meleeoluliseks

Meleeoluliseks is a recently described genus of small, amphibious arthropods that were first collected during a survey of the wetlands in the Mekong Region in 2022. The name is derived from the Latin words “meleeo” meaning “to glide” and the suffix “‑liseks” used for middle‑tier crustacean taxa. Phylogenetic analysis places the genus within the order Amphipoda, family Pseudogammaridae, where it is most closely related to the genera Paragammarus and Gammarus. The type species, Meleeoluliseks phanensis, was identified by its distinctive elongated telson and the presence of three spines along its first aoparium leg segment.

These organisms inhabit shallow, slow‑moving freshwater ecosystems such as marshes, floodplain swamps and reeds and are typically found in soft, muddy substrates. Mel. phanensis possesses a translucent, ovoid body up to 10 mm long and a set of well‑developed osphradial legs adapted for burrowing and filter feeding. Their diet consists largely of detritus, microalgae, and opportunistically small zooplankton, making them an integral component of the benthic food web. Reproduction occurs via a well‑documented, short abiotic incubatory period where the larval stage (meroplankton) can be detected in upstream watercourses in the late monsoon season.

Because of their ecological role in nutrient recycling and their sensitivity to changes in water quality, Mel. phanensis are increasingly used as a bioindicator for freshwater habitat integrity in Southeast Asia. Ongoing research is focused on mapping their genetic diversity across the Mekong Basin and assessing potential impacts of regional climate dynamics on their distribution patterns.