A taxonomic study on the Phtisicidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of New South Wales, Australia.

The present study reviews the taxonomy of the Phtisicidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the coast of New South Wales, Australia. The following seven species are described;Dodecas decacentrumStebbing, 1910b,Dodecas hexacentrumMayer, 1903,Hircella cornigera(Haswell, 1879b),Metaproto novaehollandiae(Haswell, 1879a),Notoprotomima smithigen. nov., sp. nov.,Paraprotosp. andPerotripussp. Generic diagnoses ofNotoprotomimagen. nov.,Dodecas, HircellaandMetaprotoare provided based on the present materials.Notoprotomima smithiis fully described as a new species of the new genus.Dodecas decacentrumdiffers fromDodecas hexacentrumby the presence of paired dorsodistal projections on pereonite 2, paired mid-dorsal projections on pereonites 3 and 4 and shorter gill length on pereonites 2 and 3.Hircella cornigeraandMetaproto novaehollandiaeare described in detail. The larger mature males ofM. novaehollandiaepossess the unusual massive type of the propodus of gnathopod 2. The extended distribution ofPerotripusto the New South Wales coast is noted. A key for these phtisicid amphipods from New South Wales, Australia is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]