Species New to Science: Amphipoda

Showing posts with label Amphipoda. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Dulcibella camanchaca • A New large Predator (Amphipoda: Eusiridae) hidden at hadal depths of the Atacama Trench

Dulcibella camanchaca Weston & González,

in Weston, González, Escribano et Ulloa, 2024.

DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430

Abstract

The deep ocean is a vast reservoir of new species to science, and each discovery improves our ecological understanding of these remote ecosystems. One island-like ecosystem is the Atacama Trench (Southeast Pacific Ocean), where the hadal depths (>6000 m) host a distinctive endemic community. Unlike the communities of other hadal subduction trenches, predatory (non-scavenging) amphipods have not been documented or collected from the Atacama Trench. In this study, we applied an integrative taxonomic approach to describe a new predatory amphipod in the Eusiridae Stebbing, 1888 family collected from 7902 m during the 2023 IDOOS Expedition and provide an updated global Eusiridae key with the 14th genus. Morphology and DNA barcoding robustly supported raising a new genus separate from the systematically similar genera Dorotea. Dulcibella camanchaca gen. nov. sp. nov. is a large amphipod (holotype: 38.9 mm length) with diagnostic features that include: a smooth dorsal body, 12 spines on the outer maxilla 1 plate, subsimilar and strongly subchelate gnathopods with broad carpus lobes, the pereopods 3 and 4 dactyli are 0.45× of the respective propodus and pereopods 5 to 7 dactyli are 0.6×, a distal spiniform process on the peduncle of uropod 1, and an elongated but weakly cleft telson. Together, Dulcibella camanchaca gen. nov. sp. nov. is a novel predator and reinforces the eco-evolutionary distinctiveness of the Atacama Trench.

Key Words: Deep ocean, DNA barcoding, Eusiridae key, Integrative taxonomy, Peru-Chile Trench

Dulcibella camanchaca gen. nov. sp. nov.
Post-preservation of the holotype female (MNHNCL AMP-15974).

Dulcibella camanchaca gen. nov. sp. nov.
Holotype female (MNHNCL AMP-15974).
W – whole, left side. A1 – left antenna 1 zoom. A2 – left antenna 2 zoom. D – left dactylus from pereopod 5–7 zoom. U1 – left uropod 1 ventral side. U2 – left uropod 2 dorsal side. U3 – left uropod 3 dorsal side. T – telson.

Order Amphipoda Latreille, 1816

Suborder Amphilochidea Boeck, 1871

Superfamily Eusiroidea Stebbing, 1888

Family Eusiridae Stebbing, 1888

Dulcibella gen. nov. Weston & González

Type species: Dulcibella camanchaca sp. nov.

Etymology: The new genus is morphologically similar to Cleonardo Stebbing, 1888 and Dorotea Corbari, Frutos & Sorbe, 2019. Both genera’s names were taken as characters from Cervantes’s novel Don Quixote de la Mancha. This new genus, Dulcibella, extends this tradition with an homage to the character Dulcinea del Toboso. She is the imagined unrequited love of Don Quixote, and the source of all inspiration for love, bravery, and faith. However, the name Dulcinea is preoccupied by Dulcinea Péringuey, 1907 in the insect order Coleoptera. To adhere to Article 52 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999), we are paying tribute to the tradition with the name “Dulcibella.” Similarly, Dulcibella appears in medieval English poetry and literature as an archetypal name for a sweetheart or idealized woman. Derived from dulcis (sweet) and bella (beautiful), Dulcibella reinforces themes of sweetness and beauty.

Diagnosis: Body dorsally smooth. Pigmented eyes lacking. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2, accessory flagellum 1-articulated, flagellum calceolate. Mandible incisor ends in a strong, blunt tooth; lacinia mobilis 5-dentate; setal row with 9 setae; molar trituration. Maxilla 1 inner plate with 3 subapical setae; outer plate with 12 apical spines. Maxilliped inner plate with 3 apical teeth; inner margin of palp article-4 denticulate. Coxa 1 not produced anteriorly and shorter than coxa 2. Coxae 5–6 bilobate. Gnathopods 1–2 subsimilar, ...

Dulcibella camanchaca sp. nov. Weston & González

Etymology: Named for "camanchaca", a dense, low coastal fog that forms by the Atacama Desert and moves inland. "Camanchacas" was also the name given to some of the littoral inhabitants of this desertic region. Finally, "camanchaca" has also been attributed to mean "darkness" in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region and, in our case, signifies the deep, dark ocean from where this species predates.

