Caridina maculata, Wang, Liqing, Liang, Xiangqiu & Li, Fan, 2008

Wang, Liqing, Liang, Xiangqiu & Li, Fan, 2008, Descriptions of four new species of Caridina (Decapoda: Atyidae) from China, Zootaxa 1726, pp. 49-59 : 49-51

Caridina maculata sp. nov.

Figs. 1–2

Material examined: Holotype: male (06-3-1), total length 17 mm. Paratypes: 12 male and 11 female, total length 15–18 mm. Female with eggs measured 0.6 – 0.65× 0.86–0.96 mm in diameter. Type locality: Examined specimens were collected in Yingde County, Guangdong Province (N.23°54.5', E113°13.6') on July 15, 2006.

Habitat: They inhabit a clear brook in the mountains, with few aquatic macrophytes and some residual tree leaves in a rocky bottom.

Description: Rostrum short and straight, nearly reaching the end of 1st segment of antennal peduncle; with 9–12 dorsal teeth, of which 1–3 are behind the orbit; 2–3 ventral teeth located on distal end of rostrum. Pterygostomian margin rounded, without spine. Telson with 1 short cone-shaped posteromedian projection, 6 pairs of dorso-lateral spines, and 4 pairs setae-like spines on distal margin which similar in size, length and thickness. Stylocerite longer, reaching beyond 1st segment to basal 1/3 of 2nd segment of antennular peduncle; ultimate segment short and stout, as long as wide, apparently shorter than 2nd segment; total length of two terminal segments nearly equal to or shorter than length of 1st segment. Scaphocerite obviously short and expanse, 2.5 times as long as wide. Outerodistal angle of 1st maxilliped endopod ending in broadly triangular. Third maxilliped reaching about end of antennular peduncle, ending in a single terminal claw and with 7–9 short thorns on distal ventral margin; ultimate segment nearly equal to penultimate segment, but shorter than antepenultimate segment.

First pereiopod stout, nearly reaching to end of 2nd segment of antennular peduncle; carpus deeply concaved in distal margin, about 1.6 times as long as wide; chela 2.2 times as long as wide; dactylus approximately equal to palm. Second pereiopod slim, slightly exceed to distal end of antennular peduncle; carpus slightly sunk in distal margin and 6 times as long as wide; chela 2.9 times long as wide; dactylus nearly 1.7 times as long as palm. Third pereiopod slightly exceed to end of antennular peduncle; carpus 0.9 times as long as propodus; propodus of male slightly curved, 3.4 times as long as dactylus which is 3.4 times as long as wide, with 4–5 accessory spines along flexor margin and last two ventral teeth of male stout and curved. Fifth pereiopod reaching to 2/3 of 1st segment of antennular peduncle; carpus 0.6 times as long as propodus,which is 3.5 times as long as dactylus which was 4.9 times as long as wide and with 50 comb-like spinules along a flexor margin.

Endopod of male 1st pleopod long and narrow, leaf-like, 3.2 times as long as wide, long simple seta armed both exterior and anterior margin; appendix interna extended from distal 1/3, reaching beyond distal margin of endopod. Appendix masculine of male 2nd pleopod stick-like, armed on inner edge and distal end with long thick movable spines; appendix interna stout, reaching middle of appendix masculine, with hooks on inner terminal angle. Uropodal diaeresis with 22 movable denticles.

Live specimens are alternately covered with black and white stripes. There is a brown dapple situated behind the dorsal side orbit. Five black and white stripes alternate on rostrum, cephalothorax, abdomen, telson and uropods. The stripe shape on the 2nd to 4th abdomen segments appeared rhombic.

Discussion: The new species closely resembles Caridina serrata Stimpson, 1860 (Cai & Ng, 1999.) in the characteristics of the rostrum length, rostral teeth number and their distribution pattern, the longer stylocerite protruding the end of the 1st segment of antennula peduncle, and number of uropodal diaeresis denticles. Nevertheless, there are obvious differences between the two species. The new species has a shorter and wider scaphocerite, equal length between the dactylus of 1st pereiopod and palm, the larger curved accessory spines along flexor margin of the dactylus of male 3rd pereiopod, slightly curved propodus of male 3rd pereiopod with sex dimorphism, more ventral accessory spines of the dactylus of 5th pereiopod and the narrower endopod of 1st male pleopod.

Etymology: From the Latin word maculate, for spotted, in allusion to the pigmental pattern of the body.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Caridina maculata sp. nov. a. anterior portion of cephalothorax, lateral view; b. terminal portion of telson, dorsal view; c. 1 st antenna; d. 2 nd antenna; e. endopod of 1 st maxilliped; f. 3 rd maxilliped; g. 1 st pereiopod; h. 2 nd pereiopod; i. 3 rd pereiopod; j. dactylus of 3 rd pereiopod, enlarged; k. 5 th pereiopod; l. dactylus of 5 th pereiopod, enlarged; m. endopod of 1 st male pleopod; n. appendix masculina of 2 nd pleopod. Scale: a, f, g, h, i, k = 0.5 mm; b, c, d = 0.2 mm; e, j, l, m, n = 0.1 mm