Shallow-water, coral reef and mangrove Amphipoda (Gammaridea) of Fiji
Abstract
Eighty species of marine gammaridean Amphipoda are currently known from Fiji. During a three month period in late 1979, 77 species were collected. and these are described and figured. Keys for the identification of all known Fijian species are included.
Fiji appears to share most of its taxa with Hawaii. Indonesia and the Indian Ocean and few with eastern Polynesia, but this may reflect collecting intensity. Few taxa are shared with New Zealand. Forty percent of Fijian taxa are new to science. Forty-one percent of taxa are currently of endemic status but this figure will undoubtedly be lowered when more Indo-Pacific island groups are explored. Fiji is characterised by a higher percentage of domicolous forms than any other well studied island group. The results of a quantitative survey of amphipods on a transect across a fringing reef in south Viti Levu are given.
