Krapp-Schikel, G.

Ruffo, S.

Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert

MARINE AMPHIPODS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS WITH DESCRIPTION 
OF A NEW SPECIES OF ELASMOPUS 
Krapp-Schickel. G .  & Ruffo. S. 1990. Marine amphipods of the Canary Islands with description of 
a new species of Elastiiol>us. Misc. Zool.. 14: 53-58. 
Mnritie ntiiphil~ods of tlie Cnrinr~l Islotids tvitli descril)tio~i of tr tiew species of Elasmopus.- Thirty- 
two amphipod species were found in the phytal of Gran Canaria island, 15 of them new to the fauna 
of the Canary Islands. The presence of At~ipithoe kntieohe J.L. Barnard (first described from the 
Hawaiian Islands) isconfirmed. and Elnstiiopuscntinri~is n. sp. isdescribed. This new species isvery 
closely related to a group of almost entirely Indo-Pacific species, with intertropical distribution. 
The species is characterized in the male by a large. obtuse tooth on palmar margin of gnathopod 2 
and a castelloserrate posterior margin in pereopods 6 and 7. 
Key words: E1catiiol)us cnnnrius n. sp., Amphipods, Canary Islands. 
(Rebut: 28 111 90; Accel~tnció cotidiciotitil: 13 IX YO; Acc. iiefitiirii~o: Y 191) 
Cerrrnud Krnpp-Schickel, Zoologisclies Forscliutigsinsticur utid Musel~tii A. Koenig, Botit~. Aletilo- 
nin (Germany).- Snndro Ruffo, Museo Civico di Storin Nnt~wnle, Verotitz. ltttlin (Itnly). 
INTRODUCTION 
The Amphipods of the Canary Islands are 
still poorly known and have never been the 
subject of specific research (cfr. CEJAS et al., 
1983; CEJAS & BRITO, 1984). This is clearly 
demonstrated by the fact that occasional sam- 
plings, such as the one in the present paper, 
lead to the discovery of species never before 
reported for the fauna of these islands, or 
cven to the discovery of new species. 
MATERIAL AND METHODS 
Between the 1st and the 10th of December of 
1975,1120 specimens belonging to 32 species 
from phytal-samples (0-3 m) and 2 species 
from sponges of Playa del Inglés (Gran Cana- 
ria) were sampled. 
The samples were taken by diving down to 
the algae site, and collecting them with a tight 
net. Once out of the water the algae were rin- 
sed in fresh water mixed with alcohol until 
even those specimens that were clinging fast 
to their hiding places came loose. The amphi- 
pods were immediately preserved in a 70% 
alcohol solution. 
RESULTS 
Species identified 
Amphilochus neapolitanus Della Valle 
*Ampithoe helleri G. Karaman 
Arnpithoe kaneohe J.L. Barnard 
Arnpithoe ramondi Audouin 
Aora spinicornis Afonso 
*Apherusa alacris Krapp-Schickel 
*Caprella acanthifera Leach 
*Caprella danilewskii Czerniawski 
*Caprella grandirnana Mayer 
*Caprella liparotensis Haller 
*Corophiurn acutum Chevreux 
*Colornastix pusilla Grube 
*Cressa rnediterranea Ruffo 
Cymadusa filosa Savigny 
Misc. Zool. 14.1990 
"Elasmopus canarius n. sp. 
Elasmopus pectenicrus (Bate) 
Elasmopus rapax A. Costa 
*Elasrnopus vachoni Mateus & Mateus 
"Eusiroides dellavallei Chevreux 
"Gammaropsis ulrici Krapp-Schickel & Myers 
*Guernea coalita (Norman) 
Hyale camptonyx (Heller) 
Hyale schmidti (Heller) 
Jassa sp. 
Maera inaequipes (A. Costa) 
