Littoral Caprellidea (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Phuket, Thailand

Abstract

A collection of littoral caprellids from Phuket, Thailand has been studied. The material contained five species: Metaproto novaehollandiae (Haswell, 1880), Protogeton incertus Mayer, 1903, Aciconula sp., Metaprotella sandalensis Mayer, 1898, and Monoliropus hapipandi new species, which is described in the present paper. Monoliropus hapipandi can be distinguished from the remaining species of Monoliropus by the abdominal appendages reduced to a seta, the mandibular palp bi-articulate instead of tri-articulate, and by the presence of a striking bi-toothed projection on the penultimate article of the maxilliped palp. Monoliropus agilis, the closest species to M. hapipandi, is illustrated in detail based on the type material, for comparison of both species. Lateral view figures for all species are given and a key to the Caprellidea from Phuket is also provided