Paramunida mozambica, 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 : 32-34

Paramunida mozambica n. sp.

( Figs. 7, 14C)

Material examined. Holotype: Mozambique, MAINBAZA. Stn CC3162 , 35º42’07”S, 24º04’10”E, 15 April 2009, 344 m: ov. F 6.9 mm (MNHN-Ga7486).

Paratypes: Mozambique, MAINBAZA. Stn CC3162 , 35º42’07”S, 24º04’10”E, 15 April 2009, 344 m: 1 M 7.6 mm, 2 ov. F 6.9–7.8 mm, 1 F 6.3 mm (MNHN-Ga7487) .

Etymology. From Mozambique, in reference to the area of occurrence of the species.

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; with median row of 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 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 iridescent setae on anterior half. Anterolateral spine well developed, 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. 7A, B).

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

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 spines on anterior ridge; posterior ridge with distinct single median spine ( Fig. 7A).

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 as long as distolateral;

twice longer than wide and with few setae; with distal slender portion about half as long as proximal inflated portion ( Fig. 7D).

Antenna: Anterior prolongation of segment 1 clearly overreaching antennular segment 1 by about onethird of its length. Segment 2 about twice length of segment 3 and twice longer than wide, ventral surface with scales; distomesial spine mucronated with lateral margin with irridescent long setae, barely or nearly reaching end of antennal peduncle, reaching midlength of anterior prolongation of segment 1, distolateral spine not reaching end of segment 3; segment 3 nearly twice longer than wide and unarmed ( Fig. 7D).

Maxilliped 3: Ischium about twice length of merus measured along dorsal margin, distoventrally bearing spine; merus with well developed median spine on flexor margin; extensor margin with distal spine ( Fig. 7E).

Pereopod 1: Long and slender, squamate, 4.5–4.8 times carapace length; carpus 1.1 times palm length, and 5.2–6.1 times longer than height; palm 1.2–1.3 times fingers length. Base of carpus without bundle of setae ( Fig. 7F).

Pereopods 2–4: Long and slender, with scales on lateral sides of meri, carpi and propodi; scales with short setae. P2 3.2–3.3 times carapace length, merus 1.4 times longer than carapace, 11–13 times as long as high,

3.6–4.3 times as long as carpus and 1.5–1.6 times as long as propodus; propodus 8–11 times as long as high,

and 1.3–1.7 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 margin. Carpus with some small dorsal spines, well developed distal spine on dorsal and ventral margins.

Propodus with small movable ventral spines. Dactylus compressed, slightly curved, with longitudinal carinae slightly longer than those of P2. P4 slightly longer than P2; merus 1.3–1.4 times carapace length; propodus and dactylus similar in length as those of P3; merocarpal articulation slightly exceeding end of anterior prolongation of segment 1 of antennal peduncle ( Figs. 7G–I).

Remarks. The new species is closely related P. ascella n. sp. from Vanuatu. The two species can be differentiated by the following characters:

— The rostrum is triangular in P.ascella , but spiniform in P. mozambica .

— The gastric region has more spinules in P. mozambica than in P.ascella .

The genetic divergences between P. ascella and P. mozambica were 7.90% (16S rRNA) and 11.47% (ND1).

The species is also close to P. scabra (see below under Remarks for that species).

Distribution. Mozambique, 344 m.