Australian Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae

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

Ampelisca narooma Lowry & Poore

Ampelisca narooma Lowry & Poore, 1985: 278, fig. 17.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: 11.0 mm, AM P34140. PARATYPES: 3 specimens, AM P34141.

Type locality. East of Port Kembla, New South Wales (34º 27-26'S 151º 27'E), Globigerina ooze, 1200 m depth.

Description. Based on Lowry & Poore, 1985: 278, fig. 17. Head longer than deep; rostrum absent; abutting antenna 1; lateral cephalic lobe absent; anteroventral margin rounded; eyes absent. Antenna 1 short, slightly longer than peduncle of antenna 2; peduncular article 2 long (about 1.5 to 2.5 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 slightly concave, anteroventral corner not produced. Peraeopods 5 and 6 carpus long, about 3 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 without setae, free anterior margin lacking setae near junction with ischium; ischium subequal in length to 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 subrectangular; dactylus broad at base, tapering distally.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin oblique, convex (slightly), corner without notch or cusp, corner narrowly rounded. Urosomite 1 without carina. Uropod 2 inner ramus with one dorsal row of robust setae; outer ramus with long fine subterminal seta. Uropod 3 rami, inner margins smooth proximally; outer ramus lanceolate. Telson about as long as broad, deeply cleft or moderately cleft, distal margin subacute, with mid-dorsal robust setae, inner margin without robust setae along inner margin, distal margin with subapical setae.

Habitat. Marine; Globigerina ooze bottom.

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

Distribution. Queensland: east of Lady Elliott Island (Lowry & Poore, 1985). New South Wales: east of Port Kembla (Lowry & Poore, 1985).

Geographic areas. North-eastern Australia to 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'.