Johanna N. J. Weston, Carolina E. González, Rubén Escribano and Osvaldo Ulloa. 2024. A New large Predator (Amphipoda, Eusiridae) hidden at hadal depths of the Atacama Trench. Systematics and Biodiversity. 22(1); 2416430. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430

Thursday, October 31, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Melita panda • A New Species of Melitidae (Amphipoda) from Japan

Melita panda

Tomikawa, Yamato & Ariyama, 2024

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1212.128858

Abstract

A new intertidal species of the melitid amphipod, Melita panda, from the Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, is identified and described. Melita panda sp. nov. differs from the similar M. koreana and M. nagatai by its black-and-white body color, well-developed anterodistal projection of the male gnathopod 1 propodus, and telson armature. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI genes support that M. panda sp. nov. is closely related to M. koreana and M. nagatai.

Key words: Intertidal zone, Melita panda, molecular phylogeny, morphology, systematics, taxonomy, Wakayama

Family Melitidae Bousfield, 1973

Genus Melita Leach, 1814

Melita panda sp. nov. holotype, male 6.0 mm (NSMT-Cr 32141), habitus, lateral view.

Melita panda sp. nov.

New Japanese name: Panda-melita-yokoebi

Diagnosis: Head with eyes; antennal sinus incised. Pleonites and urosomites lacking dorsal teeth. Epimeral plate 3 with weakly pointed posterodistal corner. Urosomite 2 with 3 dorsolateral robust setae on each side without distinct teeth. Antenna 1 with 4-articulate accessory flagellum. Maxilla 1 with inner plate bearing 7 plumose setae. Gnathopod 1 with basis and ischium bearing small palmate setae. Male gnathopod 1 with anterodistal projection on propodus forming rounded hood, covering almost all of dactylus, propodus with 3 and 1 robust setae on posterior margin and at the base of anterodistal projection, respectively. Male gnathopod 2 with subquadrate propodus setaceous on medial surface, angle between posterior and palmar margins of propodus being approximately 140°. Female coxa 6 hooked with anterior lobe 1.2 times deeper than width of coxa. Uropod 3 with 1-articulate outer ramus. Telson longer than its width.

Etymology: The species name “panda” is derived from its black-and-white body coloration, which resembles that of the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca.

Ko Tomikawa, Shigeyuki Yamato and Hiroyuki Ariyama. 2024. Melita panda, A New Species of Melitidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Japan. ZooKeys. 1212: 267-283. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1212.128858

Monday, September 2, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Podoceropsis nanseiae • A New Species of the Genus Podoceropsis Boeck, 1861 (Amphipoda: Photidae) from Kagoshima Bay, Japan

Podoceropsis nanseiae

Kodama, Mukaida, Hosoki, Makino & Azuma, 2024

DOI doi.org/10.3800/pbr.19.141

x.com/MasafumiKodama

Abstract

A new species of photid amphipod, Podoceropsis nanseiae, is described from Kagoshima Bay, Japan. The present new species can be distinguished from all the congeners in having clusters of robust setae on the male gnathopod 2 basis. This species resembles Gammaropsis laevipalmata Ren, 1992, however can be distinguished from G. laevipalmata by the presence of small accessory flagellum in antenna 1, the size of eyes, the shape of palmer margin of male gnathopod 2, and the clusters of robust setae on the male gnathopod 2 basis. The closely related species G. laevipalmata should be transferred to the genus Podoceropsis. Additionally, a partial DNA sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was determined from the type specimens of P. nanseiae sp. nov. for future taxonomic studies.

Keywords: Amphipoda, DNA barcoding, Japan, Kagoshima Bay, new species, taxonomy

Podoceropsis nanseiae

Masafumi Kodama, Yukiko Mukaida, Takuya K. Hosoki, Fumihiro Makino and Takafumi Azuma. 2024. A New Species of the Genus Podoceropsis Boeck, 1861 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Photidae) from Kagoshima Bay, Japan. Plankton and Benthos Research. 19(3); 141-152. DOI doi.org/10.3800/pbr.19.141

x.com/MasafumiKodama/status/1829700715230740791

Thursday, August 22, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Valettietta synchlys & V. trottarum • Biogeography and Phylogeny of the scavenging amphipod Genus Valettietta (Amphipoda: Alicelloidea), with Descriptions of Two New Species from the Abyssal Pacific Ocean

