Australian Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae

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

Ampelisca bidura Lowry & Poore

Ampelisca ballina Lowry & Poore, 1985: 266, figs 7-8.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: male, 4.4 mm, AM P34131. PARATYPES: 2 specimens, AM P34132; 1 specimen, AM P34133; 4 specimens AM P25472.

Type locality. East of Bondi, New South Wales (33º 52'S 151º 23'E), 80 m depth.

Description. Based on Lowry & Poore, 1985: 266, figs 7-8. Head about as long as deep; rostrum absent; abutting antenna 1; lateral cephalic lobe absent; anteroventral margin rounded; eyes absent. Antenna 1 short, subequal to or slightly shorter than peduncle of antenna 2; peduncular article 2 short (less than 1.5 x length of article 1). Mandible palp article 2 tapering distally.

Peraeon. Coxae 1 to 3 with small posteroventral hooks on coxae 1 to 3. Gnathopod 1 simple; propodus palm absent; coxa anterior margin broadly convex, anteroventral corner not produced. Peraeopods 5 and 6 carpus medium, about 2 x as long as broad, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Peraeopod 7 basis expanded posteriorly, posterior margin broadly rounded, ventral margin densely setose, free anterior margin lacking setae near junction with ischium; ischium longer than merus; merus anterior lobe slightly produced along anterior margin of carpus, merus posterior lobe absent; carpus anterior lobe absent, inflated, about 1.5 x as long as broad; propodus linear; dactylus broad at base, tapering distally.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin oblique, convex, corner without notch or cusp, corner subquadrate. Urosomite 1 distally upturned carina. Uropod 2 inner ramus with one dorsal row of robust setae; outer ramus with a large subterminal robust seta. Uropod 3 rami, inner margins smooth proximally; outer ramus ovate. Telson longer than broad, deeply cleft, distal margin truncate, without mid-dorsal robust or slender setae, inner margin with robust setae along inner margin, distal margin with apical setae.

Habitat. Marine; soft bottom.

Depth zone. Continental shelf (30 to 200 m) to Continental slope (200 to 1000 m) to Lower bathyal (1000 m to 2000 m).

Distribution. New South Wales: east of Broken Bay; east of Long Reef; east of Bondi; east of Port Kembla (Lowry & Poore, 1985). Victoria: eastern Bass Strait (Lowry & Poore, 1985).

Geographic areas. South-eastern Australia.

Cite this publication as: 'J.K. Lowry, P.B Berents & R.T. Springthorpe (2000 onwards). Australian Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae. Version: 21st September 2000. https://crustacea.net'.