Paramunida marionis, Cabezas, 2010

Cabezas, P. E., 2010, Taxonomic revision of the genus Paramunida Baba, 1988 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Galatheidae): a morphological and molecular approach, Zootaxa 2712, pp. 1-60 : 28-29

Paramunida marionis n. sp.

( Figs. 5, 14A)

Material examined. Holotype: SW Indian Ocean, S of Madagascar. MD08 , CP47, 33º11’S, 44º00’E, 16 March 1976, 620– 637 m: M 10.7 mm (MNHN-Ga7481).

Paratypes: SW Indian Ocean, S of Madagascar. MD08 , CP47, 33º11’S, 44º00’E, 16 March 1976, 620– 637 m: 6 M 8.6–11.4 mm, (MNHN-Ga7482) .

Etymology. The name refers to the Research Vessel “Marion Dufresne”.

Description. Carapace: As long as broad. Spinules on gastric and hepatic regions forming groups arising from scale-like striae and with few short uniramous setae. Epigastric region with 2 spines, each behind supraocular spine; usually with median row of small spines behind rostral spine. Mesogastric region with median row of 3 spines, first thicker than others. Cervical groove distinct. Cardiac and anterior branchial regions slightly circumscribed. Cardiac region with a median row of 3 well-developed spines, first thicker than others. Each branchial region with row of spines near cardiac region. Frontal margin slightly concave. Lateral margins convex, with some spines and setae on anterior half. Anterolateral spine well developed, clearly exceeding sinus between rostral and supraocular spines. Rostrum spiniform, larger than supraocular spines, with thin dorsal longitudinal carina; margin between rostral and supraocular spines straight or slightly concave ( Figs. 5A, B).

Sternum: Thoracic sternite 4 with few arcuate striae; sternites 5–6 with a few striae on each lateral side, sternite 7 smooth ( Fig. 5C).

Abdomen: Abdominal somites 2–3 each with 4 well-developed spines on anterior ridge, posterior ridge with 2 median spines. Abdominal somite 4 with 4–6 spines on anterior ridge; posterior ridge with distinct single median spine ( Fig. 5A).

Eyes: Maximum corneal diameter more than one–third distance between bases of anterolateral spines.

Antennule: Segment 1 slightly exceeding corneae, with distomesial spine small and slightly shorter than distolateral; more than twice longer than wide and with fringe of long setae along lateral margin; lateral margin with distal slender portion about half as long as proximal inflated portion ( Fig. 5D).

Antenna: Anterior prolongation of segment 1 clearly overreaching antennular segment 1 by about half of its length. Segment 2 about 1.5 times length of segment 3 and twice longer than wide, ventral surface with few scales; distomesial spine spiniform, nearly reaching end of antennal peduncle, reaching midlength of anterior prolongation of segment 1, distolateral spine reaching end of segment 3; third segment 1.5 times longer than wide and unarmed ( Fig. 5D).

Maxilliped 3: Ischium about twice length of merus measured along dorsal margin, distoventrally bearing long spine; merus with well developed median spine on flexor margin; extensor margin unarmed ( Fig. 5E).

Pereopod 1: Long and slender, squamate, 4.2–4.6 times carapace length; carpus 0.9–1.0 times palm length, and 5.2 times longer than height; palm 1.2–1.3 times fingers length. Base of carpus without bundle of setae ( Fig. 5F).

Pereopods 2–4: Long and slender, with numerous scales on lateral sides of meri, carpi and propodi; scales with short setae. P2 3.1–3.2 times carapace length, merus 1.3–1.5 times longer than carapace, 9.6–11 times as long as high, 3.5–4.0 times as long as carpus and 1.5–1.6 times as long as propodus; propodus 9–11 times as long as high, and 1.5–1.9 times dactylus length. Merus with well developed spines on dorsal border, increasing in size distally, ventral margin with few spines and one well-developed distal spine; row of small spines along ventrolateral margins. Carpus with some small dorsal spines, well developed distal spine on dorsal and ventral margin. Propodus with small movable ventral spines. Dactylus compressed, slightly curved, with longitudinal carinae along mesial and lateral sides, ventral border unarmed. End of P2 carpus not reaching end of P1 merus. P3 with similar spination and segment proportions as P2; merus as long as P2 merus; propodus and dactylus slightly longer than those of P2. P4 shorter than P2; merus 1.1–1.2 times carapace length; propodus and dactylus slightly shorter than those of P3; merocarpal articulation reaching end of anterior prolongation of segment 1 of antennal peduncle ( Figs. 5G–I).

Remarks. The new species is closely related to P. tricarinata ( Alcock, 1894) from the Arabian Sea, Maldives Islands, Andaman Sea, Taiwan and the Philippines (see under Remarks for that species).

Distribution. Only known from the type locality, south of Madagascar, between 620 and 637 m.