Cymadusa brevidactyla (Chevreux, 1907)

Hughes, Lauren E. & Peart, Rachael A., 2013, New species and new records of Ampithoidae (Peracarida: Amphipoda) from Australian Waters, Zootaxa 3719 (1), pp. 1-102 : 28-29

Cymadusa brevidactyla (Chevreux, 1907)

( Fig. 14 )

Grubia brevidactyla Chevreux, 1907: 417 .—Chevreux, 1908: 517, figs 30–32.—Schellenberg, 1938: 87. Cymadusa brevidactyla .—?Ledoyer, 1978: 223, fig. 11.—Myers, 1985: 29, figs 18–19.—Myers, 1986b: 66.—Myers, 1986a: 287.—Myers, 1989: 66.—Myers, 1990: 156.—Myers, 1995: 38.—Myers, 1997: 108.—Barnard & Karaman, 1991: 105.— Ortiz & Lalana, 1999: 193.

Type locality. Gambier Archipelago, Micronesia.

Material examined. Western Australia: 22 specimens, AM P.80005, inner lagoon, Ningaloo Reef (21°53’09”S 113°59’26”E), 2.6 m, algae, 19 June 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes (MI WA 988).

Christmas Island: 1 specimen, AM P.81795, dive site “Chicken Farm” (10°24’56”S 105°41’03”E), 12 m, fine red algae and dead coral Acropora sp., 23 October 2008, coll. J.K. Lowry (MI WA 930); 2 specimens, AM P.81798, dive site “The Morgue” (10°24’56”S 105°41’03”E), 9.5 m, rubble, 23 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes (MI WA 939); 10 specimens, AM P.81796, Merriel Beach (10°28’26”S 105°33’29”E), 15.5 m, rubble, 21 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes (MI WA 904); 3 specimens, AM P.81797, south of Smiths Point (10°26’02”S 105°39’38”E), 11 m, rubble with sediment, 20 October 2008, coll. J.K. Lowry and K.B. Attwood (MI WA 891); 5 specimens, AM P.81799, West White Beach (10°27’41”S 105°34’54”E), 8 m, dead coral encrusted with epiphytes, 18 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes and K.B. Attwood (MI WA 871).

Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Male, 5.7 mm, dissected, 4 slides, AM P.90127, centre of lagoon (12°08’50”S 96°51’13”E), 9.1 m, Acropora sp. coral rubble with silt, 14 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood (MI WA 847); 1 specimen, AM P.82139, centre of lagoon (12°08’50”S 96°51’13”E), 9.1 m, Acropora sp. coral rubble with silt, 14 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood (MI WA 847); 4 specimens, AM P.82140, off “Two Trees Beach” dive site, West Island (12°05’05”S 96°52’54”E), 8 m, rubble and coarse green algae, 7 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes (MI WA 782); 9 specimens, AM P.82141, northern side of Direction Island (12°05’05”S 96°52’54”E), 8 m, large pieces of coral rubble and sediment, 8 October 2008, coll. J.K. Lowry (MI WA 783); many specimens, AM P.82142, coral bommie near wreck of the Catalina, near Horsburgh Island (12°05’48”S 96°51’31”E), 7.2 m, rubble, 9 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood, (MI WA 795); 3 specimens, AM P.82143, coral bommie near wreck of the Catalina, near Horsburgh Island (12°05’48”S 96°51’31”E), 7.2 m, rubble sticks with epiphytes, 9 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes, (MI WA 796); 4 specimens, AM P.82144, northeast section of the lagoon (12°06’22”S 96°52’12”E), 5.8 m, coral rubble, 9 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood (MI WA 801); 3 specimens, AM P.82145, northeast section of the lagoon (12°06’22”S 96°52’12”E), 5.8 m, large coral rubble, 9 October 2008, coll. J.K. Lowry, (MI WA 806); 6 specimens, AM P.82146, coral bommie near wreck of the Catalina, near Horsburgh Island (12°05’48”S 96°51’31”E), 7.2 m, coarse sticks of rubble, 9 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood, (MI WA 809); 7 specimens, AM P.82147, Turks Reef (12°06’44”S 96°49’43”E), 4.1 m, rubble and algae, 10 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes (MI WA 817); 3 specimens, AM P.82148, “Rose Wall” dive site, near Horsburgh Island (12°05’45”S 96°50’32”E), 9.2 m, submerged rope, 12 October 2008, coll. L.E. Hughes and K.B. Attwood (MI WA 832); many specimens, AM P.82149, “Winter Wall” dive site, near Horsburgh Island (12°05’15”S 96°50’14”E), 9.5 m, rubble, 12 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood (MI WA 835); 7 specimens, AM P.82150, centre of lagoon (12°08’50”S 96°51’13”E), 8 m, dead coral Acropora sp. with red epiphytic algae, 14 October 2008, coll. K.B. Attwood and L.E. Hughes (MI WA 845); 6 specimens, AM P.82151, “Surf Shack Drift” dive site, western side of West Island (12°09’35”S 96°48’59”E), 10 m, rubble with epiphytes, 15 October 2008, coll. J.K. Lowry and L.E. Hughes (MI WA 859).

Remarks. Specimens from Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands are relatively small, 5.7 mm, similar to Mauritius specimens at 6.5 mm (Ledoyer, 1978). Specimens from Western Australia and the Northern Territory span a larger size range with individuals reaching 7.0 mm.

Distribution. Micronesia (Chevreux 1907; 1908; Myers 1995); India (Rabindranath 1972); Western Samoa (Myers 1997); Fiji (Myers 1985); Niue Island (Myers 1986b); Tonga (Myers 1986a); Society Islands (Myers 1989); Cook Islands (Myers 1990); Indonesia (Ortiz & Lalana 1999); Indian Ocean: Mauritius, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island. (Ledoyer 1978; current study); Australia: Western Australia (current study).

Figures

FIGURE 14. Cymadusa brevidactyla (Chevreux, 1907), male, 5.7 mm, AM P. 90127, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean, scales 0.1 mm.