Valettietta synchlys & V. trottarum

Stewart, Bribiesca-Contreras, Weston, Glover & Horton, 2024

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae102

x.com/EvaCDStewart

Abstract

Valettietta Lincoln & Thurston, 1983 (Amphipoda: Alicelloidea) is an infrequently sampled genus of scavenging amphipod, with a known bathymetric range from 17–5467 m encompassing a variety of habitats from anchialine caves to abyssal plains. Molecular systematics studies have uncovered cryptic speciation in specimens collected from the abyssal Pacific, highlighting uncertainty in the description of Valettietta anacantha (Birstein & Vinogradov, 1963). Here, we apply an integrative taxonomic approach and describe two new species, Valettietta trottarum sp. nov. and Valettietta synchlys sp. nov., collected at abyssal depths in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean. Both species can be distinguished by characters of the gnathopods, uropod 3, and the inner plate of the maxilliped. Further, molecular phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (16S rDNA and COI) and two nuclear (Histone 3 and 28S rRNA) regions found both new species to form well-supported clades and allowed us to re-identify previously published records based on genetic species delimitation. The biogeography of Valettietta is discussed in light of these re-evaluated records, and a new taxonomic key to the genus is provided. These new taxa highlight the strength of applying an integrated taxonomic approach to uncover biodiversity, which is critical in regions being explored for potential industrial purposes.

cryptic species, integrative taxonomy, DNA barcoding, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, deep-sea mining, biodiversity

Valettietta synchlys sp. nov.

Etymology: Synchlys, Greek, meaning mixed or ‘washed together by the waves’, alluding to the morphological characters of this species resembling a mixture of both Valettietta anacantha and Valettietta gracilis. Used as a noun in apposition.

Valettietta trottarum sp. nov.

Etymology: This species is named for the Trott family of Deal, Kent (UK). In their service as sailors of luggers, they saved many lives before the introduction of formal lifeboats (c.1750—c.1856). It is particularly named for Robert and Suzanne Trott, who spent their childhood in the city of Valetta, Malta. Used as a noun in apposition, gender feminine.

Eva C. D. Stewart, Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, Johanna N. J. Weston, Adrian G. Glover and Tammy Horton. 2024. Biogeography and Phylogeny of the scavenging amphipod Genus Valettietta (Amphipoda: Alicelloidea), with Descriptions of Two New Species from the Abyssal Pacific Ocean. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 201(4) zlae102. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae102

x.com/EvaCDStewart/status/1825611036403081648

Monday, August 5, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Curidia japonica • the First Species of the Family Ochlesidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the Northwest Pacific

Curidia japonica

Ariyama, 2024.

DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.29.199

x.com/Species_Divers

Abstract

A small amphipod, Curidia japonica sp. nov., is described from Mie and Wakayama Prefectures, central Japan. The discovery is the first record of the family Ochlesidae from the Northwest Pacific. This new species can be clearly distinguished from its congeners by the very short posterodistal process of the antenna 2 peduncular article 4. A key to the species of Curidia Thomas, 1983 in the world is provided.

Keywords: distribution, Japan, key, morphology, new species, phytal, taxonomy

Curidia japonica sp. nov., paratype, male, 1.2mm (OMNH-Ar-12918).
Photograph of fixed specimen (two days after fixation). Scale: 0.3mm.

Hiroyuki Ariyama. 2024. Curidia japonica sp. nov., the First Species of the Family Ochlesidae from the Northwest Pacific (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Species Diversity. 29(2); 199-207. DOI: doi.org/10.12782/specdiv.29.199

x.com/Species_Divers/status/1820346334618284144

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

[Crustacea • 2021] Caprella nojimaensis • A New Species of the Genus Caprella (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) Collected from a Gorgonian at 1497 m Depth off Boso Peninsula, Central Japan

Caprella nojimaensis

Takeuchi, Shiraishi & Mimori, 2021

DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.26.225

twitter.com/Species_Divers

Abstract

Caprella nojimaensis sp. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae), inhabiting the gorgonian Calcigorgia gracilis Matsumoto, van Ofwegen, and Bayer, 2019, is described based on a specimen from 1497 m depth in the Nojima Submarine Canyon, off Boso Peninsula, central Japan. The species is closely related to C. gracillima Mayer, 1890, but differs from the latter in gnathopod 2 being positioned near the anterior margin of pereonite 2 and in the presence of paired small mid-dorsal projections on pereonites 2 and 5. The body colour of live material is pale pink, with mouth parts and gnathopod 2 fringed with darker pink, revealing protective colouration that matches that of the host gorgonian. The clinging behaviour in situ is “upright” as recorded by the remotely operated vehicle Hyper-Dolphin, and the presence of dense swimming setae on antenna 2 suggests that the caprellid feeds by filtering material suspended in the bathyal zone.

