Australian Amphipoda: Melitae

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

Hoho hirtipalma Lowry & Fenwick, 1983

Mallacoota marilla J.L. Barnard, 1972a: 250, figs 146-147 (in part as PS phenotype).

Hoho hirtipalma Lowry & Fenwick, 1983: 228, figs 19-22.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: male, 17.5 mm NMNZ CR 2385; PARATYPES: female, 15.8 mm, NMNZ CR 2386; 8 specimens, AM P30508.

Type locality. North-west corner of Hoho Bay, The Snares (48º 07'S 166º 36'E), New Zealand, among clumps of coralline algae.

Description. Based on J.L. Barnard, 1972a: 249, figs 146-147 (PS phenotype) and Lowry & Fenwick, 1983: 228, figs 19-22. Head lateral cephalic lobes broad, truncated, with anteroventral notch or slit, anteroventral corner rounded. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 not geniculate with article 2, subequal in length to article 2, without robust setae along posterior margin; flagellum with 50 articles (about); accessory flagellum with 4 articles. Antenna 2 peduncular article 2 cone gland not reaching to end of peduncular article 3; article 4 longer than article 5; flagellum with 18 articles (about). Mandible palp vestigial or absent. Maxilla 1 inner plate with setae mainly terminal.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; coxa anteroventral corner produced, rounded, 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 (slightly), without posterodistal corner, defined by posterodistal robust setae. Gnathopod 2 sexually dimorphic; subchelate; left and right gnathopods subequal in size; coxa posteroventral corner notch absent; merus with rounded posteroventral corner; carpus compressed; propodus without medial depression, with strong setal bunch, palm extremely acute, convex, smooth, without robust setae, without posterodistal robust setae, without posteroventral corner; dactylus closing along palm, not reaching end of palm, apically falcate. Peraeopod 5 basis posterior margin straight. Peraeopod 5 basis posteroventral corner narrowly rounded or subquadrate. Peraeopod 6 coxa anterior lobe ventral margin not produced ventrally. Peraeopod 6 basis posterior margin straight. Peraeopod 6 basis posteroventral corner narrowly rounded or subquadrate. Peraeopod 6 propodus not expanded posterodistally. Peraeopod 7 basis posterior margin convex. Peraeopod 7 basis with posterior margin smooth or minutely castelloserrate, posteroventral corner narrowly rounded or subquadrate. 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 subquadrate, posteroventral margin smooth. Urosomite 1 without dorsal carina, without a small dorsal hump, without dorsal serrations, without spines or gape, dorsally bicarinate. Urosomite 1 without posterodorsal spine. Urosomite 2 posterior margin smooth, without dorsolateral robust setae. Urosomite 3 without dorsal robust setae. Uropod 1 peduncle with basofacial robust seta, without distoventral spur. Uropod 3 subequal or slightly exceeding length of uropods 1 and 2; inner ramus subequal in length to outer ramus; outer ramus medium length (1.1 to about 1.5 x longer than peducle), 1-articulate. Telson cleft. Telson without robust setae on inner margins. Telson each lobe with 3 or more apical/subapical robust setae, apical conical extension reaching at least halfway along longest seta.

Habitat. Marine.

Depth zone. Littoral.

Distribution. South Australia: West Island (J.L. Barnard, 1972a). Western Australia: Point Peron (J.L. Barnard, 1972a).

Extrinsic distribution. New Zealand subantarctic islands.

Australian geographic areas. Southern Australia, or South-western Australia.

Pereon. Gnathopod 2 merus with subquadrate posteroventral corner; carpus long; without strong concentration of setae, palm acute, with sparse robust setae, defined by posterodistal robust setae; reaching end of palm, apically acute/subacute.

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'.