A new species of Deutella (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) from the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

A new species of the genus Deutella Mayer, 1890 is described and illustrated, and a key to identify the Deutella species from the Gulf of Mexico is given. The specimens were collected from coral rubble at 18 m depth in Tuxpan-Lobos coral reef system, W Gulf of Mexico. Deutella pseudoincerta n. sp. is remarkably close to Deutella incerta (Mayer, 1903), but can be easily distinguished by: length and shape of pereopod 5 especially distal article; length and width of adult male gnathopod 2; shape and size of tubercles in male abdominal appendages. The new species increases the number of Deutella species to 14 worldwide, and 18 species of Caprellidae from the Gulf of Mexico.