Keywords: Amphipoda, bathyal depth, Caprella, new species, off Boso Peninsula, protective colouration

Caprella nojimaensis sp. nov., holotype, mature female, 20.69 mm body length, NSMT-Cr 29015, photographed at the cold laboratory of Tokyo Sea Life Park (Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan).

Four individuals of Caprella nojimaensis sp. nov. (red arrows) attached to the gorgonian and on rock and surrounding sediment at around 1500 m depth in the Nojima Submarine Canyon, off Boso Peninsula, central Japan.

Caprella nojimaensis sp. nov. (yellow arrow), holotype, mature female, 20.69 mm body length, NSMT-Cr 29015, attached to the gorgonian Calcigorgia gracilis Matsumoto, van Ofwegen, and Bayer, 2019 at 1497 m depth; Nojima Submarine Canyon, off Boso Peninsula, central Japan.

Order Amphipoda Latreille, 1816

Family Caprellidae Leach, 1814

Genus Caprella Lamarck, 1801

Caprella nojimaensis sp.nov.

Etymology. The specific name nojimaensis is derived from the name of the collection site of the new species, Nojima Submarine Canyon.

Ichiro Takeuchi, Momoko Shiraishi and Ryosuke Mimori. 2021. A New Species of the Genus Caprella (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae) Collected from a Gorgonian at 1497 m Depth off Boso Peninsula, Central Japan. Species Diversity. 26(2); 225-233. DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.26.225

twitter.com/Species_Divers/status/1436221455482589191

Thursday, April 25, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Wollastenothoe minuta • “Hidden” Biodiversity: A New amphipod Genus (Amphipoda: Stenothoidae) dominates Epifauna in Association with a mesophotic Black Coral Forest

Wollastenothoe minuta Gouillieux & Navarro-Mayoral,

in Navarro-Mayoral, Gouillieux, Fernandez-Gonzalez, Tuya, Lecoquierre, ... et Otero-Ferrer, 2024.

DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02491-y

twitter.com/philebo73

Abstract

Black corals are important components of mesophotic and deep-water marine habitats. Their presence at great depths (e.g., 50 to 200 m) makes accessibility difficult, limiting our understanding of the associated biodiversity. Amphipods dominate vagile epifauna in marine habitats around the world, fulfilling important ecosystem functions. However, there are no studies on amphipods exclusively associated with black corals, including relationships between their ecological patterns (e.g., abundances) and the size of coral colonies. We investigated the epifaunal composition and abundance associated with black coral colonies of Antipathella wollastoni in the subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. In total, 1,736 epifaunal individuals were identified, of which 1,706 (98.27%) were amphipods, belonging to 6 taxa. We identified and described a new amphipod genus and species within the Stenothoidae family, Wollastenothoe minuta gen. nov., sp. nov., which outnumbered the amphipod assemblage (86.15%) and provided a complete taxonomic key of Stenothoidae family including this new finding. For the first time, the association between an amphipod species and a black coral was described, including a strong correlation between coral colony size and amphipod abundances. This study demonstrates that epifauna associated with mesophotic black corals remains largely undescribed.

Keywords: Stenothoidae, Key to species, Antipathella wollastoni, Epifauna, Marine animal forests

Wollastenothoe minuta gen. nov., sp. nov. SEM pictures, MNHN-IU-2021–8808.
a Lateral view; b Maxilla 2, left; c Lower lip; d Gnathopod 2, outer face, dactylus and propodus; e Gnathopod 1, inner face, dactylus and propodus; f Urosome, lateral view.

Scale bars: a: 0.25 mm; b: 0.01 mm; c: 0.01 mm, d, e: 0.02; f: 0.1 mm

Taxonomy

Class Malacostraca Latreille 1806

Order Amphipoda Latreille 1816

Suborder Senticaudata Lowry & Myers 2013

Family Stenothoidae Boeck 1871

Genus Wollastenothoe Gouillieux & Navarro-Mayoral gen. nov.

Diagnosis of the new genus: Body dorsally smooth. Head without rostrum. Antenna 1 article 1 not nasiform; accessory flagellum with 1 article. Mandible palp with 1 article, molar process conical. Maxilla 1 palp with 2 articles. Gnathopod 1 and 2 subchelate, subequal. P5 basis rectolinear without posterodistal lobe. P6-7 basis widened.

