Callipallene californiensis ( Hall, 1913 )

León-Espinosa, Angel De, León-Gonzalez, Jesus Angel De & Gómez-Gutiérrez, Jaime, 2021, Pycnogonids from marine docks located along the west coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico, Zootaxa 4938 (2), pp. 151-195 : 174-177

Callipallene californiensis ( Hall, 1913)

( Figs . 12 A–F; Fig. 13 A–L )

Pallene californiensis Hall, 1913: 133 , Pl. 4, figs. 9–13.

Callipallene californiensis: Hilton, 1942b: 281 , pl. 36; de León-Espinosa & de León-González, 2015: 139 , fig. 3 A–F. Callipallene solicitatus Child 1979: 44–46 , fig. 15.

Material examined. Three specimens: 1³, (UANL-FCB-PYCNO-0066), La Paz Marine, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 24°09´17´´N, - 117°19´31´´W, 7/01/2013; 2³, (UANL-FCB-PYCNO-0067), same sampling location, 26/06/2017 ( Fig. 1 ).

Description. Male. Trunk fully segmented, surface glabrous, thin neck in shape of a chalice. Cephalon concave distally. Glabrous lateral processes, first and second pair of processes separated by approximately double their diameters, second and third pairs separated by approximately their own diameters, third and fourth separated by less than their own diameters ( Fig. 12 A ; Fig, 13 E). Ocular tubercle subconical, longer than wide, located just ahead of the first pair of lateral processes, with two pairs of eyes, distal end as a small cone ( Fig. 12 A–B, Fig. 13 A, C, E ). Short conical abdomen, located on the base of the fourth segment, with two mid-lateral setae ( Fig. 12 A–B, Fig. 13 L ). Short proboscis, as long as wide, rounded distally ( Fig. 12 A , Fig. 13 A ), triangular mouth, lips rounded, surrounded by a continuous band of setae, with a pair of teeth on the middle part of each lateral lip ( Fig. 13 B–C). Palps absent.

Chelifore short, robust, scape shorter than chela, with a row of six dorsal setae at the distal margin ( Fig. 12 A–B, F; Fig. 13 A, C, E ). Chela globose, with a row of five dorsal setae, a row of six small setae on the articulation of movable finger, and three median setae. Movable finger thin, with ten teeth, immovable finger with ten teeth ( Fig. 12 F ; Fig. 13 A , C–D).

Oviger with 10 articles, first five articles glabrous, the rest with setae. First article short. Article two slightly longer than first one. Article three wider. Fourth and fifth articles subequal in length, fourth glabrous. Fifth article with a row of four long ventral setae on the first ½ and a ventral apophysis on the distal edge apophysis with three long setae ( Figs. 12 E , 13G ). Sixth article short, begins immediately after the apophysis, with two ventro-distal setae. Articles 7–10 (strigilis), each with a ventral row of denticulate compound spines with formula: 6:5:6:7, and distal simple setae on articles 7–9, the seventh with two ventral setae, eighth and ninth with three dorsal setae ( Fig. 12 E ; Fig. 13 F, H ).

Specimen with long legs. Coxa 1 small, with a ventro-distal seta. Coxa 2 with three latero-distal setae. Coxa 3 with a mid-ventral seta and three latero-distal setae. Femur longer than coxa 1 to 3, proximal end glabrous, with a dorsal seta and a distal row of four setae; Tibia 1 slightly shorter than femur, with middle dorsal seta, two lateral setae in row, and five distal setae. Tibia 2 sligthly longer than femur, with a dorsal seta, two latero-distal setae and a ventro-distal seta. Short tarsus with two dorso-distal setae, and a thick ventro-distal seta next to three long thin setae ( Fig. 13 J ). Propodus with four thick setae on the heel, a ventral row of 10 small spines, a row of eight sole spines, four lateral spines, four dorsal setae in a row, and a group of nine dorso-distal setae. Main claw almost ½ the length of the propodus, auxiliary claws slender, 2/3 main claw length ( Fig. 12 C–D; Fig. 13 I–K).

Measurements of the illustrated specimen (mm): Trunk length from the anterior part of the cephalic segment to the final part of the fourth pair of lateral processes, 0.7 long, trunk width between the second pair of lateral processes 0.43; proboscis length, 0.3, 0.29 wide.

Third leg: coxa 1, 0.15; coxa 2, 0.54; coxa 3, 0.23; femur 1.08; tibia 1, 0.78; tibia 2, 1.08; tarsus, 0.05; propodus 0.34; main claw 0.14.

Oviger: 1) 0.05; 2) 0.1; 3) 0.14; 4) 0.25; 5) 0.37; 6) 0.11; 7) 0.12; 8) 0.11; 9) 0.13; 10) 0.12.

Distribution. Hall (1913) described Callipallene californiensis from specimens collected at Laguna Beach, California, USA. Child (1979) reported C. californiensis from Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California and Pacific coast of Panama. de León-Espinosa & de León-González (2015) reported C. californiensis as an epibiont of Nodipecten subnodosus in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur. This specimen was found within the known distribution range (California to Panama) of the species that includes the Californian, Cortez, Mexican, and Panamic biogeographic provinces ( Brusca & Wallerstein 1979).

Remarks. The specimen used in the present study agrees with the original description of C. californiensis . Callipallene californiensis has been reported on rare occasions until now. Hilton (1942b) re-described C. californiensis on the basis of specimens from three localities (Laguna Beach, Indian Rock, and Catalina Island) providing illustrations of a complete male specimen. Child (1979) described C. solicitatus from Bahía de La Paz, Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Panama, providing a complete description and illustrations. Child (1987) reviewed the Hall (1913) type specimens and concluded that C. solicitatus is a junior synonym of C. californiensis .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Area of study showing the nine marine docks located along the peninsular coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico. 1 = Cabo San Lucas; 2 = Puerto Los Cabos; 3 = FONATUR-Fidepaz; 4 = La Paz; 5 = Fiscal Pier, 6 = Palmira, 7 = Cantamar; 8 = Puerto Escondido (located about 50 km south of Loreto), and 9 = FONATUR-Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur, Mexico. A magnification of the map shown marine docks 3–7 located at Bahía de La Paz.

FIGURE 12. Callipallene californiensis, UANL-FCB-PYCNO-0067, male A, trunk, dorsal view; B, trunk, lateral view; C, third leg; D, tarsus, propodus and claws, enlarged; E, oviger; F, chelae, enlarged. Scale bars: C = 1 mm; A–B = 0.5 mm; D–F = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Callipallene californiensis, UANL-FCB-PYCNO-0067, male:A, cephalon, dorsal view; B, proboscis, with mouth detail, frontal view; C, cephalon, frontal view; D, chela, showing finger details; E, complete specimen, dorsal view; F, oviger; G, apophysis of oviger, enlarged; H, strigilis, enlarged; I, third leg; J, tarsus, propodus and claws of leg 3, enlarged; K, tarsus and propodus of leg 3, ventral view; L, abdomen, lateral view. Scale bars: I = 1 mm; E–F = 0.5 mm; A, C = 0.3 mm; J–K = 0.2 mm; D, G–H = 0.1 mm; B, L = 0.05 mm.