Cerapus benthophilus Thomas & Heard, 1979

Cerapus benthophilus Thomas & Heard, 1979 View in CoL

Figs 5 View Figure 5 , 31 E View Figure 31

Cerapus sp.: Thomas 1976: 92, 93.

Cerapus benthophilus Thomas & Heard, 1979: 98–104, figs 1–4; LeCroy 2007: 552, fig. 475. View in CoL

Material examined.

Panama • 5.4 mm • 1 ♀; Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui Grande, Laguna de Chiriqui ; 8.9396°N, 82.1105°W; depth 0.2–1.5 m, among Thalassia ; 10 Aug 2005; S. LeCroy leg.; GCRL 6661 View Materials GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Head ocular lobe posteriorly upturned; rostrum slightly produced. Antenna 1 flagellum 6 - articulate. Pleopod 2 outer ramus unsegmented; inner ramus with marginal plumose setae. Uropod 1 outer ramus wide, apical margin not narrowing distally; inner ramus with apical robust seta, distal margin of seta narrowing unevenly.

Distribution.

U.S.A.: Ocean Springs, Mississippi ( Thomas and Heard 1979), Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River, Biscayne Bay, southeastern Gulf of Mexico between Cape Sable and Cape Romano, Estero Bay and Cocohatchee River, Withalacoochee Bay, Florida panhandle to Louisiana, Florida ( Nelson 1995; Thomas 1993; LeCroy 2007); Mexico: Laguna de Alvarado, Veracruz ( Winfield et al. 1997, 2001), Laguna de Términos, Campeche ( Ledoyer 1986); Panama: Chiriqui Grande, Laguna de Chiriqui (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs among Thalassia at depths of 0.2–1.5 m. This species can be difficult to identify with only female specimens. Previously, male specimens have been identified based on the following characteristics: coxa 3 with small anterior lobe, reaching body lengths longer than most Cerapus species, ranging from 4–13 mm, male pereon segment 1 with lateral keel, male gnathopod 2 basis, anterodorsal margin with numerous, long setae, antennae 1 and 2, 7–12 segmented ( LeCroy 2007; Thomas and Heard 1979). The number of antennae segments seems variable based on size, as seen with the specimens described herein and by Drumm (2018). Panamanian specimens agree closely with the original description of Cerapus benthophilus Thomas & Heard, 1979 . Ethanol-preserved specimens retained purple coloration on most of the body, especially on the head.