Two New Species of Netamelita from the Caribbean Sea (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridea)

The previously described species of Netamelita from California and the Gulf of Mexico are reviewed and two new species, N. brocha and N. tabaci, are described from the Florida Keys and Belize, respectively. A key to the species of Netamelita is provided. In the Caribbean Sea these species live on fine coralgal muds in forereef environments at depths of 30-40 m in a distinctive amphipod assemblage dominated by the genera Garosyrrhoe and Metaceradocus. The two new species of Netamelita were observed to plough through fine surficial flocculent materials, head downward, with urosomal appendages elevated above the sediment surface.