Cerapus slayeri Drumm, 2018

Cerapus slayeri Drumm, 2018 View in CoL

Figs 6 View Figure 6 , 31 F View Figure 31

Cerapus sp B.: LeCroy 2007: 556, fig. 481.

Cerapus slayeri Drumm, 2018: 496–503, figs 1–6. View in CoL

Material examined.

Panama • 1.4–2 mm • 3 juvenile ♀; Bocas del Toro, Pidgeon Key Reef ; 9.2693°N, 82.2489°W, depth 0.5–1 m, among Halimeda , Thalassia ; 9 August 2005; S. LeCroy leg.; GCRL 6662 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Head ocular lobe posterior margin even, reaching ~ 1 / 2 of head length; rostrum short, acute. Antennae 1 and 2 flagella tri-articulate. Pereopod 7 basis posterior margin with spinules; carpus antero- and posterodistal margins with long, plumose setae. Pleopod 2 outer ramus tri-articulate; inner ramus with marginal setules. Uropod 1 inner ramus with apical robust seta, distal margin of seta narrowing evenly; both rami with marginal setules.

Distribution.

USA: Delaware Bay, Delaware and Great South Bay, New York ( Drumm 2018); Florida ( LeCroy 2007); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs among Halimeda , Thalassia , and mangrove roots at depths of 0.5– 1 m. Panamanian specimens agree closely with previous descriptions of Cerapus slayeri , despite being juveniles. Notable exceptions include female uropod 1 peduncle with distoventral robust seta and pleopod 2 with plumose setae (simple in original description). We did not collect male specimens of C. slayeri , but diagnostic characters described previously include: antenna 1 peduncle 3 × as long as flagellum, peduncle articles 2 and 3 slender, subequal; flagellum 3 - or 4 - articulate. Antenna 2 flagellum tri-articulate. Pereonite 1 lateral keel absent. Gnathopod 2 carpus with process where the dactylus closes on propodus. Uropod 1 peduncle with large distoventral hook. Ethanol-preserved specimens retained purple coloration on most of the body, especially stripes on antennae.