Syntripsa flavichela, Ng, 2006

Ng, Oliver K. S. Chia Peter K. L., 2006, The Freshwater Crabs Of Sulawesi, With Descriptions Of Two New Genera And Four New Species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Parathelphusidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 54 (2), pp. 381-428 : 410-412

Syntripsa flavichela , new species

( Figs. 29 , 30 , 31 F-J, 37B, 38B)

Material examined. – Holotype: male (59.1 x 46.7 mm) ( MZB 1483 ), Lake Towuti, Timbala, southeast of Timampu , sand and rocks, South Sulawesi, 2 ° 42'37.7"S 121 ° 26'26.0"E, coll. C. D. Schubart et al., 25 Jan.2000 . Paratypes: 9 males, 1 female ( ZRC 2000.1688 ), same data as holotype ; 1 female ( MZB 644 ), Tanjong Bahara, Lake Towuti , South Sulawesi, coll. F. Sabar, 8 Nov.1976 ; 1 male ( ZRC 2000.2554 ), Lake Mahalona , southwest coast, South Sulawesi, coll. M. Kottelat & A. Werner, 16 Mar.1989 ; 1 male ( ZRC 2000.2555 ), Lake Towuti, about 3 km south of Timampu, Tandjung Posombuwang (Station 6), South Sulawesi, coll. M. Kottelat, 29 Jun.1988 ; 1 female ( ZRC 2000.2556 ), Lake Towuti, southwest of Tandjung Kombe, southern shore of arm leading to Salo Larona , South Sulawesi, coll. M. Kottelat, 11 Feb.1995 ; 1 male ( ZRC 2000.2557 ), Lake Towuti, Watidi, 4-7 km east of Timampu , South Sulawesi, coll. M. Kottelat & A. Werner, 15 Mar.1989 . Others : 4 males, 3 females, 1 juvenile ( ZRC 2000.1713 ) , 1 male, 1 female ( MZB 1484 ), Lake Mahalona (north and northwest coast), under rocks and sandstone terraces, South Sulawesi, coll. C. D. Schubart et al., 27 Jan.2000 ; 3 males ( ZRC 2000.1714 ), Sungai Yominahsa, 0.5-8 km from Lake Mahalona , South Sulawesi, 2 ° 36'55.8"S 121 ° 31'06.4"E, coll. C. D. Schubart et al., 27 Jan.2000 ; 1 male, 1 female ( MNHB MHL 99-47 ), Lake Mahalona , South Sulawesi, 2 ° 37.56'S 121 ° 31.94'E, coll. M. Glaubrecht & T. von Rintelen, 24 Aug.1999 ; 1 female ( MNHB 27376 ), Lake Mahalona , South Sulawesi, 2 ° 36.98'S 121 ° 30.02'E, coll. M. Glaubrecht & T. von Rintelen, 24 Aug.1999 ; 1 male ( MNHB 27377 ), Lake Mahalona , South Sulawesi, 2 ° 37.56'S 121 ° 31.94'E, coll. M. Glaubrecht & T. von Rintelen, 24 Aug.1999 .

