Australian Amphipoda: Leucothoidae

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

Leucothoe diemenensis Haswell

Leucothoe diemenensis Haswell, 1879: 262, pl. 9, fig. 5. -Stebbing, 1906: 168. -J.L. Barnard, 1974: 94.

Leucothoe spinicarpa. --Sheard, 1937: 20 (in part).

not Leucothoe diemenensis. -Myers, 1985: 92, figs 71-72.

Type material. Apparently lost.

Type locality. Tasmania.

Description. Based on a male, AM P42183, among sponges, lace bryozoans and red algae, 13 m depth, north side of Esperence Point (43º 19.5'S 147º 05.5'E), d'Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasmania.

Head lateral cephalic lobe without cusp; cephalic keel present, cephalic keel similar in size to epistome; rostrum small to medium in size. Antenna 2 slender. Mandibles and maxillae well developed; mandibular palp 3-articulate. Maxilla 1 palp 2-articulate. Maxilliped ischial endite (outer plate) vestigial or absent, without lateral flange.

Peraeon. Gnathopod 1 coxa large, not hidden by coxa 2, anteroventral corner produced, anteroventral corner truncated; dactylus well developed. Gnathopod 2 coxa short, broader than long, rounded anteroventrally; carpus with large subapical tooth; propodus palm convex, propodus palm strongly crenulate anterodistally, weakly crenulate to smooth posteroproximally; dactylus, inner margin smooth. Peraeopod 3 coxa about as long as broad, anteroventral corner overriding lateral face of coxa 2, not extending freely below it, ventral margin oblique and slightly concave. Peraeopod 4 coxa, posterior margin with posteroventral lobe. Peraeopods 5 to 7 basis expanded.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral corner subquadrate.

Habitat. Marine; among sponges, lace bryozoans and red algae.

Depth zone. Littoral.

Remarks. This is the first record of L. diemenensis since its description. It appears to be most similar to L. commensalis from which it differs in having a large subapical tooth on the carpus of gnathopod 2 and in having an oblique and slightly concave ventral margin on coxa 3. The Leucothoe diemenesnsis of Myers (1985) is probably an undescribed species. It differs from the Tasmanian material is having an obliquely angled, straight ventral margin on coxa 3 and a narrowly rounded posteroventral corner on epimeron 3.

Distribution. Tasmania: Esperence Point, d'Entrecasteaux Channel (AM).

Geographic areas. South-eastern Australia.

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