Neopalicus jukesii (White, 1847)

Shaga, I Bevin, Priya, K, Ramar, Selvakumar, Srinidhi, S, Mohan, G Chandra, Ranganathan, Sukanya, Moulvi, S M M & Mani, Bhuvaneswari, 2023, A Small Collection of Subtidal Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) from the Palau Islands Collected by Dredging, Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science. Series A, Zoology 49 (1), pp. 7-42 : 33

Neopalicus jukesii (White, 1847)

( Figs. 14C–F , 15C–E )

Cymopolia jukessii White, 1847b, p. 338 , pl. 2 fig. 1.─ Miers, 1874, p. 3, pl. 3 fig. 4. Cymopolia carinipes Paulson, 1961 [1875], p. 79, pl. 9 fig. 4. Palicus jukesii (White) : Alcock, 1900, p. 451.─ Calman, 1900, p. 29, pl. 1 figs. 9–13.─ Rathbun, 1911, p. 240, pl. 19 fig. 9.

Neopalicus jukesi (White) : Moosa and Serène, 1981, p. 42, fig. 7, pl. 2 fig. C.─ Castro, 2000, pp. 550 (in key), 554, figs. 39b, 40b–c, 41c, 61c.

Material examined. Inside of Gesodokkuru Reef , off Arumonogui, Babelthuap I., Palau Is., ca. 20 m in depth, dead coral and sand; 1 ♂ (cb 8.2×cl 7.3 mm), NSMT-Cr 30997, 1 ovig.♀ (8.7× 7.6 mm), NSMT-Cr 30998; July 13, 1980; K. Baba leg. ─ Same locality, 1 ovig.♀ (6.7× 5.5 mm), NSMT-Cr 30999; July 14, 1980; K. Baba leg.

Remarks. In the specimens examined, most of the chelipeds and ambulatory legs are detached, but the carapaces are good in condition. The carapace ( Fig. 14C, F ) is depressed as a whole, with rounded quadrilateral outline; the carapace posterolateral corner, about one-third the carapace lateral margin, is concave; the carapace dorsal regions are divided by shallow and smooth depressions and covered with scaly granules of various sizes. The front is prominent, with two smoothly convex lobes. The merus of the third maxilliped ( Fig. 15C ) is developed as a narrow lobe, with rounded distal margin, and concave along the inner margin to receive the base of the carpus. The G1 is illustrated by Moosa and Serène (1981) and Castro (2000) and enough to know the basic formation with the subterminal bulb and small branch about half as long as the acute terminal process. As the figures are somewhat variable according to the observation angles, the G1 is again illustrated in this paper ( Fig. 15D–E ). The G1s of this species and closely allied species, N. contractus ( Rathbun, 1902) were shown by Castro (2000) who arranged the morphological differences between the two species in the table.

Distribution. As mapped and tabulated by Castro (2000) who examined numerous specimens from many localities, the geographical range is wide in the Indo-West Pacific from Madagascar and the Red Sea to Australia and New Caledonia, and northwards to Japan through Indonesian waters, the South China Sea, and the Philippines, 10–146 m in depth. New to the Palau Islands.

Figures

Fig. 14. A–B: Palicoides whitei (Miers), ♂ (NSMT-Cr 31000; cb 7.0×cl 4.7mm) in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views. C–F: Neopalicus jukesii (White), ♂ (NSMT-Cr 30997; cb 8.2×cl 7.3mm) (C–E), and ovig.♀ (NSMT-Cr 30998; 8.7×7.6mm). Carapaces in dorsal view (C, F), abdomen (D) and G1 in situ (E).

Fig. 15. A–B: Palicoides whitei (Miers), ♂(NSMT-Cr 31000; cb 7.0×cl 4.7mm). Left orbital region, with third maxilliped, in ventral view (A) and right G1 in sternal view (B). Arrow in Fig. A shows a curved tubercle extending from the eyestalk to guard the cornea. C–E: Neopalicus jukesii (White), ♂ (NSMT-Cr 30997; cb 8.2×cl 7.3mm). Left third maxilliped (C), G1 in ventral view (D) and distal part of the same in sternal view (E). F–G: Trierarchus squamosus (Stephenson and Hudson, 1957), ♂ (NSMT-Cr 30977; cb 12.6×cl 8.7mm). Left third maxilliped (F) and left G1 in sternal view. (G). Scales for AC=1mm, BEFG=2 mm, D=0.5mm.