Vicmusia duplocoxa, gen. et sp.nov., (Crustacea : Amphipoda : Gammaridea) of the new family Vicmusiidae from Australian upper bathyal waters

Abstract

Vicmusia duplocoxa, gen, et sp. nov., from a depth of 400 m in the Bass Strait Canyon off south-eastern Australia is described. The species possesses three unique apomorphisms: pereonal and pleonal tergites are divided laterally (one dorsal and two lateral subplates to each tergite); coxal plate 2 is strongly reduced among long plates 1, 3 and 4; mouthparts are produced into a setose forward-pointing funnel. The species cannot readily be placed in any of the currently diagnosed gammaridean superfamilies or families, so the new family Vicmusiidae is erected but for now is left as Gammaridea, incertae sedis.