On a small collection of Maeridae Krapp-Schickel, 2008 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Gujarat, India Author Thacker, Dimple 0000-0003-3101-0028 Department of Life sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan- 384265, Gujarat, India. dimplethacker789@gmail.com Author Myers, Alan A. 0000-0003-3256-2123 School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork Enterprise Centre, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland. bavayia@gmail.com Author Trivedi, Jigneshkumar N. Department of Life sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan- 384265, Gujarat, India. text Zootaxa 2024 2024-07-02 5474 5 563 583 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5474.5.7 journal article 299601 10.11646/zootaxa.5474.5.7 0adc191b-8f3d-4270-8c14-c08f43b4619d 1175-5326 12682122 7DAFD532-8FE8-4755-B664-57A7102E7E00 Maera gujaratensis sp. nov. ( Figs 1C , 9–11 ) Type material. Holotype male, 8 mm , ( LFSC .ZRC-209) Gopnath ( 22.1985 N 72.1082 E ), 25 March, 2023, coll. D. R . Thacker . Paratype , 4 females , 6–8 mm , ( LFSC .ZRC-210) same data as holotype . Paratypes 3 males , 6–7 mm , ( LFSC .ZRC-210) same data as holotype . Other material. 3 males , 7–9 mm and 3 females , 6–7 mm ( LFSC .ZRC-211) Zanzmer ( 21.1830 N 72.0764 E ), 26 March, 2023, coll. D. R . Thacker ; 4 males , 6–8 mm and 1 female , 6 mm ( LFSC .ZRC-211) Uncha Kotda ( 22.1223 N 71.9707 E ), 27 March, 2023, coll. D. R . Thacker ; 2 males , 6 & 7 mm and 1 female , 6.5 mm ( LFSC .ZRC-211) Shivrajpur ( 22.3312 N 68.9496 E ), 27 February, 2022, coll. D. R . Thacker . Etymology. A species is named after Gujarat state , India where the type locality of the new species is located. The name is used as a noun in apposition. Description. Based on holotype , male, 8 mm . Head. Eyes large, ovate. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 0.86 times as long as article 2, article 3 0.41 times as long as of article 2; accessory flagellum 6-articulate (fig. 9, A1). Antenna 2 0.63 times as long as antenna 1, peduncular article 4 1.31 times as long as article 5; flagellum 9-articulate. Mandible incisor bearing 2 cusps, lacinia mobilis 4-dentate (fig. 9, A2). Maxilla 1 inner plate bullet shaped with 4 long plumose setae on distal margin; outer plate with 7 apical robust setae; palp article 2 distally setose (fig. 9, Mx1). Labrum distal margin rounded (fig. 9, Lb). Labium distal margin of inner and outer lobes strongly setose (fig. 9, L). Maxilliped inner plate apically setose; outer plate with several long to small robust setae on distal margin and inner margin; palp 4 articulate, article 4 with a long apical robust seta (fig. 9, Mxp). Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa anteroventral corner subquadrate; basis subequal to carpus, both margins setose; merus subrectangular; carpus anterodistal corner produced, posterior margin densely setose; propodus 0.88 times as long as carpus, subovoidal, anterior margin with a row of setae, posterior margin sparsely setose; palm convex with few small setae and two long setae, palmar corner with few long setae; dactylus subequal to palm (fig. 10, G1). Gnathopod 2 coxa subquadrate; basis 0.70 times as long as propodus, both margins few setae, posterior margin with one long seta; merus with acute posterodistal spine; carpus subtriangular; propodus enlarged, subrectangular, palm transverse with a small V-shaped excavation and several small to medium spines, posterodistal corner defined by a triangular tooth and a robust seta; dactylus a little shorter than palm inner margin with several setae on outer margin (fig. 10, G2). Pereopod 3 longer than pereopod 4; coxa subquadrate, basis anterior margin with a row of small setae, posterior margin with small and medium setae; merus 1.18 times longer than carpus, with 3 robust setae on anterior margin, posterior margin with 2 small setae; carpus anterior margin bare, posterior margin lined 4 setae; propodus 0.84 times as long as carpus, anterior margin bare, posterior margin with 3 robust setae and 4 simple setae, dactylus 0.45 times as long as propodus (fig. 9, P3). Pereopod 4 almost similar to pereopod 3 except propodus 0.92 times as long as carpus (fig. 10, P4). Pereopod 5 basis subrectangular with posterodistal corner produced; merus 1.64 times as long as carpus with 2 robust setae on posterior margin and 2 tufts and a single seta on the anterior margin; carpus 0.75 times as long as propodus, 3 tufts of setae on anterior margin, posterior margin bare; propodus anterior margin with a row of robust setae, posterior margin bare; dactylus bifid, 0.34 times as long as propodus (fig. 10, P5). Pereopod 6 basis subrectangular, both margins with small setae, posterodistal corner produced; merus 1.55 times longer than carpus, both margins setose; carpus 0.79 times as long as propodus, anterior margin with 2 tufts of long setae, posterior margin bare; propodus anterior margin with 4 pair of robust setae, posterior margin with a single seta; dactylus 0.36 times as long as propodus (fig. 10, P6). Pereopod 7 similar to pereopod 6 (fig. 10, P7). Pleon. Epimea 1–3 projected posteroventrally. Uropod 1 peduncle 1.24 times as long as inner ramus, with well-developed basofacial seta and long spur at distal margin; outer ramus 0.94 times longer than inner ramus (fig. 11, U1). Uropod 2 peduncle 0.92 times as long as outer ramus; inner ramus subequal to outer ramus (fig. 11, U2). Uropod 3 peduncle 0.62 times as long as outer ramus; inner ramus subequal to outer ramus (fig. 11, U3). Telson deeply cleft, 1.31 times longer than wide, tips of both lobes incised, each lobe with 1 robust seta on outer margin, 2 distal small robust setae and a small seta on inner corner (fig. 11, T). FIGURE 9. Maera gujaratensis sp. nov. , male holotype (LFSC.ZRC-209): 8 mm, Gopnath (22.1985 N 72.1082 E), Gujarat, India. FIGURE 10. Maera gujaratensis sp. nov. , male holotype (LFSC.ZRC-209): 8 mm, Gopnath (22.1985 N 72.1082 E), Gujarat, India. FIGURE 11. Maera gujaratensis sp. nov. , male holotype (LFSC.ZRC-209): 8 mm, Gopnath (22.1985 N 72.1082 E), Gujarat, India. Female. No sexual dimorphism. Geographical distribution. The species is so far known only from its type locality, Gopanath and other coastal regions of Gujarat including Shivrajpur , Uncha Kotda and Zanzmer . Remarks. Maera gujaratensis sp. nov is very close to congener M. hirondellei Chevreux, 1900 in having a V-shaped excavation on male G2 propodus palm. But it can be differentiated from this congener in number of following characters ( Table 1 ).