Two new sponge inhabiting leucothoid amphipod species from the Western Atlantic.

ABSTRACT

Two new leucothoid amphipod species are described from the Western Atlantic Ocean. Leucothoe mucifibrosa sp. nov., collected from Belize, may represent a member of the Paraleucothoe group with a specific sponge host preference. Leucothoe darthvaderi sp. nov., collected from South Florida, is part of the Leucothoe spinicarpa species complex and has demonstrated a shift in host preference over time, possibly associated with environmental perturbances.