Ameliotes malagassicus Por 1969

Ameliotes malagassicus

One ♂ in station 410A.

Holotype: HUJ, COP 79.

Male. Body length 2.32 mm, furcal length 0.41 mm. Body cyclopoid, cephalothorax longer than free thoracic segments 1–4 combined. Fifth thoracic segment only slightly more than half the width of 4th thoracic segment First thoracic segment free but almost hidden below edge of cephalothorax. Cephalothorax and all thoracic and abdominal segments smooth, without any spinulation or serrulation. Rostrum broad and blunt. Furcal branches coalescent, relatively strong, as long as last 3 abdominal segments combined. Setae are inserted in proximal two-fifths of furca.

Antennula formed of 9 joints; first joint and especially the almost square 2nd joint, but also the following 3 joints being very broad. Antennular joints bear short serrulate spines: 3 spines on 5th joint, 2 spines on 6th, and 1 on 7th joint. The 3 sensorial setae are situated on joints 2, 3, and 5.

Basal joint of antenna indistinctly divided; joints relatively broad. Exopodite 4-jointed, with 2nd and 3rd joints very short; whole exopodite much longer than last joint of antenna.

Base of mandibular palp broadly triangular with only 3 setae. Endopodite broad and rounded, shorter than exopodite. Basal joint of exopodite also broad. Armature of branches as in Pontostratiotes.

Maxillula with fairly well delimited, knoblike exopodite. Maxilla broad and heavy, with the 4 characteristically shaped endites of Pontostratiotes. Maxilliped with very broad basal joint bearing 3 thick spines and 3 setae; 2nd joint bears a spine and a seta.

PI very well developed, very much stronger and with broader joints than the other legs. First 2 joints of endopodite elongate, reaching beyond exopodite.

Swimming legs without rodlike setae. Apical setae of endopodite longer than last joint in PII and PII and as long as this joint in PIV.

PV 3-jointed, with short and broad joints. Last joint only about twice as long as broad. External and apical spines long and slender; distal inner spine is relatively stronger, proximal inner spine short with triangular tip and no secondary pinnation. PVI with 2 very long external setae and 1 short internal spine.

Spermatophores have an ovoidal shape (slightly curved).

The new genus is named in honor of Mrs. Amelia Marcus, Museum of Natural History “Grigore Antipa,” Bucarest. The specific name refers to the locality where the specimen was collected, Madagascar.