A new Epimeria (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Paramphithoidae) from the Weddell Sea

Epimeria rubrieques sp. n., belonging to the cold water family Paramphithoidae, occurred relatively often in Agassiz and bottom trawls taken during several German Antarctic Expeditions into the eastern Weddell Sea since 1983. Although this species is very conspicuous because of its long mid-dorsal t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: De Broyer, Claude, Klages, Michael
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1991
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102091000196
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102091000196
Description
Summary:Epimeria rubrieques sp. n., belonging to the cold water family Paramphithoidae, occurred relatively often in Agassiz and bottom trawls taken during several German Antarctic Expeditions into the eastern Weddell Sea since 1983. Although this species is very conspicuous because of its long mid-dorsal teeth, bright pink-red colour and large size (up to 70 mm), it has only been recorded in the Weddell Sea. The new species is compared to its closest relatives Epimeria macrodonta and E. similis , and an updated key to the 14 species of Antarctic Epimeria is provided. Observations on the general and feeding behaviour of living specimens of Epimeria rubrieques sp. n. in aquaria showed the species to be an ambush predator and a weakly motile epibenthic walker, which swims only rarely.