Charles Oliver Coleman

“Digital inking”: how to make perfect line drawings on computers

Abstract A fast and accurate way for making perfect scientific illustrations is described. A pencil drawing or a photo is scanned. The resulting file is imported into Adobe Illustrator and the line drawing is made using a WACOM Intuos digitiser board. After the habitus and detail drawings have been made, plates can be arranged using the same software. Lettering and arrows can be added very quickly. The plates can be exported as graphics files for printing or further manipulation.

First observations on the phylogeny of the families Gammaridae, Crangonyctidae, Melitidae, Niphargidae, Megaluropidae and Oedicerotidae (Amphipoda, Crustacea), using small subunit rDNA gene sequences

This study examines amphipod phylogeny based on small subunit (18S) rDNA sequence data. Complete sequences of 25 species representing six families were used to test the phylogenetic information content of this gene for reconstruction of amphipod phylogeny. The alignment proved to be informative for most of the studied taxa. The monophyly of the families Gammaridae, Crangonyctidae, Niphargidae and Oedicerotidae is supported. The Melitidae are not monophyletic in the reconstructed topologies, but weak molecular evidence for the monophyly of this group could be observed in spectra of supporting positions. A close relationship of Gammaridae + Melitidae or Gammaridae + Crangonyctidae is not supported, rather there are supporting positions for the incompatible sister-group relationship (Gammaridae + Niphargidae) and (Crangonyctidae + Niphargidae). The molecular evidence is in favour of the latter relationship. The evolution of cephalothoracic apodemes is discussed in the light of other phylogenetic hypotheses resulting from molecular data.

Comparative anatomy of the alimentary canal of hyperiid amphipods

ABSTRACT The foregut and midgut glands of hyperiids are strongly aberrant in comparison with gammaridean amphipods. In hyperiids, the stomach has a reduced filter capability. In the genus Cyllopus, there is only a one-step filter developed, which is of different origin from the filter structures of gammaridean stomachs. In all other hyperiids, the stomach has lost its filter function. In the genus Phrosina, the stomach cavity is completely reduced. Corresponding to the reduction of stomach filtration, the anatomy of the midgut gland is transformed from the plesiomorphic condition of blind-ending tubes to large saclike digestion chambers. The stomach connects with the midgut gland. There is a constriction between the midgut gland and the midgut. Food morsels were found in the stomach and the midgut gland but not in the midgut of these species. The role of the midgut remains obscure. This investigation yielded synapomorphies for the otherwise not well-justified taxon Hyperiidea.

Amphipod family distributions around Iceland

Abstract Amphipod crustaceans were collected at all 55 stations sampled with an epibenthic sledge during two IceAGE expeditions (Icelandic marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology) in 2011 and 2013. In total, 34 amphipod families and three superfamilies were recorded in the samples. Distribution maps are presented for each taxon along with a summary of the regional taxonomy for the group. Statistical analyses based on presence/absence data revealed a pattern of family distributions that correlated with sampling depth. Clustering according to the geographic location of the stations (northernmost North Atlantic Sea and Arctic Ocean) can also be observed. IceAGE data for the Amphilochidae and Oedicerotidae were analysed on species level; in case of the Amphilochidae they were compared to the findings from a previous Icelandic benthic survey, BIOICE (Benthic Invertebrates of Icelandic waters), which also identified a high abundance of amphipod fauna.

The transverse apodeme bridge from the cephalothorax of Amphipoda (Crustacea) and its significance for systematics

There is a striking anatomical diversity in an apodeme pair that protrudes into the cephalothorax of amphipod crustaceans between maxilla 1 and 2. In the hypothetical plesiomorphic state these apodemes are very short and separate and are coupled by a strand of connective tissue. In the eusirid-calliopiid group the apodemes meet and are wedged together by their dentate medial margins. Iphimediidae show a similar condition, but have a pair of frontal processes that are connected to the anterior cephalothorax wall. Within the Hyperiidea the orientation of the apodemes has changed from the transverse to the longitudinal direction. In the gammarid-melitid family group the apodemes are fused into a complete cuticular bridge. This character turned out to be the only synapomorphy for this taxon, and can be used to test the referral of certain genera to this family group. The functional morphology of these apodemes and their role as a site of insertion for the muscles of mouthparts and trunk muscles is briefly discussed.

A new species of Peramphithoe (Amphipoda: Ampithoidae) from South Korea, with morphological diagnoses of the world congeneric species

We describe and illustrate a new species Peramphithoe guryongensis found in South Korea. This new taxon has distinctively enlarged pereiopods 5-7. Four species are known to have broadened pereiopods 5-7: P. chujaensis, P. falsa, P. parmerong, and P. spuria. However, P. guryongensis n. sp. is distinguished from the others by the following characters: the concave palm of gnathopod 2, the expanded basis of pereiopod 5 in males, and the distinct posterodistal lobes at the bases of pereiopods 5-7 in both males and females. Morphological diagnoses and keys to all current species of Peramphithoe are provided based on their descriptions and illustrations.

Maeropsis paphavasitae and Rotomelita longipropoda, two new species (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Lower Gulf of Thailand.

Abstract Two new species of maerid and melitid Amphipoda, Maeropsis paphavasitae and Rotomelita longipropoda, respectively, collected from a seagrassbed of the Lower Gulf of Thailand, are described. Maeropsis paphavasitae is characterized by it seven teeth on the palm of gnathopod 2 and Rotomelita longipropoda can be recognized by its long gnathopod 1 propodus. Their characters are described and illustrated. All specimens are deposited at Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand and the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.

Antarctic caprellids (Crustacea: Amphipoda) collected during the "Polarstern" cruise 42 ANT XIV/2

A collection of caprellids from the “Polarstern” cruise 42 ANT XIV/2 contained five species in four genera: Caprellinoides mayeri (Pfeffer, 1888); C. tristanensis Stebbing, 1888; Aeginoides gaussi Schellenberg, 1926; Pseudododecas bowmani McCain & Gray, 1971; and Paraproto condylata (Haswell, 1885). Although all were previously recorded from the Antarctic region, Pseudododecas bowmani and Paraproto condylata, poorly known from previous studies, are redescribed and illustrated in detail.

Amazing new Amphipoda (Crustacea, Epimeriidae) from New Zealand's deep-sea.

Epimeriidae is an amphipod family with a worldwide distribution. Two new species have been discovered off New Zealand; Epimeria sophie sp. nov. and Epimeria emma sp. nov. Two new species have been discovered off New Zealand; Epimeria sophie sp. nov. and Epimeria emma sp. nov., which are described here in detail. This increases the number of Epimeria species known from New Zealands deep-sea to seven. The morphological differences of the juveniles with the adult of Epimeria sophie sp. nov. are discussed. Extensive scanning electron microscope images reveal structurally very complex surface arrangements on Epimeria emma sp. nov. A key to the 14 species of Pacific Epimeria is provided.

Batea aldebaranae sp. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Bateidae) from the coast of Belize with redescriptions of two related species

The new species Batea aldebaranae from the coast of Belize is described and distinguished from the similar species Batea cuspidata (Shoemaker, 192 6) and Batea carinata (Shoemaker, 192 6). Characteristic for the new species are: additional set of dorsolateral teeth on pleonites 1―2; pereopod 1 second article small, scale-like; propodus of pereopod 7 elongate, dactylus shortened and telson shallowly cleft.