A new species of Apolochus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridea, Amphilochidae) in Maryland coastal bays, USA with notes on its abundance and distribution.
A new amphilochid amphipod, Apolochus cresti sp. n. is described from specimens collected in the shallow waters of Maryland coastal bays, Mid-Atlantic region, at depths from 1.7 to 2.1 m. The new species appears to be most closely related to the northeastern Atlantic species, Apolochus neapolitanus sensu Krapp-Schickel, 1982. Apolochus cresti sp. n. can be distinguished from Apolochus neapolitanus by a combination of characters, including the shape of the lateral cephalic lobe, shape of the mandible molar process, relative length of mandible palp article 3, the carpal lobe length of gnathopod 2, and the lack of sub-marginal spines on antero-lateral surface of gnathopod 2. Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the abundance of Apolochus cresti and the amount of macroalgae collected per station, bay, and month. Ovigerous females carrying eggs were present from March to May and in October, reaching their peak in May, although only ovigerous females carrying juveniles were found in May. Males were abundant in March and were collected also in May and October. A key for the separation of Apolochus species is presented.
NSF - CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in the Mid-Atlantic Region (CISCEP); NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
Andrés G
AG
Morales-Núñez
NSF - CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in the Mid-Atlantic Region (CISCEP); NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA.
Paulinus
P
Chigbu
Amphilochidae; Amphipoda; Anfipoda; Apolochus; Maryland coastal bays (MCBs); Mid-Atlantic Region; bahías costeras de Maryland; new species; nueva especie; región del Atlántico medio