Etymology: The genus name, Wollastenothoe, refers the combination of host name corresponding to the species of black coral (i.e., Antipathella wollastoni) with the genus name Stenothoe belonging to the Stenothoidae family.

Wollastenothoe minuta Gouillieux & Navarro-Mayoral gen. nov., sp. nov.,

Diagnosis: Body length less than 1.5 mm. Antenna subequal, shorter than half length of body. Antenna 1 accessory flagellum with 1 small article. Gnathopod 1 and 2 subchelate, subequal. Pereonite 4 slightly longer than pereonite 3. Coxa 4 ventral margin concave. Coxae 5–7 posterior margin with a notch. P5 basis rectolinear without posterodistal lobe. P6-7 basis widened with posterodistal lobe reaching along half of ischium, merus posterodistal lobe reaching more than half length of carpus. Telson with dorsal spines.

Etymology. The epithet specific of the species, minuta, refers to its small size.

Type locality. Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.

Sandra Navarro-Mayoral, Benoit Gouillieux, Victoria Fernandez-Gonzalez, Fernando Tuya, Ninon Lecoquierre, Lorenzo Bramanti, Lucas Terrana, Fernando Espino, Jean-François Flot, Ricardo Haroun and Francisco Otero-Ferrer. 2024. “Hidden” Biodiversity: A New amphipod Genus dominates Epifauna in Association with a mesophotic Black Coral Forest. Coral Reefs. DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02491-y

twitter.com/philebo73/status/1780971901126328651

Monday, April 8, 2024

[Crustacea • 2024] Mycetomorpha abyssalis • A New parasitic Barnacle (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala: Mycetomorpha) from the Abyssal Zone in the northwestern Pacific

Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov., holotype, fresh specimen.
Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov., holotype, attached to the host, Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi Birshtein & Vinogradov, 1953, fresh specimen. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Kakui, 2024

DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.120887

Abstract

I describe the parasitic barnacle Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov. from the crangonid shrimp Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi collected from 3893–3890 m depth off the eastern coast of Iwate, Japan, northwestern Pacific. This is the first Mycetomorpha rhizocephalan from the abyssal zone and the third species in Mycetomorpha. Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov. differs from its congeners M. vancouverensis and M. albatrossi in (1) triangular shield lacking, (2) stalk one-quarter of length from posterior end of externa, (3) mantle opening clearly anterior to stalk, (4) different host genus, and (5) depth range much deeper. I determined partial sequences for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA genes and nuclear 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes from M. abyssalis sp. nov. for future DNA barcoding and phylogeny. Kimura 2-parameter distances between M. abyssalis sp. nov. and M. vancouverensis were 21.2% (16S), 0.6% (18S), and 1.5% (28S).

Key Words: Caridea, deep sea, integrative taxonomy, mesoparasite, parasite, turbo taxonomy

Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov., holotype, attached to the host, Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi Birshtein & Vinogradov, 1953, fresh specimen. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov., holotype, fresh specimen. A. Habitus, parasitic on the host, ventral view; B, C. Habitus, ventral (B) and dorsal (C) views; ant – anterior; lef – left; man – mantle opening; rig – right; pos – posterior; sta – stalk; tub – tubular lobe. Scale bars: 10 mm.
Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov., holotype, attached to the host, Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi Birshtein & Vinogradov, 1953, fresh specimen. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Family Mycetomorphidae Høeg & Rybakov, 1992

Genus Mycetomorpha Potts, 1912

Mycetomorpha abyssalis sp. nov.

New Japanese name: メイフノミノフクロムシ

(Meifu-no-mino-fukuromushi)

Etymology: The specific name abyssalis (Latin: abyssal) is an adjective referring to the collection of this species from an abyssal depth.

Type host: Sclerocrangon zenkevitchi Birshtein & Vinogradov, 1953 (Decapoda: Caridea: Crangonidae).

Keiichi Kakui. 2024. A New parasitic Barnacle (Crustacea, Cirripedia, Rhizocephala, Mycetomorpha) from the Abyssal Zone in the northwestern Pacific. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 100(2): 385-390. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.120887

Sunday, March 31, 2024

[Crustacea • 2023] Amathillopis lowry • Amathillopsidae (Amphipoda) from New Zealand, including the Description of A New Species

Amathillopis lowry

Lörz & Peart, 2023

DOI: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1885

Researchgate.net/publication/376264158

Abstract

Amathillopis lowry, a new species of the family Amathillopsidae is described from the south west Pacific. In situ images show this amphipod species new to science clinging to a stalked sponge in 4600-metre depth. This increases the number of New Zealand amathillopsid amphipods to three.

