Belkginoecetes fleurae Just, 2012, sp. nov.

Belkginoecetes fleurae sp. nov.

Figures 8 –9

Type fixation. Holotype, male, here designated.

Etymology. The species is named for my then 10 year old daughter Fleur Auzimour Just who was the first to spot siphos at this location.

Material examined. Holotype, 3, 3.0 mm, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia, corner of Island Point and 4 Mile Beach, 16°32’S, 145°29’E, 3-4m, fine rippled sand with some detritus, hand dredge, J. Just and R.T. Springthorpe, stn AU36, 8 July 1984, QM W29160.

Paratypes. Same data as holotype, QM W29161 (ƤA, ovigerous, 2.73 mm). Same data as holotype, QM W29162 (1 adult 3, 3.0mm, 1 juvenile, 4 abodes).

Description (holotype, 3). Head as long as pereonites 1 and 2 combined along dorsal midline. Rostrum straight, acutely pointed, in dorsal view reaching beyond apices of eye lobes with entire length. Eye lobes short, tapering towards rounded apex in lateral view, lower anterior margin with single simple seta.

Antenna 1 approximately as long as head and pereonites 1–4 combined, reaching to apex of antenna 2 peduncle article 4; flagellum of 5+ articles, approximately as long as peduncle articles 1 and 2 combined. Antenna 2 approximately as long as head and pereonites 1–7 combined; ventral projection of peduncle article 2 as long as broad at base, broadly rounded, with a few simple setae apically and laterally; articles 3–5 ventral with groups of moderately long simple setae; article 5 length 0.9 of 4; flagellum articles 1 and 2 with long, slender robust setae.

Mouthparts, mandible palp article 1 with 2 dorsal, 3 ventral and 2 apical long setae.

Gnathopod 1 propodus length 3.0 width, with 2 midposterior short robust setae. Gnathopod 2 propodus length 2.0 greatest width. Pereopods 3–4 basis with loose row of long setae on midanterior margin, single long setae on lateral surface and posterior margin; merus with few long and short setae along posterior margins. Pereopods 5–6 basis with a few long setae along distal half of anterior margin, posterior margin with a few short setae (5) or naked (6).

Uropod 1 peduncle with dorsolateral row of 2–3 small simple setae; outer ramus slender, approximately 0.6 length of peduncle, lateral margin with 2 robust setae; inner ramus 0.8 length of outer ramus. Uropod 3 barely reaching beyond telson, distolaterally with 3 long simple setae, mediodistally with 2 short simple setae. Telson width 1.2 length, apex broadly convex.

Female. Pereonite 7 ventrally with tiny bump-shaped, sternal papillae close to the anterior margin.

Size. Largest 3, 3.0 mm, largest Ƥ, 2.73 mm.

Colour and biology. Body colourless, semitransparent, entrails shining through in ochre-red, irregular patches of white pigment under cuticle along sides dorsally. Some specimens with faint white bar dorsally between eyes. Eyes white with black ocelles. Large specimens: Antenna 1 peduncle article 2 with red-brown ring proximally and distally; flagellar articles with small red-brown ring terminally. Antenna 2 peduncle article 3 with white chromatophores in distal half, article 4 with a few similar chromatophores scattered. Specimens were found to occupy microprosobranchs and polychaete tubes.

Distribution. Port Douglas, north-eastern Queensland, Australia, 3– 4 m.