Melita sp. 
Microdeutopus damnoniensis (Bate) 
*Microprotopus longimanus Chevreux 
Podocerus variegatus Leach 
Stenothoe monoculoides (Montagu) 
Stenothoe tergestina (Nebeski) (= spinimana 
Chevreux) 
Sunamphithoepelagica (Milne Edwards) 
The species with an asterisk (*) are cited 
for the first time from the Canary Islands. Al1 
of these species were already known from the 
Mediterranean Sea (RUFFO, 1982; 1989), ex- 
cept for Elasmopus canarius n. sp., described 
below, and Ampithoekaneohe J.L. Barnard, 
first described from the Hawaiian Islands,. 
but already cited for the Canary Islands by 
CEJAS et al. (1983). The specimens of A. ka- 
neohe correspond perfectly with the original 
description (BAKNARD, 1970). As for the 
huge distance between these two localities, 
one could presume that the presence of this 
species in the Canary Islands might be the re- 
sult of passive transport. 
The samples came from: 
1) Shrubby brown algae (Cystoseira, Sargas- 
sum) and their epiphytes, with little detritus 
and strong water movement. Dominant spe-, 
cies: Ampithoe spp., Sunamphithoe pelagica, 
Elasmopus canarius, E. pectenicrus, E. va- 
choni, Microdeutopus damnoniensis, Hyale 
camptonyx. 
2) Short red algae (Corallina, Jania, Peysso- 
nelia) with much detritus. Dominant species: 
Aora spinicornis, Apherusa alacris, Elasmo- 
pus rapax, Hyale schrnidti, Caprella liparo- 
tensis, C. grandimana. 
3) Sponges with their typical inhabitant, Co- 
lomastix pusilla. 
Elasmopus canarius n. sp. 
Diagnosis 
An Elasmopus with inner face of palmar mar- 
gin of gnathopod 2 of male defincd by an ob- 
tuse, large tooth, posterior margin with a 
dense fringe of long setae; basis of pereopods 
6-7, in male, with posterior margin deeply 
serrate (castelloserrate). 
Examined material 
Gran Canaria, Playa del InglCs, Molo Aqua- 
marina; fine green algae, 1-2 m deep, XII 
1975, 10 8 8 4 Q 9 ,  G. Krapp-Schickel leg. 
The holotype (8 MVR Cr 331, slides 3775- 
3777) and the paratypes have been deposited 
at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Vero- 
na. 
Description of 6 (4.5 mm) 
Head (fig. 1A): with subocular notch; eyes 
relatively short, suboval and dark; antenna 1 
slightly longer than 112 of body, main flagel- 
lum with 18-19 articles, accessory flagellum 
(fig. 1C) as long as first article of main flagel- 
lum, triarticulate, article 3 rudimentary; an- 
tenna 2 half as long as antenna 1, flagellum 
with 7-9 articles. 
Mandibular palp (fig. 1B): ratioof articles 
1:2:2.5; article 3 deeply falcatc, with comb- 
Fig. 1. Elrrsnio/>us ccrnnrius n. sp. 6 holotype, 4.5 mm, Gran Canaria: A. Head; B. Mandibular palp; C. Acccs- 
sory flagellum; D. E. Gnathopods 1-2; F. Gnathopod 2, distal part, on inner face; G. Pcrcopod 4; H. Epimeral 
plate 3; 1, L, M.  Uropods 1-3; N.  Telson. (Scales: 0.1 mm). 
Elasmopus canarius sp. n. 6 holotil>o, 4,5 rnm, Gran Canaria: A. Cabeza; B. Palpo rnandibular; C. Flagelo 
rrccesorio; D, E. Gncrtól)odos 1-2; F. Gtia~ól>o+o 2, parte distal de la cara interna; G. Pereiópodo 4; H. Placa el>¿- 
r?~ernlS; I ,  L, M.  Uról>odos 1-3; N. Telson. (Escalas: O,/ rnrn). 

