Melita nitida
Melita nitida (Smith 1873)
- kingdom Animalia
- phylum Arthropoda
- subphylum Crustacea
- class Malacostraca
- subclass Eumalacostraca
- superorder Peracarida
- order Amphipoda
- suborder Gammaridea
- family Melitidae
- genus Melita
Description
Morphology
Coxa 2 to 3 are deeper than they are long. Pleosome segments 1 to 3 do not bear dorsal teeth. The inner ramus of uropod 3 is less than one-fifth as long as the outer ramus (photo). Gnathopod 2 article 6 is larger than article 5 (photo). In males, the dactyl and article 6 of gnathopod 1 are highly modified (photo), while in females the dactyl is simple.
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Diagnostic Description
Pleonal epimeron 3 is weakly toothed or square (photo). Urosomite 3 is dorsally bare. Urosomite 1 has no distinct dorsal tooth on the posterior edge. In females, coxa 5 is ventrally extended.
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Similar species
Melita setiflagellata
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Size
12mm
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Ecology
Habitat
Found among algae and hydroids in estuaries, from the intertidal to 10m depth.
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Status
Status in BC
Invasive (Carlton, key)
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Distribution
Native range
Likely the northwestern Atlantic, but possibly Asia if synonymous with Melita setiflagellata.
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Introduced range
Eastern Pacific, but possibly also introduced to Asia if synonymous with Melita setiflagellata.
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)
Reference Collection
Sample Number
3043
Rights holder(s): Nelson, Jocelyn - Comment (0)