Australian Amphipoda: Melitae

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

Maera griffini Berents, 1983

Maera griffini Berents, 1983: 125, figs 20-21.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: male, 8.6 mm, AM P30205. PARATYPES: 5 specimens, AM P0206.

Type locality. Between Bird Islet and South Island, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef (14º 42'S 145º 28'E), sediment, 12 m depth.

Description. Based on Berents, 1983: 125, figs 20-21. Head lacking notch or slit, anteroventral corner subquadrate. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 not geniculate with article 2, subequal in length to article 2, with 1 robust seta on posterior margin (distal); flagellum with 24 articles; accessory flagellum with 4 articles. Antenna 2 flagellum with 17 articles. Mandible palp present, well developed, article 3 rectolinear, with setae mostly terminal, longer than article 1, article 2 subequal to article 3, article 1 not produced, shorter than article 2, about twice as long as broad. Maxilla 1 inner plate with setae mainly terminal.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; coxa anteroventral corner produced, acute, coxa posteroventral corner notch absent; merus without posterodistal tooth; carpus about 2 x as long as broad; propodus without anterodistal projection, posterodistal margin not swollen, palm acute, convex, defined by posterodistal corner, defined by posterodistal robust setae. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; left and right gnathopods subequal in size; coxa posteroventral corner notch absent; merus with sharp posteroventral tooth; carpus compressed; propodus without medial depression, without strong concentration of setae, palm acute, convex, sculptured, with sparse robust setae, defined by posterodistal robust setae, defined by posteroventral tooth; dactylus closing along palm, reaching end of palm, apically acute/subacute. Peraeopod 5 basis posterior margin straight. Peraeopod 5 basis posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Peraeopod 6 basis posterior margin straight. Peraeopod 6 basis posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Peraeopod 6 propodus not expanded posterodistally. Peraeopod 7 basis posterior margin convex (slighlty). Peraeopod 7 basis posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Peraeopod 7 propodus not expanded posterodistally.

Pleon. Pleonite 1 without dorsal serrations, without dorsodistal spines, not dorsally bicarinate. Pleonite 2 without dorsal serrations, without dorsodistal spines, not dorsally bicarinate. Pleonite 3 without dorsal serrations, without dorsodistal spines, dorsally smooth. Epimeron 1 anteroventral corner without curved spine. Epimera 1-2 posteroventral margin without spines above posteroventral corner. Epimeron 3 posterior margin smooth, posteroventral corner with small acute spine, posteroventral margin smooth. Urosomite 1 without dorsal carina, without a small dorsal hump, without dorsal serrations, without spines or gape, not dorsally bicarinate. Urosomite 1 without posterodorsal spine. Urosomite 2 posterior margin smooth. Uropod 1 peduncle without distoventral spur. Uropod 3 exceeding uropods 1 and 2; inner ramus subequal in length to outer ramus; outer ramus long (more than 1.6 x longer than peduncle), 1-articulate. Telson cleft. Telson without robust setae on inner margins. Telson without apical robust setae, apical conical extension absent.

Habitat. Marine.

Depth zone. Littoral.

Remarks. Female not known.

Distribution. Queensland: Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef (Berents, 1983).

Australian geographic areas. North-eastern Australia.

Cite this publication as: 'J.K. Lowry, P.B Berents & R.T. Springthorpe (2000 onwards). Australian Amphipoda: Melitae Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification and Information Retrieval. Version: 2 October 2000. https://crustacea.net'.