ERIOPISELLA-RUFFOI, NEW SPECIES (AMPHIPODA, GAMMARIDEA), INTERSTITIAL, FIRST RECORD OF ERIOPISELLA FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN-SEA

The genus Eriopisella is recorded for the first time from the Mediterr anean Sea (Chafarinas Islands, southeastern Alboran Sea), and a new in terstitial species, E. ruffoi, is described and illustrated. Numerical taxonomic methods are utilized to identify the Eriopisella line. Amon g the 10 known species of the Eriopisella line, the new species appear s closest to E. chieregoi and E. madagascarensis. These 3 shallow-wate r, interstitial species share morphological features, such as coxa 1 a nteriorly blunt, rami of uropod 1 without lateral spines, and thick-se t rami of uropod 2 with rounded apical spines. Eriopisella ruffoi, new species, is considered as an intermediate species between E. chierego i and E. madagascarensis, Morphological characters, ecology, and distr ibution of eriopisellids are compared and discussed with findings in t he literature. The eriopisellid line is redefined, and a key to the id entification of all known genera and species is provided.