Anne-Nina Lörz and Rachael A. Peart. 2023. Amathillopsidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from New Zealand, including the Description of A New Species. Records of the Australian Museum.

75(4); 459-470. DOI: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1885

Researchgate.net/publication/376264158_Amathillopsidae_from_New_Zealand

Monday, December 11, 2023

[Crustacea • 2023] Cerapus rivulus • A New Species of Cerapus (Amphipoda: Senticaudata: Ischyroceridae) from Mae Klong Estuary, Gulf of Thailand, with A Discussion on their nesting and types of mating behaviour

Cerapus rivulus

Katnoum, Saetung Keetapithchayakul, Rahim & Wongkamhaeng, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.107974

Abstract

The first representative of the genus Cerapus in the Gulf of Thailand, Cerapus rivulus sp. nov., is described from specimens sampled from Mae Klong Estuary, the inner Gulf of Thailand. The main identifying characteristics of this new amphipod species are pereonites 1 and 2 without constriction; male gnathopod propodus palm transverse with long posterior defining tooth and well-developed anterodistal recurved tooth adjacent to propodus articulation; pereopod 6 coxa without fine fringe setae ventrally, basis with setae on posterior margin; and telson with deep cleft. An updated identification key for the 25 known species in the genus is also presented. A discussion on their nesting and types of mating behaviour is provided.

Key Words: Amphawa, Cerapus, mating behaviour, nesting behaviour

Cerapus rivulus sp. nov., holotype, male (THNHM -19377).
A. Habitus of the male holotype; B. Antenna 1; C. Antenna 2; D. Gnathopod 1; E. Palm of gnathopod 1; F. Gnathopod 2; G. Palm of gnathopod 2. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Cerapus rivulus sp. nov.
A. Holotype male lateral (THNHM -19377); B. A specimen in its tube with protruding head and antennae; C. Paratype female front (THNHM-19379).

Chanikan Katnoum, Tosaphol Saetung Keetapithchayakul, Azman Abdul Rahim and Koraon Wongkamhaeng. 2023. A New Species of Cerapus (Amphipoda, Senticaudata, Ischyroceridae) from Mae Klong Estuary, with A Discussion on their nesting and types of mating behaviour. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 99(2): 557-574. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.107974

Monday, October 30, 2023

[Crustacea • 2023] Hyalella yashmara • A New thermal Species of the Genus Hyalella (Amphipoda) from Peru with Molecular Phylogeny of the Family Hyalellidae

Hyalella yashmara

Tomikawa, Kawasaki, Leiva & Arroyo, 2023

DOI: 10.1071/IS22060

www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Abstract

In recent years, the impact of rising water temperatures associated with global warming on cold-water freshwater organisms has become a major issue, and understanding the physiological and ecological elements that support temperature limits is essential for the conservation biology of freshwater organisms. We describe a new species of thermophilic hyalellid amphipod, Hyalella yashmara sp. nov. from the Peruvian hot spring Baños del Inca Cajamarca and this could potentially contribute to understanding the high temperature preference of these. We found that this new species can live in water temperatures ranging from 19.8 to 52.1°C, that, to our knowledge, is the highest recorded habitat temperature of amphipods. Hyalella yashmara sp. nov. is most similar to H. meinerti Stebbing, 1899 from Peru. However, this new species differs from the latter in features of gnathopods 1 and 2, sternal gills, uropod 3 and telson. A detailed morphological comparison between Hyalella yashmara sp. nov. and Peruvian species is also provided. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences strongly support the monophyly of Hyalellidae (=Hyalella). Since Hyalellidae was found to form a sister group with Chiltoniidae, these two families were expected to have originated from a common ancestor that invaded freshwater habitats from marine environments when the continents of South America, Africa and Australia were united as Gondwana. Our findings suggest that the South American species of Hyalella are not monophyletic and that the North American species are likely to share a most recent common ancestor with H. yashmara sp. nov.

Keywords: amphipods, Baños del Inca, hot spring, Hyalella yashmara sp. nov., Hyalellidae, molecular phylogenetic analysis, Peru, taxonomy.

