Australian Amphipoda: Eusiridae

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

Rhachotropis platycera K.H. Barnard

Rhachotropis platycera K.H. Barnard, 1931: 122, fig. 3. --J.L. Barnard, 1957:15 (key).

Type material. SYNTYPES: 3 males, 1 female (4 to 5 mm), BMNH 1934.5.8.226-229.

Type locality. Outside Trinity Opening, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland (16º17´S 146º02´E).

Description. Head rostrum present, long; eyes present, eyes oval. Body dorsally carinate. Antenna 1 shorter than antenna 2; accessory flagellum absent. Mandible molar columnar, triturative. Lower lip inner lobes present; outer lobes with broad gap. Maxilla 1 inner plate apically setose. Maxilla 2 inner plate much broader than outer; inner plate slender medial setae few or absent, without oblique row of slender setae.

Peraeon. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; subequal to gnathopod 2; coxa strongly produced anteroventrally; carpus not cantilevered, shorter than propodus, posterodistally lobed; propodus with robust setae along posterior margin (adults); dactylus narrowing distally, apically acute or subacute. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; carpus not cantilevered, posterodistally lobed, shorter than propodus; propodus with robust setae along posterior margin (adults); dactylus narrowing distally, apically acute or subacute. Peraeopods 3-4 propodus simple, with distal slender setae.

Pleon. Pleonites 1 and 2 tricarinate. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin serrate, corner subacute. Uropod 1 outer ramus shorter than inner. Uropod 3 peduncle without dorsal robust setae; rami subequal in length. Telson notched or entire, without large apical robust setae.

Habitat. Marine.

Depth zones. Continental shelf to Continental slope (205 m).

Remarks. Rhachotropis playcera is a very poorly described species. Identification of this species is uncertain. It differs from Rhachotrpis sp. in the dorsal ornamentation of the pleonite and urosomite segments.

Distribution. Queensland: off Trinity Passage, Great Barrier Reef (K.H. Barnard).

Geographic areas. North-eastern Australia.

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