Vibilia propinqua Stebbing, 1888: 1279 - 1283
- Dataset
- A review of the hyperiidean amphipod superfamily Vibilioidea Bowman and Gruner, 1973 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea)
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Arthropoda
- class
- Malacostraca
- order
- Amphipoda
- family
- Vibiliidae
- genus
- Vibilia
- species
- Vibilia propinqua
materials_examined
Type material The four syntypes of V. propinqua are in the BMNH (89.5.15.177). The type locality is the Pacific Ocean, off Volcano Island, 25 º 30 ’ N, 138 º 0 ’ E, surface. Type material of synonyms The unique type of V. milnei is in the BMNH (89.5.15.178). Although the remains of the specimen, on three microscope slides, are in poor condition, it appears to be the same as V. propinqua. Stebbing (1888) himself says that “ this species does not differ greatly in general appearance and structure from Vibilia propinqua ”. Material examined (> 250 specimens) Types. Four syntypes of V. propinqua, Challenger, 4 th April, 1875: 3 specimens in spirit and 3 microscope slides of head, G 1 & 2, P 3 – 7 and pleon. The unique type of V. milnei from the South Atlantic, surface, Challenger, 5 th October, 1873: 3 microscope slides of head, G 1 & 2, P 3 – 7 and pleon. Other material examined. Tasman Sea: 3 lots (SAMA), 1 lot (ZMUC), 23 specimens. North Atlantic: 8 lots (BMNH), 2 lots (CMN), 15 lots (USNM), 10 lots (ZMB), 1 lot (ZMH), 30 lots (ZMUC), numerous specimens. South Atlantic: 3 lots (BMNH), 17 lots (USNM), 3 lots (ZMUC), 32 specimens. Mediterranean: 24 lots (ZMUC), numerous specimens. North Pacific: 16 lots (LACM), 7 lots (USNM), 1 lot (MNHN), 3 lots (ZMUC), numerous specimens. South Pacific: 6 lots (BMNH), 1 lot (USNM), 32 specimens. Central IndoPacific: 3 lots (USNM), 1 lot (MNHN), 5 specimens. South Indian: 1 lot (BMNH), 8 lots (SAM), 2 lots (ZMUC), 14 specimens. Arabian Sea: 1 lot (BMNH), 5 specimens. Diagnosis Body length up to 12 mm. Antennae 1 as long as head and first pereonite; flagellum oval with slightly straighter dorsal margin, slightly pointed distally (especially in males). Gnathopod 2; carpal process up to 0.8 x length of propodus. Pereopods 3 – 6; dactylus length about 0.3 x propodus. Pereopod 7; basis rectangular, width about 0.8 x length, marginally longer than ischium to carpus combined, with rounded posterodistal lobe extending to firstthird of merus. Lateral corners of last urosomite not produced. Uropod 3; peduncle distinctly longer than rami (relatively longer in males); endopod slightly longer, or subequal in length to exopod in females, in males the endopod is slightly broader, and up to onethird longer than the exopod. Telson triangular, length about 0.7 x peduncle of U 3. Remarks This species most closely resembles V. antarctica but is distinguished by the shorter carpal process of gnathopod 2, the less truncate first antennae, and in preferring warmer waters. It has been confused with V. stebbingi because the carpal process of gnathopod 2 can be relatively short in some specimens, particularly in females, but V. stebbingi is a much smaller species and is distinguished by the narrow anterodistal lobe of the basis of pereopod 7. Also, sexual dimorphism of uropod 3 is not evident in V. stebbingi. Vibilia propinqua also resembles V. jeangerardi, and V. gibbosa, but is distinguished by the relatively narrower and more pointed flagellum of antennae 1, the relatively longer and more pointed telson, and by the relatively larger posterodistal lobe of the basis of pereopod 7. Laval (1963, 1965) has described the larval biology of V. propinqua, and its association with salps. It has been recorded as an associate of the salps Salpa fusiformis, Thalia democratica, Ihlea punctata (Laval 1963); Salpa maxima, S. cylindrica (Madin & Harbison 1977) and Pegea confoederata var. bicaudata (Laval 1980). Distribution This is a relatively common species, widely distributed in the tropical and temperate regions of the world’s oceans. It is recorded here from Australian waters for the first time.