Syntopy in rare marine interstitial crustaceans (Amphipoda, Ingolfiellidae) from small coral islands in the Molucca Sea, Indonesia

Abstract

Ingolfiella botoi, a new species of ingolfiellid amphipod, is described in syntopy with the recently described I. moluccensis from the coarse coral sand interstitial medium of the Gura Ici Islands (Molucca Sea, Indonesia). The new taxon is unique among ingolfiellideans in the display of a multidenticulate unguis on P5-P6. The new species shares most character state resemblances with I. quadridentata Stock 1979, from coarse sublittoral sands up to 4 m depth in Curaçao (Leeward Antilles). This is the third record of syntopy among members of this elusive group of stygobiont amphipods. © 2013 Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.