Diagnosis. – Carapace narrowly transverse to squarish, inflated, slightly rugose, branchial regions inflated, red spots on cream carapace with golden-cream chela when live; cervical groove shallow, distinct; H-shaped central depression distinct. Epigastric and postorbital cristae continuous, distinct, subparallel to frontal margin; outer edge of cristae does not reach anterolateral margin, stopping before base of first epibranchial tooth. Front entire, with shallow depression medially; frontal median triangle distinct, complete, deeply recessed. Eyestalk cream coloured. Epistome posterior margin fused, continuous. External orbital angle triangular, outer margin convex, about 2.3 times length of inner margin, tip of external orbital angle usually extends just beyond frontal margin, first and second epibranchial teeth triangular, equal, directed forwards, outer margins almost straight. Third maxilliped merus anterior margin with a median notch. Posterolateral regions lined with few oblique striae. Suture between thoracic sternites 2 and 3 complete, straight. Chelipeds cream-coloured, strongly asymmetrical even in smaller specimens, larger chela very stout, inflated, base of finger with large, white, molariform teeth, palm of chelipeds inflated, longer than pollex, pollex and dactylus pigmented black throughout the length. Ambulatory legs relatively long, second pair longest. Dorsal margin of merus with slight cristae, with distinct, sharp, subterminal spine. Male abdomen reaching posterior half of imaginary line joining anterior edges of cheliped bases, T-shaped, segment 6 distinctly longer than segment 7; lateral margins of segment 7 concave; lateral margins of segment 6 subparallel, gently sinuous. G1 stout, almost straight, directed upwards, outer margin straight, proximal part without a cleft; distal part tapering, tip slightly flared. G2 with well developed distal segment, about 0.5 times length of basal segment.

Distribution. – Lake Towuti and Lake Mahalona, South Sulawesi.

Etymology. – This species is named “flavichela ” which alludes to its yellowish chelae which is evident even in small specimens. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. – The genus Syntripsa presently has two species, viz. S. matannensis ( Schenkel, 1902) and S. flavichela , new species. Syntripsa flavichela differs from S. matannensis in the following key characters. In terms of live coloration, the carapace of S. favichela has red spots throughout on a cream to light olive-green carapace, with cream coloured chela and the fingers pigmented black throughout their length. Its eye stalk is cream coloured and the joints of the ambulatory legs are not pigmented white. Syntripsa matannensis , however, is deep reddish purple overall and also has deep reddish purple chela with the fingers completely pigmented black. It has white eye-stalks and the joints of the ambulatory legs are pigmented white.

Syntripsa flavichela has a less rugose carapace with a distinct cervical groove and a distinct H-shaped depression while S. matannensis has a more rugose carapace with an indistinct, shallow cervical groove and a shallow H-shaped central depression ( Fig. 29A, B vs. Fig. 28A ). The outer edge of the postorbital cristae of S. flavichela stops short of the anterolateral margin, reaching just before the base of the first epibranchial tooth, whereas that of S. matannesis reaches the anterolateral margin, stopping just above the base of the first epibranchial tooth ( Fig. 29A, B vs. Fig. 28A ). The male abdomen of S. matannensis reaches an imaginary line joining the anterior edges of the cheliped bases, while for S. flavichela , the male abdomen stops at the median point before the anterior edges of the cheliped bases ( Fig. 30A vs. Fig. 28C ). The G1s of both S. matannensis and S. flavichela are also different. The G1 of S. flavichela is stout, straight, with a straight outer margin and lacks a cleft on the proximal part ( Fig. 31F, G ). The G1 of S. matannensis on the other hand is slender, being gently curving outwards, with a slightly sinuous outer margin and a proximal part that is gently clefted ( Fig. 31A, B ).

Figures

Fig. 29. Syntripsa flavichela, new species, holotype male (59.1 x 46.7 mm, MZB 1483): A, dorsal view; B, dorsal view of carapace; C, frontal view.

Fig. 30. Syntripsa flavichela, new species, holotype male (59.1 x 46.7 mm, MZB 1483): A, ventral view; B, major chela.

Fig. 31. Left G1 and G2. A-E, Syntripsa matannensis (Schenkel, 1902), lectotype male (31.3 x 25.6 mm, NMB 20a): A, G1 ventral view; B, G1 dorsal view; C, G1 distal part, ventral view; D, G1 distal part, dorsal view; E, G2. F-J, Syntripsa flavichela, new species, holotype male (59.1 x 46.7 mm, MZB 1483): F, G1 ventral view; G, G1 dorsal view; H, G1 distal part, ventral view; I, G1 distal part, dorsal view; J, G2. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 28. Syntripsa matannensis (Schenkel, 1902), lectotype male (31.3 x 25.7 mm, NMB 20a): A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, ventral view.