Paradynomene demon, Mclay, Colin L. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2004

Mclay, Colin L. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2004, A taxonomic revision of the genus Paradynomene Sakai, 1963 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Dynomenidae), Zootaxa 657, pp. 1-24 : 12-13

Paradynomene demon n. sp. ( Figs. 7 A, 8, 14C)

Paradynomene tuberculata— McLay, 1999: 543 (part) [Not Paradynomene tuberculata Sakai, 1963: 231 , fig 8.]

Material. Holotype female, 23.2 x 24.0 mm, station DW 0 2, 18°54'S, 163°24'E, 352–397 m, New Caledonia, coll. HALICAL 1, 23 Nov 1994 (MNHN­B26602).

Description. Carapace sub­rectangular, width similar to length, margins sub­parallel, surface areolate, covered with pavement of comparatively large rounded, granules with intervening spaces filled with dense felt of short setae. Carapace regions well marked. Frontal groove deeply marked, separating pair of epigastric tubercles, dividing to define mesogastric area containing median tubercle, with prominent protogastric tubercles on each side. Pair of metagastric tubercles, more elevated than mesogastric tubercle, separated by groove. Urogastric area well defined, with pair of low tubercles. Cardiac area swollen not divided, occupied by single large median tubercle, followed by much smaller intestinal tubercle. Branchial area dominated by 4 tubercles: prominent epibranchial tubercle, 1 similar mesobranchial tubercle, 2 smaller metabranchial tubercles. Total of 19 areolate tubercles on whole carapace: 8 on each side, 3 unpaired median tubercles. Profile evenly convex in side view.

Rostrum tridentate, teeth small, median tooth deflexed, but visible dorsally. Two small, dorsally directed supraorbital tubercles behind rostrum, rest of orbital margin covered with small granules, small suborbital tubercle visible dorsally. Orbits obliquely arranged, clearly exposed dorsally.

Anterolateral margin begins below level of postorbital corner armed with 5 sub­equal teeth. First anterolateral tooth preceded by 2 small, closely spaced hepatic teeth that form anterior corner of carapace. Behind branchial groove are 2 well developed posterolateral teeth, first largest, second tooth forming posterior corner of carapace.

Pereopods covered in small granules same as carapace. Cheliped carpus with tubercles on inner and outer proximal margins, 3 prominent tubercles along outer distal margin. Propodus with 3 small tubercles along inner, four tubercles along outer dorsal margins. On outer face of propodus granules tend to be arranged in rows lengthwise. Fingers not downcurved, closed for most of length, teeth obsolete on moveable finger, 3 or 4 faint teeth on fixed finger. At rest, fingers slot in beside bases of third maxillipeds that are covered with dense mass of fine setae. Margins of second to fourth pereopods tuberculate, fifth pereopod reduced, hidden under posterolateral carapace corner in dorsal view.

Surface of abdomen granulate, margins setose, abdomen only loosely held against sternum. No effective abdominal locking mechanism in the mature female type specimen.

Etymology. The name is derived from the French " démon " for the devil, alluding to the general appearance of the animal. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. The differences between this species and its congeners are summarized in Table 1 .

The only known specimen was collected from a depth of 352– 397 m.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Dorsal views. A, Paradynomene demon n. sp., female holotype, 23.2 x 24.0 mm,, New Caledonia (MNHN­B 26602); B, P. d iab lo n. sp., holotype male, 11.4 x 12.6 mm, Norfolk Island (MNHN­B 26607).