Latigammaropsis atlantica ( Stebbing, 1888 )

Latigammaropsis atlantica ( Stebbing, 1888) View in CoL

Figs 14 View Figure 14 , 32 D View Figure 32

Gammaropsis atlantica Stebbing, 1888: 1101, fig. 114; Myers 1985: 80, fig. 60; LeCroy 2000: 135, fig. 176. View in CoL

Gammaropsis zeylanicus View in CoL : Walker 1904: 282, 283, fig. 41.

Gammaropsis gardineri View in CoL : Walker 1905: 929, 930, figs 11–14, 16–17.

Eurystheus atlantica : Stebbing 1906: 611.

Latigammaropsis atlantica View in CoL : Myers 2009: 777.

Material examined.

Panama • 2.4–3 mm • 3 ♂; Bocas del Toro, Hospital Point, Cayo Solarte ; 9.3336°N, 82.2188°W; depth 15 m, among coral rubble and Halimeda ; 6 Aug 2005; S. DeGrave leg.; GCRL 6668 View Materials GoogleMaps • 2 ♂; Bocas del Toro, Crawl Caye , 9.2459°N, 82.1369°W; depth 1–4 m, among coral rubble; 25 Jun 2023; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1743962 About USNM GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Male gnathopod 2 propodus distinctly longer than carpus, robust seta present at palmar angle; dactylus subequal in length with propodus palm. Coxae 3 and 4 subquadrate. Epimera 2 and 3 posteroventral margins subquadrate with weak notches.

Distribution.

Cape Verde Islands: Saint Vincent ( Stebbing 1888); Sri Lanka ( Walker 1904); Maldives: Hulule, Fadifolu, Mahlosmadulu Atoll, Minikoi ( Walker 1905); Cape Verde Islands: St. Vincent ( Stebbing 1906); Fiji: Momi Bay, Mburelevu, Nananui Ra ( Myers 1985); USA: Florida ( LeCroy 2000); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs among coral rubble and Halimeda at depths of 1– 15 m. Panamanian specimens agree closely with LeCroy (2000) with the exception of antenna 1, accessory flagellum tri-articulate (vs 5 - or 6 - articulate). The smaller size of our specimen suggests this character is variable based on size. No females were collected in this study, but LeCroy (2000) reported a convex gnathopod 2 palmar margin of the propodus in females. Ethanol-preserved specimens retained brown coloration on head and pereon. There are many reports of this species worldwide, but they most likely represent a species-group and material from around the world needs to be examined.