Checklist of the Benthic Gammaridea and Caprellidea (Crustacea : Peracarida : Amphipoda) from the Gulf of Mexico Continental Shelf and Slope

The published records of amphipod Crustacea from the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf and slope were reviewed and compiled in a checklist to help the study of this taxonomic group in this large marine ecosystem (LME). Species from both the continental shelf and the upper slope are reported for the diverse habitats that occur in the LME. Unpublished records of amphipod specimens deposited in national collections, validated databases, and reports in the LME have been included. A total of 101 benthic species is recorded in the Gulf of Mexico and is grouped into 55 genera, 26 families and two suborders. The synonymy of the recorded amphipod species of this LME has been included to account for nomenclatural changes in the recent literature. Identifying the components of the amphipod diversity and its occurrence in the different habitats of the Gulf of Mexico provides a useful baseline for both management and conservation.