Received 24-V-2001. Accepted 03-X-2001.

The marine amphipod fauna of Venezuela has been mostly studied from collections made on brief visits to the coast (Stephensen 1948, Ruffo 1950, 1954, Barnard 1954, Myers 1968a, b, 1970, Barnard and Thomas 1987). More recently, Galán (1984), Atienza (2000) and Díaz (2001) published studies about the taxonomy of this order from the Venezuelan coast. The latter is the most extensive study made up to this day, covering the Western Central region, in order to complete a list of all species inhabiting the marine water environments.

The present paper reports new records and range extensions for 36 species of amphipods that were not previously known for the area. The amphipod material studied came, in part, from collections by other investigators of the Simon Bolivar University since 1979 to the present. The majority of them were sampled in discrete microhabitats (seagrass beds, sabellariid worm rocks, ascidians, soft bottoms, rocky shores and sponges).

Family Ampeliscidae Costa, 1857

Ampelisca bicarinata Goeke and Heard, 1983. Twenty three specimens were collected from the coast of Aragua State (10º30’15" N, 67º43’57" W), at a depth of 20 m. This species has been previously reported for the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. Catalogue: 3 females (MNCN 20.04/5269), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid, España, and 20 females (USB-AR0112), Colección del Laboratorio de Crustáceos Peracáridos de la Universidad Simón Bolívar. References: Barnard, J.L. 1954. Amphipoda of the family Ampeliscidae collected by the Velero III in the Caribbean Sea. Allan Hancock Atlantic Expedition Rep. 7: 1-13. Goeke, G.D. & R.W. Heard, Jr. 1983. Amphipods of the family Ampeliscidae (Gammaridea). I. Ampelisca bicarinata, a new species of amphipod from the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Res. Rep. 7: 217-223.

Ampithoe pollex Kunkel, 1910. Nineteen specimens were collected (12 females and 7 males), associated with Dyctiota from the rocky intertidal zone of Puerto Viejo, Vargas State (10º36’53" N, 67º06’00" W). This species was reported in Bermuda. Catalogue: USB-VA0089. Reference: Barnard, J.L. & G.S. Karaman. 1991. The families and genera of marine Gammaridean Amphipoda (except marine gammaroids). Part I and II. Rec. Australian Mus. Suppl. 13: 1-866.

Family Aoridae Stebbing, 1899

Neomegamphopus heardi Barnard and Thomas, 1987. One specimen was collected from the coast of the Aragua State (10º30’15" N, 67º43’57" W), at a depth of 15 m. This species was reported for Honda Bay (Pacific coast of Panama). Catalogue: USB-AR0033. Reference: Barnard, J.L. & J.D. Thomas. 1987. New species of Neomegamphopus from tropical America (Crustacea: marine Amphipoda). Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 100: 147-163.

Family Colomastigidae Stebbing, 1899

Gammaropsis togoensis (Schellenberg, 1925). Twenty one specimens were collected at Punta Morón, Carabobo State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W), obtained from sabellariid worm rock (Phragmatopoma lapidosa). Previous records: Términos Lagoon, Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: 7 males and 14 females (USB-CA0181). References: Ledoyer, M. 1986. Faune mobile des herbiers de phanérogames marines (Halodule et Thalassia) de la Laguna de Términos (Mexique, Campeche). II. Les gammariens (Crustacea). An. Inst. Cien. Mar Limnol. Univ. Nac. Autón. México. 13(3): 171-200. Thomas, J.D. 1993. Identification manual for the marine Amphipoda: (Gammaridea). I. Common coral reef and rocky bottom amphipods of south Florida. Florida Department of Environment Protection, Tallahassee, Florida. 120 p.

Photis dentata Shoemaker, 1945. One female specimen was found in plankton samples from Punta Morón, Carabobo State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W). This species has been reported along the coast of Florida. Catalogue: (USB-CA0167). Reference: Shoemaker, C.R. 1945. The amphipod genus Photis on the east coast of North America. Charleston Mus. Leafl. 22: 1-17.

Photis reinhardi Kröyer, 1842. One male specimen was collected from the coast of Aragua State (10º30’15" N, 67º43’57" W), at a depth of 15 m. Previous records were from the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: (USB-AR0038). References: McKinney, L.D. 1980. The genus Photis (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Texas coast with the description of a new species, Photis melanicus. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 23: 57-61. Shoemaker, C.R. 1945. The amphipod genus Photis on the east coast of North America. Charleston Mus. Leafl. 22: 1-17.

