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Issue: Vol. 5729 No. 4: 17 Dec. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-17
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.3
Page range: 535-548
Abstract views: 73
PDF downloaded: 5

Cold-water coral associated Acanthonotozomellidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) off Aotearoa New Zealand, with description of a new genus and species

Senckenberg am Meer; Südstrand 40; D-26382 Wilhelmshaven; Germany; Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science (IMF); Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN); University of Hamburg; Große Elbstraße 133; 22767 Hamburg; Germany
Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd); 301 Evans Bay Parade; 6021 Wellington; New Zealand
Senckenberg am Meer; Südstrand 40; D-26382 Wilhelmshaven; Germany
Crustacea primnoid corals integrative taxonomy southwest Pacific deep sea bar code camouflage key

Abstract

Aotearoa New Zealand has some of the most diverse and abundant deep-sea cold-water coral fauna found in the world. The coral-associated fauna off Stewart Island was investigated and revealed Amphipoda of the family Acanthonotozomellidae Coleman & J.L. Barnard, 1991a. This is the first time this family is recorded from the south Pacific. In situ observations by the ROV MARUM Squid revealed camouflage colour patterns of the amphipods on different primnoid corals. Integrative taxonomy methods were approached, Paracanthonotozomella steffi gen. et sp. nov. is described in detail, including photographs, illustrations, confocal laser scanning microscope images, COI and 16 S sequences. A key to the world genera of Acanthonotozomellidae is provided.

 

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How to Cite

Lörz, A.-N., Peart, R.A. & Freiwald, A. (2025) Cold-water coral associated Acanthonotozomellidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) off Aotearoa New Zealand, with description of a new genus and species. Zootaxa, 5729 (4), 535–548. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.3