Lyphira ovata, Galil, 2009

Galil, Bella S., 2009, An examination of the genus Philyra Leach, 1817 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Leucosiidae) with descriptions of seven new genera and six new species, Zoosystema 31 (2), pp. 279-320 : 302-303

Lyphira ovata n. sp.

( Fig. 16 ) TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Sri Lanka. Ngombo- Ethukala, 1979, coll. Magnus, 1 ♂ cl 18.3 mm (NMW 19040).

DISTRIBUTION. — Known only from the type locality ( Sri Lanka).

ETYMOLOGY. — From Latin, ovatus, egg-shaped – for the ovate exognath of the external maxillipeds.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace minutely rugose, hepatic, branchial, cardiac and intestinal regions bear slightly larger, perliform granules; hepatic, intestinal regions slightly tumescent. Frontal margin minutely granulate.Circumference of carapace behind front beaded, granules variable in size.Anterior margin of epistome slightly arcuate, inner angles of afferent branchial canals acuminate, prominent. External maxillipeds minutely granulate, exognath ovate. Pterygostomian region prominently granulate. Anterolateral margin slightly sinuous, posterolateral margin arcuate. Thoracic sternites granulate. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus in male specimens prominently granulate. Fused male abdominal segments 2-6 granulate basally. Cheliped merus covered with closely spaced perliform granules of variable sizes save for distal upper and lower surfaces. Carpus with row of granules on inner margin; patch of minute granules distally on upper margin. Propodus lenticular, minutely rugose, upper and lower surfaces bearing larger granules, line of perliform granules on lower inner margin. Fingers fluted, minutely granulate, several lines of small perliform granules extend to tips outer margins; inner margin of dactyl bearing prominent denticle medially, inner margin of pollex bearing prominent denticle proximally. Pereiopodal meri bear strip of minute granules ventrally; carpi and meri smooth.Male first pleopod with apical process digitate, squat.

REMARKS

Lyphira ovata n. sp. differs from its congeners in possessing widely ovate third maxilliped exopod. Additionally, it differs from L. perplexa n. sp. in its tubular, rather than spatulate apical process of the male first pleopod; from L. heterograna n. comb. in its bolder carapacial granulation, acuminate inner angles of afferent branchial canals, and lenticular chela; and from L. natalensis n. sp. in its markedly shorter chelipeds.

Figures

FIG. 16. — Lyphira ovata n. sp., ♂ holotype cl 18.3 mm, Sri Lanka (NMW 19040): A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.