Australian Amphipoda: Leucothoidae

J.K. Lowry, P.B Berents & R.T. Springthorpe

Leucothoella gracilis (Haswell)

Leucothoe gracilis Haswell, 1879: 263, pl. 10, fig. 2. --Stebbing, 1906: 168.

Leucothoella gracilis. --J.L. Barnard, 1974: 99, figs 60-61. --Moore, 1987: 258.

Leucothoe (Leucothoella) gracilis. --Barnard & Karaman, 1991: 411.

Leucothoe spinicarpa. --Sheard, 1937: 20 (in part).

Type material. Apparently lost.

Type locality. Tasmania.

Description. Based on J.L. Barnard, 1974: 99, figs 60-61 [South Australia; Port Phillip Bay, Victoria].

Head lateral cephalic lobe without cusp; cephalic keel present, cephalic keel about twice size of epistome; rostrum small to medium in size. Antenna 2 slender. Mandibles and maxillae well developed; mandibular palp 3-articulate. Maxilla 1 palp 2-articulate. Maxilliped ischial endite (outer plate) vestigial or absent, without lateral flange.

Peraeon. Gnathopod 1 coxa large, not hidden by coxa 2, anteroventral corner not produced, anteroventral corner subquadrate; dactylus well developed. Gnathopod 2 coxa short, broader than long, anteroventrally acute; carpus with simple apex; propodus palm convex, propodus palm strongly crenulate anterodistally, weakly crenulate to smooth posteroproximally; dactylus, inner margin smooth. Peraeopod 3 coxa broader than long, anteroventral corner contiguous with coxa 2, not extending freely below it, ventral margin straight. Peraeopod 4 coxa, posterior margin without posteroventral lobe. Peraeopods 5 to 7 basis weakly expanded.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner broadly rounded.

Habitat. Marine; living among holfasts of the brown kelp Ecklonia radiata.

Depth zone. Littoral.

Distribution. Queensland: North Stradbroke Island (AM); New South Wales: Cook Island (AM); Split Solitary Island (AM); Julian Rocks, Byron Bay (AM); Botany Bay (AM); Jervis Bay (AM). Victoria: Western Port (J.L. Barnard, 1974). South Australia: Pearson Island (J.L. Barnard, 1974). Western Australia: Cheyne Beach and Cape Naturaliste (J.L. Barnard, 1974); Bush Bay (AM).

Geographic areas. North-eastern Australia, or South-eastern Australia, or Southern Australia, or South-western Australia.

Cite this publication as: Lowry, J.K. P.B Berents & R.T. Springthorpe (2000 onwards). 'Australian Amphipoda: Leucothoidae.' Version: 2 October 2000. https://crustacea.net/'.