed half of body length(vs. second antenna longer than body length in A. scabripes ).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Ampelisca lowryi sp. nov., female, 4.5 mm, holotype (INIOC1–204S), Persian Gulf, Iran. Scale bars: a = 0.5 mm, b = 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 6. Ampelisca lowryi sp. nov., female, 4.5 mm, holotype (INIOC1–204S), Persian Gulf, Iran.