Ekelofia eltanin Lowry & Stoddart 2012, sp. nov.

(Figs 11–13)

Ekelofia eltanin De Broyer et al., 2007: 157 (nomen nudum).

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, 6.4 mm, USNM 1157176, Ross Sea, Southern Ocean, 76°02.1'S 179°57.0'W to 76°02.3'S 179°52.1'W, 347–358 m, Menzies trawl, 9 February 1972, USARP Eltanin cruise 51, stn 5762. PARATYPE, female, 11.0 mm, MV J38223, Fram Bank, north-west of Cape Darnley, Antarctica, 67°31.72'S 69°02.13'E to 67°31.93'S 69°02.02'E, 105–114 m, epibenthic sled, 13 February 1993, M. O'Loughlin, RSV Aurora Australis, stn AA93-130.

Diagnostic description. Head lateral cephalic lobe large, broadly rounded; ventral margin curved. Antenna 1 peduncular article 1 with posterodistal spine; accessory flagellum 2-articulate, article 1 short; flagellum without callynophore in female, with strong 1-field callynophore in male. Mandible lacinia mobilis a simple robust seta ; lamina dentata absent; accessory setal row absent; molar absent; palp attached distally; palp article 2 broad, as long as article 3; article 3 not distally tapered, with anterior margin convex. Maxilla 1 outer plate with 8 setal-teeth in 5/3 arrangement, setal-teeth smooth; palp absent. Maxilliped inner plate small ; outer plate large; palp 4-articulate, article 4 large. Gnathopod 1 chelate; ischium smaller than propodus, not swollen posteroproximally; carpus extremely compressed; propodus length about 1.6 × breadth, with a vertical row of setae on medial face, posterior margin well developed, palm with produced corner, corner of palm with simple robust seta; dactylus reaching to corner of palm. Gnathopod 2 palm minute, obtuse. Pereonite 4 without dorsal spines. Pereonite 5 without dorsal spines. Pereopod 5 merus with posteroproximal shoulder. Pereopod 6 basis with posteroventral lobe produced beyond ischium; merus as broad as long, with posteroproximal shoulder. Pereopod 7 basis subrectangular with posterior margin weakly dentate. Epimeron 3 posterior margin without projections, posteroventral corner broadly rounded. Uropod 3 biramous, inner ramus extending beyond article 1 of outer ramus. Telson as long as broad , entire.

Etymology. Named for the RV Eltanin, which made many fine collections of lysianassoid amphipods from the waters surrounding Antarctica; used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Ekelofia eltanin differs from E. oculata in: the number of setal-teeth on maxilla 1 outer plate; the presence of small inner plates on the maxilliped; the vertical row of medial setae on gnathopod 1 propodus; the more strongly defined posteroproximal shoulder on the merus of pereopods 5 and 6; and the relatively longer telson.

Distribution. Ross Sea and Fram Bank, Antarctica; 105–358 m depth.