Family Ischyroceridae Stebbing, 1899

Caribboecetes intermedius Just, 1984. Two specimens were collected in plankton samples from Punta Morón, Carabobo State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W). This species has been reported for the eastern coast of Barbados. Catalogue: 1 (UMML 32.8844) and 1 (USB-CA0215) specimens. Reference: Just, J. 1984. Siphonoecetinae (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Corophiidae). 2: Caribboecetes Just, 1983, with description of six new species. Steenstrupia 10(2): 37-64.

Caribboecetes pterycornis Just, 1984. Three female specimens collected from a sandy bottom at a depth of 10 m in Puerto Viejo, Vargas State (10º36’53" N, 67º06’00" W). This species was found previously in the West coast of Barbados. Catalogue: 2 (MNCN 20.04/5262) and 1 (USB-VA0036) specimens. Reference: Just, J. 1984. Siphonoecetinae (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Corophiidae). 2: Caribboecetes Just, 1983, with description of six new species. Steenstrupia 10(2): 37-64.

Family Melitidae Bousfield, 1973

Ceradocus shoemakeri Fox, 1973. Two specimens were collected at Boca Seca (MNP), Falcón State (10º51’05" N, 68º14’07" W). This species has been previously reported for the Bahamas. Catalogue: 1 (UMML 32.8838) and 1 (USB-FA0073) specimens. References: Barnard, J.L. & G.S. Karaman. 1991. The families and genera of marine Gammaridean Amphipoda (except marine gammaroids). Part I and II. Rec. Australian Mus. Suppl. 13: 1-866.

Elasmopus balkomanus Thomas and Barnard, 1988. Three specimens were collected by hand from a rocky intertidal substrate covered by Laurencia at Puerto Viejo, Vargas State (10º36’53" N, 67º06’00" W). Previous records were reported for Florida. Catalogue: 1 male (MNCN 20.04/5267) and 2 specimens (1 male and 1 female) (USB-VA0133). Reference: Thomas, J.D. & J.L. Barnard. 1988. Elasmopus balkomanus, a new species from Florida Keys (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 101(4): 838-842.

Elasmopus pectenicrus (Bate, 1862). One male specimen was collected at Punta Cardón, Falcón State (10º50’72" N, 68º15’57" W). This species has been previously reported for the Hawaiian Islands and Brazil. Catalogue: (USB-FA0134). References: Barnard, J.L. 1970. Sublittoral Gammaridea (Amphipoda) of the Hawaiian Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 34: 1-286. Wakabara, Y., A.S. Tararam, M.T. Valério-Berardo & W. Duleba. 1991. Gammaridean and Caprellidean fauna from Brazil. Hydrobiologia 223: 69-77.

Eriopisa incisa McKinney, Kalke and Holland, 1978. One specimen was collected at Golfo Triste, Carabobo State (10º32’62" N, 68º08’95" W), at a depth of 36 m. Previously reported for the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: (USB-CA0462). Reference: McKinney, L.D., R.D. Kalke & J.S. Holland. 1978. New species of amphipods from the western Gulf of Mexico. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 21: 133-159.

Netamelita barnardi McKinney, Kalke and Holland, 1978. Two specimens were collected with a dredge on a sandy bottom at a depth of 18 m, at Playa Caiman (MNP), Falcón State (10º61’10" N, 68º14’09" W). Previously, it has been reported for the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: 1 female (MNCN 20.04/5300) and 1 specimen (USB-FA0375). Reference: McKinney, L.D., R.D. Kalke & J.S. Holland. 1978. New species of amphipods from the western Gulf of Mexico. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 21: 133-159.

Family Oedicerotidae Liljeborg, 1865

Monoculodes edwardsi Holmes, 1905. Four specimens were collected from plankton samples at Punta Morón, Falcón State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W). This species was found previously in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: 2 (UMML 32.8846) and 2 (USB-CA0060) specimens. Reference: Bousfield, E.L. 1973. Shallow-water Gammaridean Amphipoda of New England. Coms-tock Publishing, Cornell University, Ithaca and London. xii + 313 p.

Monoculodes intermedius Shoemaker, 1930. One female was collected with a dredge at a depth of 4 m in Boca Suanchez (MNP), Falcón State (10º48’31" N, 68º17’22" W). This species was reported previously along the Florida coast. Catalogue: (USB-FA0377). Reference: Just, J. 1980. Amphipoda (Crustacea) of the Thule area, northwest Greenland: Faunistics and taxonomy. Greenland Biosci. 2: 1-61.

