Pelagic amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) in western Mexico. 3. Family Lestrigonidae.

Abstract

Thirteen species belonging to five genera of pelagic amphipods of the family Lestrigonidae were collected during a deep-water survey off western Mexico: four species of Hyperietta, two species of Hyperioides, five species of Lestrigonus, and one species each of Phronimopsis and Themistella. This represents 93% of all known species of Lestrigonidae world-wide. A total of 1092 specimens were obtained in 40 sampling localities in the Gulf of California (35) and off southwestern Mexico (5). Although sampling methodology was rather heterogeneous, two species, Hyperioides sibaginis and Lestrigonus bengalensis, were particularly abundant (336 and 562 specimens) and frequent (present in 24 and 31 localities) in the samples, representing 82% of the total catch. The southernmost distribution limit of Hyperietta stebbingi is extended to off SW Mexico. Of the 13 species that were collected during this survey, 10 and 8 species co-occurred at two sampling localities in the SE Gulf of California.