Australian Amphipoda: Eusiridae

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

Membrilopus sp.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: male "a", 16.3 mm, AM P60754. PARATYPES: male "b", 15.7 mm, AM P60755; female "a", 12.9 mm, AM P60756; 7 specimens, AM P43442.

Type locality. off Wollongong, New South Wales, (34º32.4'S 151º22.8'E), from baited trap on Globigerina ooze bottom, 1000 m depth.

Description. Based on holotype male, AM P60754, paratype male, AM P60755 and paratype female, AM P60756. Head rostrum present, moderate length; eyes present, eyes reniform. Body dorsally smooth. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; accessory flagellum present, accessory flagellum longer than broad (1-articulate). Mandible molar columnar, triturative. Lower lip inner lobes absent; outer lobes with narrow gap. Maxilla 1 inner plate setose along medial margin. Maxilla 2 inner plate subequal or slightly broader than outer; inner plate with slender medial setae, without oblique row of slender setae.

Peraeon. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; smaller than gnathopod 2; coxa weakly or not produced anteroventrally; carpus not cantilevered, shorter than propodus, weakly lobed or posterodistally lobed; propodus without robust setae along posterior margin (adults); dactylus narrowing distally, apically acute or subacute. Gnathopod 2 sexually dimorphic. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; carpus not cantilevered, weakly lobed, shorter than propodus; propodus without robust setae along posterior margin (adults); dactylus narrowing distally, apically acute or subacute. Peraeopods 3-4 propodus simple, with distal robust setae. Peraeopods 5-7 dactyli inner margins strongly serrate.

Pleon. Pleonites neither tricarinate. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin smooth, corner broadly rounded. Uropod 1 outer ramus shorter than inner. Uropod 3 peduncle with dorsal robust setae; outer ramus shorter than inner. Telson notched or entire, without large apical robust setae.

Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Peraeon. Gnathopod 1 subequal to gnathopod 2.

Habitat. Marine; Scavengers from Globigerina ooze bottom in 1000 m depth.

Depth zones. Continental slope, or Lower bathyal (1000 m).

Remarks. This is the first record of Membrilopus in Australian waters. It was previously known only from south-western Africa. Specimens were caught in traps set off Wollongong in 1000 m of water. Membrilopus sp. differs from the only known species M. membrisetata (J.L. Barnard, 1961) in the shape of the anteroventral corner of the head, the smaller dactyli of peraeopods 3 to 7 and the posteroventral corner of epimeron 3. Males are not known from M. membrisetata so that the shapes of the palms of gnahopods 1 and 2 cannot be compared.

Distribution. New South Wales: off Wollongong (AM).

Geographic areas. South-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'.