Phoxocephalidae * Author Taylor, Joanne text Zootaxa 2009 2009-10-08 2260 1 800 827 https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2260.1.44 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.2260.1.44 1175-5326 5306993 Metaphoxus varanus sp. nov. ( Figs 17 , 18 , Pl. 5H) Type material. Holotype female, 2.2 mm , AM P71481, Back Reef , Yonge Reef , Lizard Island ( 14°36.761’S 145°37.362’E ), rubble and sediment, bommie on back reef surrounded by sand, airlift, 14.9 m , R . T . Springthorpe , 4 March 2005 ( QLD 1809 ) . Paratypes : 2 females , 2.3–2.4 mm , AM P77848, same station data . FIGURE 17. Metaphoxus varanus sp. nov. , holotype, female, 2.2 mm, AM P71481, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. FIGURE 18. Metaphoxus varanus sp. nov. , holotype, female, 2.2 mm, AM P71481, Yonge Reef, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Type locality. Yonge Reef , Lizard Island , Queensland , Australia . Additional material examined. 1 female , AM P54646 ( QLD 44 ) ; 1 female , AM P54650 ( QLD 52 ) ; 3 females , AM P54823 ( QLD 805 ) ; 16 females , AM P54827 ( QLD 809 ) ; 8 females , AM P77849 ( QLD 907 ) ; 1 male , AM P77850 ( QLD 940 ) ; 1 female , AM P71004 ( QLD 1620 ) ; 1 female , AM P70879 ( QLD 1700 ) ; 1 female , AM P71144 ( QLD 1707 ) ; 1 female , AM P71049 ( QLD 1718 ) ; 1 female , AM P71306 ( QLD 1761 ) ; 1 female , AM P77851 ( QLD 1621 ) ; 1 female , AM P71255 ( QLD 1725 ) ; 5 males , AM P71525 ( QLD 1805 ) ; 1 male , AM P71343 ( QLD 1805 ) ; 4 unsexed ( QLD 2014 ) . Etymology. Named for the genus Varanus which includes Gould's Sand Goanna, a common inhabitant of Lizard Island that inspired the Island’s name. Description. Based on holotype female. Head. Rostrum unconstricted; eyes present. Antenna 1 peduncle article 2 without ventral setae. Antenna 2 peduncle article 4 without facial robust setae, with a single slender setae, dorsal setae absent; article 5 midfacial robust setae absent; flagellum reduced to 6 or fewer articles. Mandible palp article 2 without outer setae; molar simple. Maxilla 1 inner plate without setae; outer plate without an especially thickened robust seta; palp uniarticulate. Pereon. Coxae , long ventral setae present on coxae 1–4, main ventral setae of coxae 1–4 = 4–4–4–5. Coxa 1 expanded distally. Gnathopods dissimilar in size. Gnathopod 1 palm almost transverse, carpus of gnathopod 1 free (not cryptic), of gnathopod 2 cryptic. Pereopods 3–4, carpus lacking posteroproximal robust setae, propodus slender setae present. Pereopod 5 basis of broad form, basis equal to or greater than twice width of ischium, basis not tapering distally, without facial ridge. Pereopod 6 basis without facial ridge. Pereopod 7 basis with few or no long ventral setae, without facial ridge. Pleon. Epimera 1–3 without facial and marginal setae. Epimeron 3 without ventral setae or with very short setules only posteriorly. Uropods 1–2 rami without apical nails. Uropod 1 , peduncle basofacial setae absent, without major displaced robust setae, with 1 apicolateral spine; inner ramus naked, without subapical accessory robust setae; outer ramus not continuously spinose to apex. Uropod 3 outer ramus article 2 elongate with 3 apical setae. Habitat. Rubble and sediment. Remarks. The broad form of the basis of pereopod 5 and the uniarticulate palp of maxilla 1 place this new species in the Phoxocephalinae. It is placed in the genus Metaphoxus differing from closely related Parametaphoxus in the length of pereopod 1 carpus and shape of gnathopods. A combination of traits, such as the shape and length/width ratio of propodi of gnathopods and setation and length of uropodal rami, distinguishes this new species from known species of the genus. Distribution. Australia . Queensland : Lizard Island (current study).