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Issue: Vol. 5701 No. 5: 7 Oct. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-10-07
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5701.5.5
Page range: 563-572
Abstract views: 19
PDF downloaded: 0

Orchestia mauritanica sp. nov. (Amphipoda: Talitridae), a new sand hopper from Mauritania with a Comprehensive Key to the World Species of Orchestia

Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum; Department of Marine Zoology; Senckenberganlage 25; D-60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany
School of Biological; Earth and Environmental Sciences; University College Cork; Cork Enterprise Centre; Distillery Fields; North Mall; T12 K8AF Cork; Ireland
Senckenberg am Meer; Marine Research Department; Südstrand 40; D-26382 Wilhelmshaven; Germany; Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften der Universität Bremen (MARUM); University of Bremen; Bremen; Loebener Straße 8; D-28359 Bremen; Germany
Institut Mauritanien de Recherche Océanographique et des Pêches; BP 22; Nouadhibou (Cansado); Mauritania
Senckenberg am Meer; Marine Research Department; Südstrand 40; D-26382 Wilhelmshaven; Germany; Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften der Universität Bremen (MARUM); University of Bremen; Bremen; Loebener Straße 8; D-28359 Bremen; Germany
Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum; Department of Marine Zoology; Senckenberganlage 25; D-60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany
Crustacea Orchestia mauritanica Amphipoda Mauritania

Abstract

A new species of Orchestia Leach, 1814 is described based on two specimens sampled at the Banc d’Arguin National Park in Mauritania. The new species belongs to the group of Orchestia species with an irregular carpus on the seventh pereopod that includes also O. aestuarensis Wildish, 1987 and O. mediterranea Costa, 1853. Orchestia mauritanica sp. nov. can be distinguished from other group members by lacking a concavity on the posterior margin on the basis of the seventh pereopod and by having the posterior margin on the male second gnathopod with a straight distal margin followed by a proximal shelf. The species description is based on detailed illustrations and micro-CT imaging. An identification key to the Orchestia species of the world is provided.

 

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How to Cite

Momtazi, F., Myers, A.A., Knorrn, A.H., Moctar, S.M.M., Freiwald, A. & Sonnewald, M. (2025) Orchestia mauritanica sp. nov. (Amphipoda: Talitridae), a new sand hopper from Mauritania with a Comprehensive Key to the World Species of Orchestia. Zootaxa, 5701 (5), 563–572. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5701.5.5