Mesoproboloides excavata n. sp. (Amphipoda: Gammaridea: Stenothoidae) from New Zealand

Abstract

M. excavata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from material collected at Kaikoura, New Zealand. It differs most conspicuously from the other 3 known species [M. similis, M. cornuta and M. spinosus] of the genus in the posterodistally excavate coxa 4, the stout, blunt lobe distally on article 1 of antenna 1, the crenulate ventral margins of coxae 2-4, and the castellate posterior margin of article 2 of pereopod 5. The structure and distribution of minute organs, probably sensory receptors, densely distributed over much of the integument was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The genus Mesoproboloides is cold temperate-subantarctic in occurrence.