Australian Amphipoda: Melitae

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

Ceradocus ramsayi (Haswell, 1879) Ceradocus ramsayi (Haswell, 1879).

Melita (?) Ramsayi Haswell, 1879a: 264-265, pl.10: fig. 1.

Moera ramsayi. --Haswell, 1879b: 334. --Haswell, 1852: 253.

Moera rubromaculata. --Haswell, 1885: 105, pl. 15, figs 5-12 (in part)

Maera rubromaculata. --Stebbing 1888: 1008-1014, pls 95A, 96B.

Ceradocus rubromaculatus. --Della Valle, 1893: 720 (in part). --Stebbing, 1906: 431 (in part). --Hale, 1929: 213, fig. 210. --Sheard, 1937: 24 (in part).

Maera ramsayi. --Stebbing, 1910a: 642.

Ceradocus rubromaculatus var. ramsayi. --Chilton, 1923: 94, fig. 4.

Ceradocus (Denticeradocus) ramsayi. --Sheard, 1939: 283, fig. 3.

Ceradocus ramsayi. --J.L. Barnard, 1972a: 218, fig. 128. --Barnard & Barnard, 1983: 616.

Type material. SYNTYPE (probable): 5 micro-slides, P11242 (Old Collection, labelled as type by K. Sheard, 1939).

Type locality. Port Jackson, New South Wales (33º51'S 151º16'E).

Description. Based on Sheard, 1939: 283-285, fig. 3 and J.L. Barnard, 1972a: 218, fig. 128. Head with anteroventral notch or slit, anteroventral corner with acute/subacute tooth. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 not geniculate with article 2, with 2 robust setae along posterior margin or with 4 or more robust setae along posterior margin. Antenna 2 peduncular article 2 cone gland reaching at least to end of peduncular article 3, or not reaching to end of peduncular article 3. Mandible palp present, well developed, article 3 cone-like, setose on distomedial margin, shorter than article 1, article 2 longer than article 3, shorter than article 2. Maxilla 1 inner plate setose along entire inner margin.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; coxa anteroventral corner produced, acute, coxa posteroventral corner notch absent; merus with sharp posterodistal tooth; carpus about 2 x as long as broad; propodus without anterodistal projection, posterodistal margin not swollen, without posterodistal corner. Gnathopod 2 sexually dimorphic; subchelate; left and right gnathopods unequal in size; coxa posteroventral corner notch absent; palm angle acute, convex, defined by posterodistal tooth, with robust setae; dactylus apically acute; palm straight, defined by posteroventral tooth. Peraeopod 6 coxa anterior lobe ventral margin not produced ventrally. Peraeopod 6 propodus not expanded posterodistally. Peraeopod 7 basis posterior margin convex (slightly). Peraeopod 7 basis with posterior margin smooth or minutely castelloserrate, posteroventral corner with acute or subacute process. Peraeopod 7 propodus not expanded posterodistally.

Pleon. Pleonite 1 with dorsal serrations, without dorsodistal spines, not dorsally bicarinate. Pleonite 2 with dorsal serrations, without dorsodistal spines, not dorsally bicarinate. Pleonite 3 with 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 serrate, posteroventral corner with small acute spine, posteroventral margin serrate. Urosomite 1 without dorsal carina, without a small dorsal hump, with dorsal serrations, with spines at midline, no conspicuous medial gape, not dorsally bicarinate. Urosomite 1 without posterodorsal spine. Urosomite 2 posterior margin with dorsal midline spine, without dorsolateral robust setae. Urosomite 3 without dorsal robust setae. Uropod 1 peduncle without distoventral spur. Uropod 3 exceeding uropods 1 and 2; inner ramus subequal in length to outer ramus. Telson cleft. Telson without robust setae on inner margins. Telson each lobe with 3 or more apical/subapical robust setae, apical conical extension reaching scarcely one third along longest seta.

Habitat. Marine.

Depth zone. Littoral.

Remarks. This species has slightly different geographical forms.

Distribution. New South Wales: off Norah Head and Port Stephens (Sheard, 1939); Port Jackson (Haswell, 1879a); Port Hacking (J.L. Barnard, 1972a); off Eden (Sheard, 1939). Western Australia: Bunbury (J.L. Barnard, 1972a).

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