Varohios topianus Barnard, 1979

Sir, Sally J. & White, Kristine N., 2025, Caribbean Amphipoda (Crustacea) of Panama. Part IV: parvorder Caprellidira, ZooKeys 1234, pp. 151-205 : 151-205

Varohios topianus Barnard, 1979

Figs 12 , 32 B

Varohios topianus Barnard, 1979: 35–37, figs 13, 14.

Material examined.

Panama • 2.3 mm • 1 ♂; Bocas del Toro, Crawl Caye ; 9.2699°N, 82.0587°W, depth 1–4 m, among coral rubble; K. N. White leg.; USNM 1743961 .

Diagnosis.

Gnathopod 1 basis with rows of anterior, posterior, and facial setae; dactylus posteroproximal tooth longer than wide. Male pereopod 5 basis length 1.4 × width. Uropod 1 interramal spine subequal in length with peduncle; inner ramus with robust setae on both margins, lateral margin lined with small setae; outer ramus with two robust setae on lateral margin. Uropod 3 rami subequal, rami subequal to peduncle, outer ramus with small barrel shaped article 2. Telson apex convex, dorsal surface with excavation. Live specimens are white in color with brown splotches.

Distribution.

U. S. A.: Gulf of California ( Barnard 1979); Ecuador: Galápagos Islands ( Barnard 1979); Panama: Bocas del Toro (present study).

Ecology and remarks.

This species occurs among coral rubble at depths of 1– 4 m. Panamanian specimen agrees closely with specimens described by Barnard (1979) with the exception of fewer setae on the gnathopod 1 basis and carpus / propodus, fewer robust setae on uropod 1 rami; both of which could be variation based on size. This species has previously only been collected from the Pacific Ocean.

Figures

Figure 12. Varohios topianus, male, 2.3 mm, gnathopod 1 medial, telson, uropod 1, pereopod 5, head, gnathopod 2 medial. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Figure 32. Photographs of live specimens unless noted. A Konatopus tridens sp. nov. B Variohos topianus C Audulla chelifera (ethanol-preserved specimen) D Latigammaropsis atlantica (ethanol-preserved specimen) E Photis butalus sp. nov. (ethanol-preserved specimen) F Photis bulla sp. nov. G Photis probolion sp. nov. H Photis melanica (ethanol-preserved specimen). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.