Ammothella exornata Stock, 1975

Ammothella exornata Stock View in CoL

Ammothella exornata Stock, 1975: 974-978 View in CoL , figs 7c-d.

Material. Exuvy (ZSM-A- 20061000), Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta; from substrate. 18.12.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM-A- 20061032); Playa Brava, Bahia de Bahia de Taganga, Santa Marta; from stone, 0-0.5 m, 27.12.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM-A- 20071598); Playa Brava, Bahia de Taganga, Santa Marta; from stone, 0-0.5 m, 27.12.2004 ; Adult ♂ (ZSM-A- 20071599); Playa Brava, Bahia de Taganga, Santa Marta; under stone, 0-0.5 m, 27.12.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM-A- 20061033); Playa Brava, Bahia de Taganga, Santa Marta; under stone, 0-0.5 m, 05.01.2005 .

Description ( Figs 5-7 View Fig View Fig View Fig )

Living animals are sand-coloured with ganglia visible ventrally ( Fig. 5B View Fig ). Body slightly oval in shape ( Fig. 5A View Fig ), segmentation line between 3 rd and 4 th segment absent.( Fig. 6B View Fig ), dorsally with numerous cone-shaped protuberances on all segments including the abdomen ( Fig. 6C View Fig ) that are less pronounced in juveniles ( Fig. 5B,D View Fig ). Slit organs or epidermal gland openings on the tip and at the sides of these ( Fig. 5E View Fig , 6 View Fig E-G).

Ocular tubercle 2× as high as wide, with apical sense organ and two lateral sense organs. At the left and the right base of eye tubercle two protuberances, each with a distal gland pore ( Figs 5D,I View Fig , 7I View Fig ). Further pores on branched protuberances at the sides of eye tubercle ( Fig. 7I View Fig ). Small protuberance at the posterior base of tubercle ( Figs 6B View Fig , 7I View Fig ). Eyes strongly pigmented, anterior 2 about ¼ deeper on the tubercle than the 2 posterior ones.

Abdomen not separated from body, i.e. confluent with the 3 rd externally visible body segment ( Figs 6B View Fig , 7J View Fig ); with 3 small protuberances and two small spines on each side of the anus ( Fig. 7J View Fig ).

Chelifores with 3 articles, 1 st and 2 nd of equal length and with numerous spines and protrusions. Chelae rudimentary in adults ( Fig. 7A View Fig ), in juveniles well developed and dentated ( Fig. 5F View Fig ).

Palps with 9 articles in adults ( Fig. 7B View Fig ) and 5 in juveniles ( Fig. 5H View Fig ). 2 nd and 4 th article the longest, articles 7-9 short, of equal length. Ovigera with 10 articles and serrated spines from article 8-10 ( Figs 7G,H View Fig ). Ovigera absent in juvenile stages.

Legs 1-4 long, coxae 1 with several distal protuberances in adults ( Fig. 7C View Fig ), only a few in juveniles ( Fig. 5E View Fig ). Second coxa 0.33× as long as first coxa. Coxa 2 of legs 3 and 4 of males ventrodistally with genital pores on protuberances ( Fig. 7D View Fig ). Coxa 3 equal in length to coxa 1. Femur robust, 2× as long as wide, with long, seta-shaped cement gland dorsodistally ( Fig. 7E View Fig ). Tibia 1 wider than tibia 2 but of same length, both thinner than other leg articles ( Fig. 7D View Fig ), equipped with numerous bristles. Tarsus 0.2× as long as wide, with two spines on ventral side in adults and one in juveniles.Propodus curved, with 3 proximal, thick spines in adults and further distally a sole composed of 3-7 small spines, depending on developmental stage ( Figs 5G View Fig , 7F View Fig ). Two or 3 hairy spines dorsally on propodus. Length of main claw 0.6× as long as propodus. Length of accessory claws 0.5× as long as main claw.

Remarks. Ammothella exornata is a small and robust species. It was collected mainly at dim-light habitats under stones. Adults of this species can easily be determined by the dorsal protuberances and the fusion of segments 3 and 4. The cuticular gland pores are either found at the tips of small protrusions or surrounded by a ring, and neighboured by a branched hair. Ammothella exornata is commonly found in the Caribbean Sea, e.g. St. Martin and Bonaire ( Stock 1975), Panama ( Child 1979), Belize (Child 1982), Martinique ( Müller 1990) and Colombia ( Müller 1990).