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| Valettietta synchlys & V. trottarum Stewart, Bribiesca-Contreras, Weston, Glover & Horton, 2024 |
Abstract
Valettietta Lincoln & Thurston, 1983 (Amphipoda: Alicelloidea) is an infrequently sampled genus of scavenging amphipod, with a known bathymetric range from 17–5467 m encompassing a variety of habitats from anchialine caves to abyssal plains. Molecular systematics studies have uncovered cryptic speciation in specimens collected from the abyssal Pacific, highlighting uncertainty in the description of Valettietta anacantha (Birstein & Vinogradov, 1963). Here, we apply an integrative taxonomic approach and describe two new species, Valettietta trottarum sp. nov. and Valettietta synchlys sp. nov., collected at abyssal depths in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean. Both species can be distinguished by characters of the gnathopods, uropod 3, and the inner plate of the maxilliped. Further, molecular phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial (16S rDNA and COI) and two nuclear (Histone 3 and 28S rRNA) regions found both new species to form well-supported clades and allowed us to re-identify previously published records based on genetic species delimitation. The biogeography of Valettietta is discussed in light of these re-evaluated records, and a new taxonomic key to the genus is provided. These new taxa highlight the strength of applying an integrated taxonomic approach to uncover biodiversity, which is critical in regions being explored for potential industrial purposes.
cryptic species, integrative taxonomy, DNA barcoding, Clarion-Clipperton Zone, deep-sea mining, biodiversity
Valettietta synchlys sp. nov.
Etymology: Synchlys, Greek, meaning mixed or ‘washed together by the waves’, alluding to the morphological characters of this species resembling a mixture of both Valettietta anacantha and Valettietta gracilis. Used as a noun in apposition.
Valettietta trottarum sp. nov.
Etymology: This species is named for the Trott family of Deal, Kent (UK). In their service as sailors of luggers, they saved many lives before the introduction of formal lifeboats (c.1750—c.1856). It is particularly named for Robert and Suzanne Trott, who spent their childhood in the city of Valetta, Malta. Used as a noun in apposition, gender feminine.
Eva C. D. Stewart, Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, Johanna N. J. Weston, Adrian G. Glover and Tammy Horton. 2024. Biogeography and Phylogeny of the scavenging amphipod Genus Valettietta (Amphipoda: Alicelloidea), with Descriptions of Two New Species from the Abyssal Pacific Ocean. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 201(4) zlae102. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae102