Ko Tomikawa, Yoshimi Kawasaki, Alfonso Miranda Leiva and Nilton Deza Arroyo. 2023. Description of A New thermal Species of the Genus Hyalella from Peru with Molecular Phylogeny of the Family Hyalellidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Invertebrate Systematics. 37(4); 254-270. DOI: 10.1071/IS22060

www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/news/79486

phys.org/news/2023-10-ancient-hot-inca-rulers-scientists.html

Thursday, October 5, 2023

[Crustacea • 2023] Gammarus kunti • A New Freshwater Amphipod (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from the Fakıllı Cave, Düzce Türkiye

Gammarus kunti

Özbek, Baytaşoğlu & Aksu, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.108048

Abstract

Aquatic species (such as fish, amphipods, isopods, hirudineans etc.) adapted to environmental conditions can live in caves connected to groundwater. The species of Niphargus and Gammarus are the most commonly encountered amphipods in caves. Türkiye is very rich in terms of karst areas and is home to more than 2000 known caves. Fakıllı Cave, located in Düzce Province in the Western Anatolian Region, has a length of 1071 m. A new amphipod species belonging to the Gammarus genus has been identified from the cave and named as Gammarus kunti sp. nov. Some of the characteristic features of the newly-identified species can be listed as “Medium-large size; smooth body, well-developed and reniform eyes; non-prolonged extremities; antennal gland cone is straight and long; second antenna with setose peduncular and flagellar segments; medial palmar spine present; posterior margin of pereopod 3 densely setose; anterior margins of pereopods 6 and 7 armed with spines only; epimeral plates not pointed”. Although the mentioned features are generally seen in epigean species, the members of this species were sampled from the dark zone of the Fakıllı Cave. The partial sequences of the COI (573 bp) and 28S (914 bp) genes of the newly-described species, Gammarus kunti sp. nov., were generated. The pairwise genetic distances between the new species, Gammarus kunti sp. nov. and other species ranged from a minimum of 16.23% (G. tumaf) to a maximum of 28.27% (G. roeselii) for the COI gene and a minimum of 0.88% (G. tumaf) to a maximum of 6.81% (G. balcanicus) for the 28S gene. Phylogenies generated by the NJ and ML methods, based on the combined data, assigned the new species as an independent lineage with high support values. In addition, the ASAP method identified the new species as a single MOTU independent of other species. G. tumaf and G. baysali are the sister taxa of G. kunti sp. nov. Detailed descriptions and drawings of the extremities of the male holotype and the female allotype are given and the morphology of the newly-identified species is compared with its relatives.

Key Words: benthos, cave, identification key, invertebrate, molecular identification, new species

Gammarus kunti sp. nov.
The habitus of the male holotype (up) and the type locality (down).

Murat Özbek, Hazel Baytaşoğlu and İsmail Aksu. 2023. A New Freshwater Amphipod (Amphipoda, Gammaridae) from the Fakıllı Cave, Düzce Türkiye: Gammarus kunti sp. nov. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 99(2): 473-487. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.108048

Sunday, October 1, 2023

[Crustacea • 2022] Floresorchestia amphawaensis & F. pongrati • Two New Species of the Genus Floresorchestia (Amphipoda: Talitridae) from Amphawa Estuary, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand

FA. Floresorchestia amphawaensis sp. nov.
FP. F. pongrati sp. nov.
Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram, Thailand.

Suklom, Keetapithchayakul, Rahim & Wongkamhaeng, 2022

DOI: 10.3897/zse.98.83749

Scale bars: 1 mm

Abstract

Two new species of Floresorchestia (Crustacea: Amphipoda) are described from Amphawa Estuary, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. Floresorchestia amphawaensis sp. nov. is a riparian-hoppers living near agricultural and urban areas, being distinguished by the following character states: left mandible lacinia mobilis 4-dentate; gnathopod 2 palm reaching about 34%; telson as broad as long, with four robust setae per lobe. Floresorchestia pongrati sp. nov. are described as riparian-hoppers living in the moist area near Mae Klong canal banks with a unique left mandible lacinia mobilis 5-dentate; gnathopod 2 palm reaching 30% and telson with seven robust setae per lobe. The status and the problem of diagnostic character states of the genus Floresorchestia are discussed.

Key Words: Floresorchestiinae, riparian-hoppers, Southeast Asia, Talitridae

Male habitus of Floresorchestia spp.
FA. Floresorchestia amphawaensis sp. nov. holotype, male, 7.8 mm (THNHM-lv-18763), Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram, Thailand;
FP. F. pongrati sp. nov. holotype, male, 10 mm (THNHM-lv-19369), Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram, Thailand.

Scale bars: 1 mm (FA, FP).