Misc. Zool. 14, 1990 
like row of setae along concave margin and Gnathopod 1 (fig. ID): propodus as long 
with 2 long dista1 setae. as carpus or slightly longer, suboval, palmar 
Coxa1 plate 1-4 (figs. ID ,  l E ,  1G): infe- margin defined by one strong spine, with 
rior margin with sparse long setae; coxa1 plate some long setae and sparse short bifid spines; 
4 (fig. 1G) feebly excavate posteriorly. gnathopod 2 (fig. 1E) propodus robust, as 
long as remaining segments, subpyriform, 
posterior margin with subdistal, minutely spin- 
ous protrusion, palmar margin defined by a 
large obtuse tooth on inner face (fig. 1F); pos- 
terior margin with a close fringe of long setae. 
Pereopods 3-4 (fig. 1G): similar, without 
noteworthy features, with few short spines 
and setae, propodus distally with pair of 
strong locking spines. 
Pereopod 5 (fig. 2A): posterior margin of 
basis weakly serrate, with ca. 13 feeble inden- 
tations, each with a short spine. Pereopod 6 
(fig. 2B): stronger than pereopod 5, posterior 
margin of basis weakly constricted distally, 
with pronounced distal lobe, proximally weak- 
ly serrate, with 7-8 indentations, each with a 
short spine, distal half deeply serrate (caste- 
lloserrate), without spines. Pereopod 7 (fig. 
2C): slightly shorter than pereopod 6, poste- 
rior margin of basis convex, deeply serrate 
(castelloserrate), without spines. 
Epimeral plate 3 (fig. 1H): ventral margin 
with three spines or group of spines, postero- 
inferior corner acutely produced, posterior 
margin feebly and sparsely crenulate, with 
short spines. 
Uropods 1-2 (figs. 11, 1L): without note- 
worthy features, distal spines of peduncle not 
very long. Uropod 3 (fig. 1M): inner ramus 
75% of outer one, both with very long distal 
spines. Telson (fig. 1N): short, as long as 
wide, with 3 distal spines, exterior one longer 
than telson. 
Description of P (ovigerous) (4.3 mm) 
Antenna 1 half as long as body, main flagel- 
lum of 19-21 articles. Gnathopod 2 (fig. 2D): 
propodus suboval, twice as long as carpus, 
palmar margin undefined, dactylus short. Pe- 
reopods 6-7 (figs. 2E, 2F): posterior margin 
not castelloserrate, with 14-17 indentations, 
each with a short spine. Oostegites (fig. 2G): 
narrow. 
Remarks 
Elasmopus canarius n. sp. is very closely relat- 
ed to a group of almost entirely Indo-Pacific 
species with intertropical distribution: E. pec- 
tenicrus (Bate, 1862); E. serricatus J.L. Bar- 
nard, 1969; E. spinibasus Sivaprakasam, 
1970; E. yundeJ.L. Barnard, 1974 (very simi- 
lar to E. spinibasus, perhaps synonymous); 
E. crenulatus Berents, 1983; E. laufolii 
Myers, 1986. This group of species is charac- 
terized by the presence of a very dense fringe 
of long setae on the posterior margin of gna- 
thopod 2 of the male and by a castelloserrate 
posterior margin of the basis of pereopods 6 
andlor 7. 
Elasmopus canarius is distinguished by 
the following combination of characters, 
which never occur al1 together in any other 
species: a large, obtuse 6 0 t h  on palmar mar- 
gin of gnathopod 2 in the male and a castello- 
serrate posterior margin in pereopod 6 and 7. 
This latter character helps to distinguish E. 
canarius easily from E. pectenicrus Bate, the 
only other Indo-Pacific species of the above- 
mentioned group present also in the Atlantic 
Ocean, which now is penetrating in the Medi- 
terranean Sea vi& the Suez Canal. 
RESUMEN 
Anfípodos marinos de las Islas Canarias y descripción 
de una nueva especie de Elasmopus. 
Se citan 32 especies de anfípodos colectados en el fi- 
tal de la Gran Canaria, 15 de las cuales son nuevas 
para la fauna de las Islas Canarias. Se confirma la pre- 
sencia de Ampithoe kaneohe J.L. Barnard, descrita 
para las Islas Hawai y se describe Elasmopus canarius 
sp. n. afín a un grupo de especies en su gran mayoría 
indopacíficas con distribución intertropical. El macho 
de esta especie se caracteriza por la presencia de un 
gran diente obtuso sobre el margen palmar del gnató- 
podo 2 y por presentar los márgenes posteriores de los 
basipoditos de los pereiópodos 6 y 7, profundamente 
serrados. 
Fig. 2. Elasmol~us cunririus n .  sp. d. holotype, 4.5 mm, Gran Canaria: A, B, C. Pereopods 5-7. E .  canarius n. sp. 
O (ovigerous), 4.3 mm: D. Gnathopod 2; E, F. Pereopods 6.7; G .  Oostegite 3. (Scales: 0.1 mm). 
Elasmopus canarius sp. n.,  d holotipo, 4,5 mm, Gran Canaria: A ,  B, C. Pereiópodos 5-7. E. canarius sp. n. 
9 (ovígero), 4,3 mni; D. Cnatópodo 2; E, F. Pereiópodos 6,7; C. Oostegito 3. (Escalas: O,] mm). 
Misc. Zool. 14, 1990 
REFERENCES 
BARNARD, J.L., 1970. Sublittoral Gammaridea 
(Amphipoda) of the Hawaiian Islands. Smithsonian 
Contr. Zool., 34: 1-286. 
CEJAS, J.R. & BRITO, A., 1984. Lista preliminar de 
anfipodos bentonicos marinos de las Islas Cana- 
rias. An. Fac. Ciencias, lO(1-2): 51-60. 
CEJAS, J.R., BRITO, A. & LOZANO, G., 1983. Sobre 
algunos Gammaridos (Crustacea, Amphipoda) 
nuevos para la fauna marina de Canarias. Vieraea, 
12(1-2): 317-328. 
RUFFO, S. (Ed.), 1982. The Amphipoda of the Medi- 
terranean. Part 1. Gammaridea (Acanthonotozo- 
matidae to Gammaridae). Mém. Inst. Océanogr., 
13: 1-364. 
- 1989. The Amphipoda of the Mediterranean. 
Part. 2 (Haustoriidae to Lysianassidae). Mém. 
Inst. Océanogr., 13: 365-576. 


Marine amphipods of the Canary Islands with description of a new species of Elasmopus

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