Caridina susuroflabra, Richard & Clark, 2009

Jasmine Richard & Paul F. Clark, 2009, African Caridina (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae): redescriptions of C. africana Kingsley, 1882, C. togoensis Hilgendorf, 1893, C. natalensis Bouvier, 1925 and C. roubaudi Bouvier, 1925 with descriptions of 14 new species, Zootaxa 1995, pp. 1-75 : 60-63

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.1455866
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6219333
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EF5668-7458-C72D-E79D-1EFAFF6DFCE2
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Caridina susuroflabra
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Caridina susuroflabra View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 32 View FIGURE 32 , 33 View FIGURE 33 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♀ South Africa Eoshowe, Zululand, Major McLaughlin, SAM A 10661. Paratypes: 1♂, 1♀ ovig., 4♀, type locality.

Description. Total length: 25–35 mm. Carapace length: 5–6 mm.

Rostrum ( Fig. 32a, b, c, d View FIGURE 32 ): Equal to end of antennular peduncle or shorter reaching middle of second segment of antennular peduncle. 3–4 mm in length. 0.5–0.6 × long as carapace. 4–10 teeth on dorsal margin leaving 0.40–0.75 of length distally unarmed. 0–1 post-orbital tooth. 7–12 teeth on ventral margin arranged to tip. Tip pointed, bifid or with extra tooth giving trifid shape. Formula (0–1) 4–10/7–12.

Antennular peduncle ( Fig. 32e View FIGURE 32 ): 0.5–0.6 × carapace. Stylocerite 0.7–0.8 × length of basal segment. Anterolateral teeth of basal segment 0.25–0.5 × second segment. 9–10 segments bearing aesthetascs.

First pereiopod ( Fig. 33a View FIGURE 33 ): dactylus 1.3–1.6 × palm of propodus. Chela 2.2–2.3 × long as broad. Carpus 2.2–2.4 × long as broad, anterior excavation not deep.

Second pereiopod ( Fig. 33b View FIGURE 33 ): dactylus 1.3–1.45 × long as palm of propodus. Chela 2.50–2.75 × long as broad. Carpus 4.8–5 × long as broad.

Third pereiopod ( Fig. 33c, d View FIGURE 33 ): dactylus 2.5–2.7 × long as broad. Spines on dactylus varying from 8–10 (including terminal spines). Propodus 4–5 × long as dactylus and 10–11 × long as broad with 12–16 spines along inner margin. Carpus 0.6–0.65 × long as propodus, with one big spine and 4–5 small spines inner margin. Merus 1.6–1.7 × carpus length. Merus with 2 large spines on posterior margin. Ischium bearing 1 large spine on posterior margin.

Fifth pereiopod ( Fig. 33e, f View FIGURE 33 ): dactylus 4.5–5 × long as broad with 50–60 spines arranged in comb-like fashion on inner margin. Propodus 10–11 × long as broad and 3.3–3.9 × long as dactylus with 15–20 spines along inner margin. Carpus 0.55–0.6 × propodus length and with 1 large spine and 4–5 small spines along inner margin. Merus 1.4–1.6 × carpus length, with 2 large spines at posterior margin.

Setobranchs: 4 on all pereiopods.

First pleopod of male ( Fig. 33g, h View FIGURE 33 ): endopod 0.39 × exopod. Small projection present at anterior margin of endopod and appendix interna absent. Several stalked plumose processes arranged along entire margin.

First female pleopod ( Fig. 33i View FIGURE 33 ): endopod 0.79 × long as exopod.

Eggs ( Fig. 33j View FIGURE 33 ) 75; 1.05–1.1 × 0.65–0.7mm in size.

Second male pleopod ( Fig. 33k, l View FIGURE 33 ): apendix masculina 1.6 × appendix interna. 0.24 × endopod. Several stalked spines along posterior margin.

Sixth abdominal somite carapace: 0.5–0.6 × long as carapace.

Telson ( Fig. 33m, n View FIGURE 33 ): 1–1.1 × long as sixth abdominal somite. 5–7 pairs of dorsal spines (including sub terminal spine). Posterior margin triangular, ending in median process, with pair of longer lateral spines and 1 or 2 pairs of inner spines shorter than lateral pair. Spines sparsely plumose.

Uropod ( Fig. 33o View FIGURE 33 ): 11–14 diaeresis spinules.

Preanal carina ( Fig. 33p View FIGURE 33 ): unarmed.

Remarks. Caridina susuroflabra sp. nov. is distinguished by the short rostrum with 0–1 post-orbital teeth and a fewer number of teeth on the dorsal margin being arranged proximally leaving a distinct distal unarmed margin. The teeth on ventral rostral margin are arranged distally, tip acute, bifid or trifid. Caridina susuroflabra sp. nov. is closer to C. africana in possesing the short spines at the posterior margin of the telson. However, C. susuroflabra sp. nov. differs by its shorter rostrum and the arrangement of teeth distally on the ventral margin of the rostrum. It is distinctly different from C. togoensis in possessing short spines at the posterior margin of the telson.

Etymology. The specific name, susuroflabra , is derived from the Latin meaning whispering breezes, alluding to Eshowe, the collection site of the species. Eshowe, the oldest town in Zululand, is situated around the Dlinza indigenous forest, and derives its name from the tranquil, whispering breezes blowing through the trees.