Australian Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae

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

Byblis mildura Lowry & Poore

Byblis sp.1. --Poore et al., 1975: 33. --Poore & Kudenov, 1978:148. --Poore & Rainer, 1979: 484.

Byblis mildura Lowry & Poore, 1985: 289, figs 26-27.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: 12.2 mm, NMV J2175. PARATYPES: 9 specimens, NMV J2176; 42 specimens, NMV J2177; 36 specimens, AM P34354.

Type locality. Port Phillip Bay, Victoria (38º 18.7'S 144º 53.3'E), sand, 18 m depth.

Description. Based on Lowry & Poore, 1985: 289, figs 26-27. Head longer than deep; rostrum absent; abutting antenna 1; lateral cephalic lobe absent; anteroventral margin oblique; eyes present, two pairs with cuticular lenses. Antenna 1 short, subequal to or slightly shorter than peduncle of antenna 2; peduncular article 2 long (about 1.5 to 2.5 x length of article 1). Mandible palp article 2 tapering distally.

Peraeon. Coxae 1 to 3 without posteroventral hooks. Gnathopod 1 simple; propodus palm absent; coxa anterior margin slightly concave, anteroventral corner not produced. Peraeopods 5 and 6 carpus very long, about 4 to 5 x as long as broad, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Peraeopod 7 basis expanded posteriorly, posterior margin oblique, ventral margin densely setose, free anterior margin setose near junction with ischium; ischium shorter than merus; merus anterior lobe absent, merus posterior lobe slightly produced along posterior margin of carpus; carpus anterior lobe absent, long (4 x as long as broad); propodus linear; dactylus spine-like.

Pleon. Epimeron 3 posteroventral margin oblique, convex (slightly), corner without notch or cusp, corner broadly rounded. Urosomite 1 without carina. Uropod 2 inner ramus with one dorsal row of robust setae; outer ramus without large subterminal robust setae. Uropod 3 rami, inner margins serrate proximally; outer ramus lanceolate. Telson broader than long, moderately cleft or weakly cleft, distal margin truncate, with mid-dorsal robust setae, inner margin without robust setae along inner margin, distal margin without apical or subapical setae.

Habitat. Marine; sand to fine mud bottoms.

Depth zone. Littoral (0 to 30 m) to Continental shelf (30 to 200 m).

Remarks. Byblis mildura is the most common ampeliscid on muddy bottoms in Port Phillip Bay (Lowry & Poore, 1985). This species was referred to as Amphipod 8 by Stephenson et al. (1978).

Distribution. Queensland: Weipa; Middle Banks, Bramble Bay and Peel Island, Moreton Bay (Lowry & Poore, 1985). New South Wales: east of Bondi (Lowry & Poore, 1985). Victoria: Port Phillip Bay; Crib Point; Western Port; Bass Strait (Lowry & Poore, 1985).

Geographic areas. North-eastern Australia to South-eastern Australia.

Cite this publication as: 'J.K. Lowry, P.B Berents & R.T. Springthorpe (2000 onwards). Australian Amphipoda: Ampeliscidae. Version: 21st September 2000. https://crustacea.net'.