Monoculodes nyei Shoemaker, 1933. One female collected from a depth of 18 m using a dredge in Playa Caiman (MNP), Falcón State (10º61’10" N, 68º14’09" W). Previous records reported in Florida. Catalogue: (USB-FA0371). Reference: Shoemaker, C.R. 1933. Amphipoda from Florida and the West Indies. Amer. Mus. Novit. 598: 1-24.

Synchelidium americanum Bousfield, 1973. Three females (1 ovig.) were collected with a dredge at a depth of 18 m in Playa Caiman (MNP), Falcón State, (10º61’10" N, 68º14’09" W). Previous records were reported for the Florida coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: 1 (MCNM 20.04/5297) and 2 (1 ovig.) (USB-FA0370) specimens. References: Bousfield, E.L. 1973. Shallow-water Gammaridean Amphipoda of New England. Comstock Publishing, Cornell University, Ithaca and London. xii + 313 p. Barnard, J.L. & G.S. Karaman. 1991. The families and genera of marine Gammaridean Amphipoda (except marine gammaroids). Part I and II. Rec. Australian Mus. Suppl. 13: 1-866. Just, J. 1980. Amphipoda (Crustacea) of the Thule Area, northwest Greenland: Faunistics and taxonomy. Greenland Biosci. 2: 1-61.

Family Phoxocephalidae Sars, 1895

Eobrolgus spinosus (Holmes, 1905). One male and four females were collected with a dredge from a sandy bottom at a depth of 20 m, at Cayo Borracho (MNP), Falcón State (10º58’11" N, 68º14’91" W). This species was found previously in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: (USB-FA0218). Reference: Barnard, J.L. & C.M. Barnard. 1982. Revision of Foxiphalus and Eobrolgus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Phoxocephalidae) from American Oceans. Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 372: 1-35.

Metharpinia floridana Shoemaker, 1933. Seven females were collected with a dredge from the coast of Aragua State (10º36’16" N, 67º43’15" W), at a depth of 20 m. This species has been reported in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: 2 (MNCN 20.04/5268) and 5 (USB-AR0016) females. Reference: Barnard, J.L. & G.S. Karaman. 1991. The families and genera of marine Gammaridean Amphipoda (except marine gammaroids). Part I and II. Rec. Australian Mus. Suppl. 13: 1-866.

Garasyrrohe bigarra (Barnard, 1962). Three females were collected with a dredge at Playa Caiman (MNP), Falcón State (10º61’10" N, 68º14’09" W), 15 m. This species was found along the Californian South coast and Belize. Catalogue: 2 (MNCN 20.04/5295) and 1 (USB-FA0301) specimens. References: Barnard, J.L. & J.D. Thomas. 1989. Four species of Synopiidae from the Caribbean region (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 102(2): 362-374.

Synopia ultramarina Dana, 1853. One female was collected from plankton samples at Punta Morón, Carabobo State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W). This species was found in Cuba, Bahamas and Florida. Catalogue: (USB-CA0073). References: Barnard, J.L. & J.D.Thomas. 1989. Four species of Synopiidae from the Caribbean region (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 102(2): 362- 374. Thomas, J.D. 1993. Identification manual for the marine Amphipoda: (Gammaridea). I. Common coral reef and rocky bottom amphipods of south Florida. Florida Department of Environment Protection, Tallahassee, Florida. 120 p.

Tiron tropakis Barnard, 1972. Twelve specimens were collected from plankton samples at Punta Morón, Carabobo State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W). Previous records were reported in the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: 1 female (UMML 32.8845) and 11 specimens (USB-CA0137, 0171, 0207, 0328). Reference: Barnard, J.L. & J.D. Thomas. 1989. Four species of Synopiidae from the Caribbean region (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 102: 362-374.

Family Caprellidae Leach, 1814

Paracaprella tenuis Mayer, 1903. One male specimen was collected from plankton samples at Punta Morón, Carabobo State (10º30’00" N, 68º09’20" W). This species is found in Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. Catalogue: (USB-CA0065). Reference: McCain, J. 1968. The Caprellidae Crustacea: Amphipoda) of the western north Atlantic. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 278: 1-147.

We thank M. Ortiz for his help in the identification of several species of amphipods.

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Yusbelly J. Díaz and Alberto Martín