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Deep-sea Caprellidea (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Azores with the description of three new species

José M. GUERRA-GARCÍA

en Zoosystema 26 (2) - Pages 235-262

Published on 25 June 2004

The caprellidean fauna of deep-sea waters from Azores is investigated based on the material collected during the expedition BIAÇORES 1971 on board the vessel Jean Charcot (29 September-20 November 1971). The collection contained four species: Liropus azorensis n. sp., Protoaeginella paraspinipoda n. sp., Protoaeginella verrucosa n. sp. and Pseudoprotella phasma (Montagu, 1804). The three new species are described and illustrated in detail, and a key to the world species of Liropus Mayer, 1890, Protoaeginella Laubitz & Mills, 1972 and Pseudoprotella Montagu, 1804 is included. Liropus azorensis n. sp. is the only species in the genus with pereopods 3 and 4 two-articulate and abdominal appendages well developed, being two-articulate in males. Protoaeginella paraspinipoda n. sp. is very close to P. spinipoda Laubitz & Sorbe, 1996 but can be distinguished mainly by the two-segmented abdomen and the abdominal appendages with three to five apical teeth. Protoaeginella verrucosa n. sp. differs from the remaining species of the genus mainly by the presence of two pairs of abdominal appendages. The present study enlarges the deep range known for Pseudoprotella phasma to 2450 m.


Keywords:

Crustacea, Amphipoda, Caprellidea, deep-sea, Azores, new species.

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