Australian Amphipoda: Leucothoidae

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

Anamixis yarrega (J.L. Barnard)

Leucothoides yarraga J.L. Barnard, 1974: 103, figs 62f, 63f. --J.L. Barnard, 1979: 130.

Anamixis yarrega. --Moore, 1987: 240, figs 1-4. --Thomas, 1997: 73.

Type material. HOLOTYPE, female, 2.05 mm, NMV J316.

Type locality. Western Port, Victoria.

Description. Based on J.L. Barnard, 1974: 103, figs 62f, 63f. Moore, 1987: 240, figs 3-4.

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

Peraeon. Gnathopod 1 coxa small or absent, hidden by coxa 2, anteroventral corner produced, anteroventral corner subtriangular; dactylus vestigial. Gnathopod 2 coxa at least as long as broad, rounded anteroventrally; carpus with simple apex; propodus palm convex, propodus palm weakly crenulate or smooth along entire margin; dactylus, inner margin minutely serrate. Peraeopod 3 coxa longer than broad, anteroventral corner overriding lateral face of coxa 2 and extending freely below it, ventral margin slightly convex. Peraeopod 4 coxa, posterior margin with posteroventral lobe (weak). Peraeopods 5 to 7 basis expanded.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner narrowly rounded.

Male (sexually dimorphic characters). Mandibles and maxillae vestigial, forming a ventral keel.

Habitat. Marine; living among holdfasts of the brown alga Ecklonia radiata and the green alga Caulerpa trifaria.

Depth zone. Littoral (3 to 4 m).

Remarks. Anamixis yarraga (J.L. Barnard, 1974) was originally described from a female. Moore (1987) described a male which he called A. yarraga. According to Thomas (1997) this is a premature decision based on circumstantial evidence.

Distribution. Victoria: Western Port (J.L. Barnard, 1974). Tasmania: d'Entrecasteaux Channel (Moore, 1987).

Geographic areas. South-eastern Australia.

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