Palmyria palmyrensis (Rathbun, 1923)

Sun, Yu-Li, Jiang, Wei & Sha, Zhong-Li, 2024, Shallow-water Trapezioidea (Decapoda: Brachyura) from the South China Sea, including two new records, and notes on Tetralia glaberrima Herbst, 1790, Zootaxa 5476 (1), pp. 393-423 : 397

Palmyria palmyrensis (Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923)

( Fig. 1E )

Maldivia palmyrensis Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923: 38, pl. 1C.—Edmondson 1923: 19.—Guinot 1964: 103, figs. 53, 54, pl. 4, figs. 4, 5, pl. 12, fig. 1; 1967: 271. —Sakai 1967: 82; 1976, 481.— Serène 1984: 296, figs. 203–205 ( Reunion Island).

Palmyria palmyrensis Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923: 38.— Galil & Takeda 1986: 169, figs. 5–8.— Castro 1999a: 32 ( Indonesia).— Liu et al. 2008: 791 (list) (Xisha Islands).— Castro et al. 2004: 20, fig. 1C ( La Réunion).

Material examined. Nansha Islands: Mischief Reef, 115°33.8’E 9°52.9’N, 8 m, coll. Shaobo Ma, Yuli Sun, Ziming Yuan, 9 May 2022, 1 female (4.45 × 3.59 mm), NS-MJ-2022-172, in Montipora ( Acroporidae ).— Xisha Islands: Seven Connected Islets, 112°16.2’E 16°58.0’N, 10 m, coll. Shaobo Ma, Yuli Sun, Ziming Yuan, 19 May 2022, 2 females (4.11 × 3.21 mm; 4.67 × 3.72 mm), XS-QL-2022-1065, in Montipora ( Acroporidae ). Geographical distribution. Across Indo–West Pacific region ( Castro 2004).

Remarks. There are few records of Palmyria palmyrensis , possibly due to its diminutive size, the carapace width of all three specimens is about 4 mm ( Fig. 1E , XS-QL-2022-1065). The host corals of Palmyria palmyrensis , Montipora ( Acroporidae ), is a type of coral without branches. Palmyria palmyrensis often hides within the concealed cavities or holes of Montipora , making it more difficult to be discovered.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A, Cherusius triunguiculatus Borradaile, 1902, male (2.94 × 2.57 mm) (XS-QL-2022-1066), Xisha Islands, Seven Connected Islets; B, Domecia glabra Alcock, 1899, female (4.93 × 4.18 mm) (NS-YS-2022-1056), Nansha Islands, Fiery Cross Reef; C, Domecia hispida Eydoux & Souleyet, 1842, male (4.62 × 4.01 mm) (XS-QL-2022-1064), Xisha Islands, Seven Connected Islets; D, Domecia hispida, megalopa (1.69 × 2.30 mm) (NS-YS-2022-1258), Nansha Islands, Fiery Cross Reef; E, Palmyria palmyrensis Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923, ovigerous female (4.11 × 3.21 mm) (XS-QL-2022-1065), Xisha Islands, Seven Connected Islets.