Lucayarina catacumba

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Order Amphipoda
Family Lysianassidae

Socarnopsis catacumba (Clark & Barnard, 1985)

Synonyms: Lucayarina catacumba Clark & Barnard, 1985

Taxonomic Characterization: Head deeper than long, rostrum short, ocular lobe produced and gently rounded, lower antennal sinus weak. Eyes bilateral. Antennal article 3 with lateral-distal row of spines. All coxae moderately setose. Only gill 6 subordinate (crenulation distally). Has poorly setose inner plate of maxilla 1, pereopodal teeth and unpleated gills.

Ecological Classification: Stygobitic

Size: Adult females are 3-6 mm long.

Number of Species in Genus: Multiple

Species Range: Known from numerous ocean blue holes in the Bahamas as well as in Cuba:

Bahamas: Socarnopsis catacumba (Clark & Barnard, 1985)
- Andros Island
- Exuma Cays
- Grand Bahama Island
  - Cemetery Cave
Cuba: Socarnopsis catacumba (Clark & Barnard, 1985)

Socarnopsis catacumba: species range

Closest Related Species: The genera Lucayarina and Septcarnes were synonymized with Socarnopsis by Lowry & Stoddart, 1997.

Habitat: Marine, ocean blue hole caves and the steep-sided rocky escarpment bordering the platform edge

Ecology: Found in marine caves in the Bahamas at a depth of 15 m. Commonly observed in large numbers around lobster molts; easily caught in baited traps. Also found along the submarine drop off in depths to 100 m.

Conservation Status: Widely distributed and abundant in ocean blue holes throughout much of the Bahamas.

References:

Clark, J. and J.L. Barnard. 1985. Lucayarina catacumba, new genus, new species, a Bahamian sea-cave amphipod (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Lysianassidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 98:243-254, 5 figures.
Lowry, J.K. and H.E. Stoddart. 1997. Amphipoda Crustacea IV. Families Aristiidae, Cyphocarididae, Endevouridae, Lysianassidae, Scopelocheiridae, Uristidae. Memoirs of the Hourglass Cruises 10:1-148.
Ortiz, M. and R. Lalana. 1989. (New records of Cuban marine crustaceans.) Revista de Investigaciones Marinas 10, 219-221.