A taxonomic review of the Leucothoidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the amphipod family Leucothoidae has been reviewed and changes are proposed. Currently, there are 139 described species of leucothoids in two clades. The anamixid clade contains 39 species and the leucothoid clade contains 100 species. For the first time in a single work, diagnoses, distributions, and available host data are presented for all extant species of the Leucothoidae. The genus Leucothoella has been suppressed based on morphological similarities to the genus Leucothoe. The genera Anamixis and Paranamixis need revision, as the major defining character of Paranamixis (absence of gnathopod 1) is likely developmental. However, due to lack of available data, the genera currently remain separate. Identification keys are provided for all but five poorly described species in the family.

Commensal Leucothoidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Part I: ascidian-dwellers

“…The family currently contains 139 species in five genera and can be divided into two clades (White 2011). The anamixid clade inhabits tropical to warm temperate waters and exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism.…”

Amphipod family distributions around Iceland

“…A new species of leucothoid is described based on specimens collected during the IceAGE expedition (Krapp-Schickel 2018). Leucothoids are usually found near, with, or in sponges or tunicates, and thus specimens are often overlooked inquilines (White 2011). During processing of IceAGE material, only juvenile and male individuals attributable to three species were identified, namely to the Leucothoe spinicarpa complex, L. lilljeborgi Boeck, 1861 and L. vaderotti Krapp-Schickel, 2018 (Krapp-Schickel 2018).…”

Leucothoe eltoni sp. n., a new species of commensal leucothoid amphipod from coral reefs in Raja Ampat, Indonesia (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

“…Recent developments within the taxonomy of the Leucothoidae include: (1) availability of an electronic taxonomic database (Thomas and White 2014); and (2) widely deployed specialized in-situ underwater collecting methodologies. Specialized collection methods that isolate hosts and commensals together (sponges, ascidians, and bivalve mollusks) has led to re-examination of existing collections and spurred new efforts resulting in an increase in recently described leucothoid taxa for study and research (Myers 2013, Krapp-Schickel and DeBroyer 2014, Ortiz and Winfiled 2012, Thomas 1979, 1997a,b, Thomas and Klebba 2006, 2007, Thomas and Krapp-Schickel 2011, Thomas and Taylor 1981, White and Thomas 2009, White and Reimer 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, Winfield and Alvarez 2009, Winfield et al 2009) including new approaches for molecular analysis (White 2010, 2011a,b, White and Reimer 2012d). …”