Anotai Suklom, Tosaphol Saetung Keetapithchayakul, Azman Abdul Rahim and Koraon Wongkamhaeng. 2022. Two New Species of the Genus Floresorchestia (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Talitridae) from Amphawa Estuary, Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 98(2): 285-303. DOI: 10.3897/zse.98.83749

Sunday, September 25, 2022

[Crustacea • 2022] Pilbarana grandis & P. lowryi • A New Subterranean Amphipod Genus (Hadzioidea: Eriopisidae) of Environmental Assessment Importance from the Pilbara, Western Australia

Pilbarana grandis Stringer & King,

in Stringer, King, Austin et Guzik. 2022.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.6.4

Abstract

The Pilbara and nearby regions in north-western Western Australia have an exceptionally high diversity of short-range endemic invertebrates inhabiting threatened groundwater-dependent habitats. Amphipod crustaceans, in particular, are dominant in these communities, but are poorly understood taxonomically, with many undescribed species. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses of Pilbara eriopisid amphipods have, nonetheless, uncovered a previously unknown biodiversity. In this study, we formally establish a new genus, Pilbarana Stringer & King gen. nov., and describe two new species, P. grandis Stringer & King sp. nov. from Cane River Conservation Park and P. lowryi Stringer & King sp. nov. from the Fortescue River Basin near the Hamersley Range, using a combination of molecular and morphological data. The new genus is similar morphologically to the two additional Western Australian eriopisid genera, Nedsia Barnard & Williams, 1995 and Norcapensis Bradbury & Williams, 1997, but represents a genetically divergent, reciprocally monophyletic lineage, which can be differentiated by its vermiform body shape, the presence of an antennal sinus, and by the length and form of the antennae and uropods. This research signifies an important contribution to knowledge of Pilbara subterranean communities and has critical implications for future environmental impact assessments and conservation management.

Keywords: Crustacea, Amphipoda, arid zone, groundwater-dependent ecosystems, stygofauna, taxonomy

Pilbarana grandis sp. nov. holotype male WAM C78830, 7mm.
A, whole animal with scale; B, antenna 1; C, antenna 2; D, mandible; E, maxilla 1; F, maxilla 2; G, maxilliped.

Taxonomy

Infraorder Hadziida S. Karaman, 1932 (Lowry & Myers, 2013)

Superfamily Hadzioidea S. Karaman, 1943 (Bousfield, 1983)

Family Eriopisidae Lowry & Myers, 2013

Pilbarana Stringer & King gen. nov.

Type species: Pilbarana grandis sp. nov.

Included species: Pilbarana grandis sp. nov. and Pilbarana lowryi sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Head with weakly concave antennal sinus. Antenna 1 not longer than half body length. Maxilla 1 inner plate with one distal robust seta. Coxae reduced, with coxae 1–4 lengths (depths) distinctly shorter than pereonite lengths; coxae 1–2 anteriorly projected/produced, coxae 3–4 with small to indistinct anterior lobe and associated seta(e), posterior lobe indistinct, coxae 5–7 with anterior lobe gradually less distinct (coxae 5–6 anterior lobe with associated setae), posterior lobe very small. Coxal gills present on coxae 3–6, sternal gills absent. Pereonite 1 with concave posterodistal corner; pereonites 2–7 laterally square-shaped, as broad as long, vermiform body shape. Gnathopod 1 carpus at least 3.5 times as long as broad, longer than propodus; propodus with palm distinctly transverse. Gnathopod 2 propodus approximately 4.5 times length of carpus, palm enlarged, strongly oblique. Pereopods 5–7 basis not distinctly expanded posteriorly, pereopod 7 without lobe on posterodistal corner. Uropod 1 peduncle 2 times length of rami, with one or more robust basofacial seta(e). Uropod 3 strongly extended, distinctly larger than uropod 1; outer ramus cylindrical, larger than inner ramus and apically concave.

Etymology. The name Pilbarana references the Pilbara region of Western Australia where this genus is found. The gender should be considered as female.

Pilbarana lowryi sp. nov. holotype female WAM C78833, 8.7 mm.
A, whole animal with scale; B, antenna 1; C, antenna 2; D, mandible; E, maxilla 1; F, maxilla 2; G, maxilliped.

Danielle N. Stringer, Rachael A. King, Andrew D. Austin and Michelle T. Guzik. 2022. Pilbarana, A New Subterranean Amphipod Genus (Hadzioidea: Eriopisidae) of Environmental Assessment Importance from the Pilbara, Western Australia. Zootaxa. 5188(6); 559-573. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5188.6.4