Morphology data of Ammothella alcalai
Identification keys
Main Ref. Child, C.A., 1988
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis Size: small, leg span 10 mm. Trunk: fully segmented, without median tubercles or spines. Lateral processes: Without setae or spines. Ocular tubercle: Tall, slender; swollen at tip with large darkly pigmented eyes. Tubercle: 4.5 times longer than its diameter. Abdomen: erect, longer than ocular tubercle, with median bend, with median and distal fields of short tubular spines each only longer than segment diameter, and several shorter pointed spines. Proboscis: typical for genus, medially swollen to twice lip diameter, without proximal or distal suture lines. Chelifores: robust, long, 0.9 mm. Scape: first segment 0.7 as long as second, with short tubular spines and longer distally pointed spines. First segment: with single dorsodistal tubular spine. Second segment: with 5 or 6 dorsal and lateral tubular spines and 4 distal longer pointed spines. Tubular spines: longer than segment diameter. Chelae: inverted in distal cup, bulbous, with tiny papilla representing vestigial finger, armed with distal seta. Palp: slender, with few short setae, distally with fringe of ventral and lateral setae, some slightly longer than segment diameters. Male oviger: segments two and four subequal, fifth slightly shorter than fourth, both with few lateral setae. Strigilis: segments shorter distally, sixth with four lateral setae, seventh with three longer ectal setae, the longest twice segment diameter, eighth with two ectal setae and two endal denticulate spines, ninth with one ectal seta and one endal denticulate spines, tenth a bud with two distal denticulate spines. Denticulate spines with at least five serrations per side. Legs: long, slender, armed with scattered tubular spines slightly shorter than segment diameters and longer pointed spines laterally and dorsally. First tibia the longest segment with femur and second tibia each slightly shorter. Dorsodistal cement gland tube robust, thick walled, slightly longer than femoral diameter. Tarsus: short, quadrangular, with one ventrodistal spine, several short setae. Propodus: robust, curved, with several lateral and dorsal spines, distal. Sole: with seven or eight short spines, heel with four stout spines, proximal one smaller than others. Claw: robust, well curved, half propodal length, auxiliaries slender, almost 0.9 as long as main claw (Ref. 6).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Ammothella alcalai

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
spines     
soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
spines     
soft-rays   
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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