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Comprehensive Description

provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Metaphoxus tulearensis

Metaphoxus fultoni.—Ledoyer, 1967:28, pl. 7 [not Scott].

DIAGNOSIS.—Like Metaphoxus fultoni (Scott) but pereopods 1–2 with pair of stout locking spines at base of dactyl; gnathopod 1 parachelate.

HOLOTYPE.—Female, 4 mm, in plate 7 of Ledoyer, 1967.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Station 106, Madagascar.

DISTRIBUTION.—Madagascar.

Metaphoxoides Ledoyer

Metaphoxoides Ledoyer, 1970:29–30.

DIAGNOSIS.—Eyes present. [Flagella of antennae 1–2 unreduced in female in M. zavorus, unknown in type.] Article 2 of antenna 1 shortened to ordinary, ventral setae confined apically. [?Article 1 of antenna 2 not ensiform; article 3 with 4 setae in M. zavorus, unknown in type;] facial spines on article 4 in 2 rows; article 5 ordinary (in type) to especially thin; right mandibular [incisor unknown]; molar not triturative [possibly absent]; palpar hump large. Palp of maxilla 1 uniarticulate; inner plate naked (type) or with 3 setae. Setation of maxilla 2 weak. Inner plate of maxillipeds ordinary; apex of palp article 3 not protuberant, dactyl elongate, apical nail distinct, elongate. Gnathopods dissimilar, enlarged; article 5 of gnathopod 2 very short, cryptic, ordinary on gnathopod 1, without eusirid attachment, palms transverse to oblique respectively, hands of gnathopods broadened, poorly setose anteriorly. [Article 5 of pereopods 1–2 unknown.] Article 2 of pereopod 3 of broad form, articles 4–5 of pereopods 3–4 broad to narrow, article 2 of pereopods 3–4 not setose posteriorly; pereopod 5 ordinary, article 2 naked ventrally, article 3 ordinary, dactyl normal.[?Epimera 1–2 lacking long posterior setae, without midfacial setae above ventral facial ridge]; epimeron 3 ordinary, of rounded classification and lacking long setae. [?Urosomite 1 generally naked; urosomite 3 without dorsal hook or special process.] Peduncle of uropod 1 normally elongate, without apicoventral spike, without special enlarged apicolateral–medial spine, [?peduncular apices of uropods 1–2 not combed], inner ramus of uropod 1 lacking marginal spines, no rami continuously spinose to apex, inner ramus of uropod 2 ordinary. Uropod 3 ordinary, outer ramus with or without second article bearing 2–4 long apical setae. Telson ordinary, with 1–4 apical spines or setae on each lobe.

DESCRIPTION.—Rostrum fully developed. [Fuzz on article 1 of antenna 1 in male unknown. Calceoli on male antennae 1–2 unknown. ?Prebuccal parts ordinary, poorly separated from each other, upper lip dominant. Right lacinia mobilis flabellate;] mandibular palp medium to thin, article I short to slightly elongate, article 2 without outer setae, apex of article 3 oblique or rounded (type). [?Lower lip lacking cones.] Outer plate of maxilla 1 with 7 spines, no spine especially thickened. Inner plates of maxilliped especially thin, poorly armed. [?Coxae 2–4 without special anterodorsal humps. ?Some posterior spines on article 6 of pereopods 1–2 thin and seta-like, others thick and stiff, ?midapical spine or seta present.] Article 2 of pereopod 5 without facial setae. Peduncle of uropod 1 with dorsolateral spines confined apically, medial spines confined apically; [?peduncle of uropod 2 with only one medial spine or setule confined apically]. Peduncle of uropod 3 lacking extra subapical setae or spines. [?Telson with ordinary pair of midlateral or dorsal setules on each side, ?reduced to one member on each side.]

TYPE-SPECIES.—Metaphoxoides picardi Ledoyer, 1970 (monotypy).

COMPOSITION.—Metaphoxus zavorus, new species (= Metaphoxus sp., Griffiths, 1973).

RELATIONSHIP.—The vestigiality of article 2 on the outer ramus of uropod 3 is the primary systematic character of this genus.

Metaphoxoides zavorus is placed provisionally in this genus until more facts can be ascertained about the species. It was based on one broken specimen. The vestigial article 2 of the outer ramus on uropod 3 is a clue to its relationship, and there are numerous other similarities between M. zavorus and M. picardi. However, M. zavorus differs in these potentially crucial characters: poorly developed nail on dactyl of maxilliped in contrast to a well developed nail with large accessory nails on M. picardi; much better developed plates of the maxilliped; inner plate of maxilla 1 enlarged and setose; palps of maxilla 1 and mandible enlarged. These characters suggest a definite generic distinction we wish not to implement until more material of M. zavorus becomes available. Pereopod 5 of M. zavorus is depicted strangely, as if it lacks articles 3 and 6 or has a reduced article 6 with tiny dactyl.