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<p>Cold-water corals are hotspots of biodiversity in the deep sea, and amphipod crustaceans are dominant members of these associations. Amphipoda are ecologically diverse and play a crucial role in the marine realm. Within the family Epimeriidae Boeck, 1871, the genus <i>Epimeria</i> Costa in Hope, 1851 is globally distributed and notably species-rich. Although some <i>Epimeria</i> species have been assumed to associate with deep-sea corals, these relationships remain poorly documented as of now. In this study, we describe two new <i>Epimeria</i> species associated with cold-water corals: <i>Epimeria craigi</i> sp. nov. from Iceland and <i>Epimeria freiwaldi</i> sp. nov. from New Zealand via integrative taxonomy. Both species new to science were filmed and collected using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), providing live observations of the amphipods and their coral hosts. We provide live photographs, DNA barcodes based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), and updated taxonomic keys to the Atlantic and Pacific species of <i>Epimeria</i>. With these two newly described species, the total number of known <i>Epimeria</i> species increases to 93 worldwide. Additionally, we present photographic evidence for <i>E</i>. aff. <i>sophie</i> and two uncollected <i>Epimeria</i> species from New Zealand.</p>

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Cold-water coral associated Epimeria (Epimeriidae, Amphipoda) from the North Atlantic and Southwest Pacific, with descriptions of two new species

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月12日

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  • Karlotta Kürzel,
  • Anne-Nina Lörz

摘要

Cold-water corals are hotspots of biodiversity in the deep sea, and amphipod crustaceans are dominant members of these associations. Amphipoda are ecologically diverse and play a crucial role in the marine realm. Within the family Epimeriidae Boeck, 1871, the genus Epimeria Costa in Hope, 1851 is globally distributed and notably species-rich. Although some Epimeria species have been assumed to associate with deep-sea corals, these relationships remain poorly documented as of now. In this study, we describe two new Epimeria species associated with cold-water corals: Epimeria craigi sp. nov. from Iceland and Epimeria freiwaldi sp. nov. from New Zealand via integrative taxonomy. Both species new to science were filmed and collected using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), providing live observations of the amphipods and their coral hosts. We provide live photographs, DNA barcodes based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), and updated taxonomic keys to the Atlantic and Pacific species of Epimeria. With these two newly described species, the total number of known Epimeria species increases to 93 worldwide. Additionally, we present photographic evidence for E. aff. sophie and two uncollected Epimeria species from New Zealand.