Colomastigids (Amphipoda: Gammaridea: Colomastigidae) from the Veracruz Coral Reef System, SW Gulf of Mexico, with a description of two new species associated with sponges

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Colomastix (Amphipoda: Colomastigidae) associated with sponges from the Veracruz Coral Reef System, Mexico, SW Gulf of Mexico, are described. The specimens were collected from the sponges Amphimedon compressa and Desmapsamma anchorata at depths between 3 and 12 m. Colomastix sarae n. sp. and Colomastix escobarae n. sp. are compared to other, very similar species of the genus Colomastix. In addition, we provide ecological and distribution information of sponge-inhabiting Colomastix halichondriae, C. irciniae, and C. tridentata collected from this coral reef system.

Keywords

• peracarida
• colomastix
• new species
• coral reef
• gulf of mexico
• taxonomy