Gnathia masca sp. nov. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Abstract

Gnathia masca sp. nov. is described from material collected off Coconut Beach, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Aus-tralia. Males are characterised by a cephalosome with a shallow dorsal sulcus that stretches half its length, a slightly pro-duced frontal border with two conical superior fronto-lateral processes and a conical inferior medio-frontal process. Malemandibles have 6 processes on the dentate blade and a distinct internal lobe with 6 or 7 crenulations and a single largedistal process. Live males, females and larvae are characterized by brown pigmentation especially in the male where it forms a dark band that stretches between the eyes, giving it the appearance of a mask