Paraleptamphopus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Crustacea |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Superorder: | Peracarida |
Order: | Amphipoda |
Family: | Paraleptamphopidae |
Genus: | Paraleptamphopus Stebbing, 1899 |
Species | |
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Paraleptamphopus is a genus of amphipods in the family Paraleptamphopidae [1] endemic to New Zealand. The first species to be described was Calliope subterraneus (now Paraleptamphopus subterraneus) which was named by Charles Chilton in 1882. George M. Thomson described a second species in 1885, as Pherusa coerulea (now Paraleptamphopus caeruleus). Although no other species have yet been formally described, it is thought that many more undescribed species exist.
In 1882, Charles Chilton collected specimens of P. subterraneus from groundwater at his farm near Eyreton, Canterbury, and later obtained specimens from various depths in Lincoln, Winchester and St. Albans. These animals were colourless and lacked eyes, and were described as a new species in the genus Calliope. Chilton later acquired specimens from the Porter River at Castle Hill, Canterbury, from Lake Wakatipu, Otago, from Lake Taupō on the North Island and from Otautau, Southland. [2]
George M. Thomson described a new species in the genus Pherusa in 1885, from specimens collected in a mountain stream in the Old Man Range of central Otago at an altitude of 3,000 ft (910 m). Further populations were not found for several years, but were later discovered at a variety of locations, including "the bog-water on top of Swampy Hill, near Dunedin", [2] Otautau (together with P. subterraneus), Ruapuke Island, Drummond, and near Invercargill. Unlike P. subterraneus, P. caeruleus is a deep blue colour, which it retains even after prolonged preservation. [2] Chilton concluded that P. caeruleus was the form from which P. subterraneus evolved. [2]
More recent work has unearthed a great deal of genetic variability within the specimens ascribed to the genus, which is likely to result in the description of a number of new species. The centre of diversity is in the upper West Coast of the South Island, and the genus appears to be absent from the eastern portion of the North Island, (the Bay of Plenty, East Cape, and northern Hawke's Bay), presumably due to a recent history of volcanism. [3]
Amphipoda is an order of malacostracan crustaceans with no carapace and generally with laterally compressed bodies. Amphipods range in size from 1 to 340 millimetres and are mostly detritivores or scavengers. There are more than 9,900 amphipod species so far described. They are mostly marine animals, but are found in almost all aquatic environments. Some 1,900 species live in fresh water, and the order also includes terrestrial animals and sandhoppers such as Talitrus saltator.
Chiltonia is a genus of amphipod crustaceans endemic to New Zealand. Four species are known, three of which live in fresh waters. They were first discovered by Charles Chilton in 1898 and the genus Chiltonia was erected the following year by T. R. R. Stebbing in Chilton's honour.
Chaetocorophium is a monotypic genus of amphipods in the family Corophiidae, containing only the species Chaetocorophium lucasi. Chaetocorophium is very closely related to Paracorophium, and some researchers propose synonymising the two genera.
Paracorophium is a genus of amphipods in the family Corophiidae.
Paracalliope is a genus of amphipod crustaceans that live in Australasia. They include the most common freshwater amphipods in New Zealand, where they are particularly frequent in slow-flowing reaches of rivers. They shelter among weed beds and are important prey items for fish such as the New Zealand smelt, Retropinna retropinna, which are in turn important prey for the freshwater eels Anguilla australis and Anguilla dieffenbachii. Paracalliope acts as an intermediate host for the nematode Hedruris spinigera, which can thus reach their primary host, the eel.
Paracrangonyx is a genus of amphipods in the family Paracrangonyctidae, comprising two species, Paracrangonyx compactus and Paracrangonyz winterbourni.
Phreatogammarus is a genus of amphipod crustaceans that are endemic to New Zealand. It is the only genus in the family Phreatogammaridae, and contains four species, three of which were described by Charles Chilton.
Gammarus hyalelloides is a species of amphipod crustacean in the family Gammaridae. It is endemic to four springs in Jeff Davis County and Reeves County, Texas, and is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List.
Charles Chilton was a New Zealand zoologist, the first rector to be appointed in Australasia, and the first person to be awarded a D.Sc. degree in New Zealand.
Edward John Miers FZS FLS was a British zoologist and curator of the crustacean collection at the Natural History Museum in London. He contributed to the scientific reports from the Challenger expedition of 1872–1876, and described 32 new genera and at least 260 new species and subspecies of decapod crustaceans, along with four genera and 72 new species in other orders.
Caprella mutica, commonly known as the Japanese skeleton shrimp, is a species of skeleton shrimp. They are relatively large caprellids, reaching a maximum length of 50 mm (2.0 in). They are sexually dimorphic, with the males usually being much larger than the females. They are characterized by their "hairy" first and second thoracic segments and the rows of spines on their bodies. Body color ranges from green to red to blue, depending on the environment. They are omnivorous highly adaptable opportunistic feeders. In turn, they provide a valuable food source for fish, crabs, and other larger predators. They are usually found in dense colonies attached to submerged man-made structures, floating seaweed, and other organisms.
Édouard Chevreux was a French carcinologist.
Martensia martensi is a species of amphipod crustacean, and the only species in the genus Martensia. It occurs in waters around Svalbard at depths of 37–95 metres (121–312 ft).
Orocrambus sophronellus is a moth in the family Crambidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as Data Deficient by the Department of Conservation.
Paramoera walkeri is an amphipod of the genus Paramoera. It lives around Antarctica.
Asaphodes stinaria is a moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Nationally Vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.
Theoxena is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae erected by Edward Meyrick in 1883. Its only species, Theoxena scissaria, was first described by Achille Guenée in 1868. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species has been classified as nationally vulnerable by the Department of Conservation.
Paranotoreas fulva is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Relict" by the Department of Conservation.
Pseudamphithoides incurvaria is a species of amphipod crustacean in the family Ampithoidae. It is native to shallow water in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean where it creates a home for itself from fragments of the algae on which it feeds. This seaweed contains certain chemicals that are distasteful and protect it from predatory fish.
Eurythenes is a genus of marine amphipods in the family Eurytheneidae.