Agononida indocerta, Poore, Gary C. B. & Andreakis, Nikos, 2012

Poore, Gary C. B. & Andreakis, Nikos, 2012, The Agononida incerta species complex unravelled (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Munididae), Zootaxa 3492, pp. 1-29 : 19-21

Agononida indocerta n. sp.

( Figs 2 H–J, 3D, 10)

? Munida incerta .— Tirmizi & Javed 1993: 100, figs 43, 44. Munida sp.— Jones & Morgan 1994: 135, fig.

Agononida sp. cf. squamosa .— Jones & Morgan 2002: 135, fig. Agononida sp. aff. incerta —Poore et al. 2008: 18 (part).

Material examined. Holotype. AUSTRALIA. Western Australia. Ashmore L30 transect, 12°36.1ʹS 123°25.5ʹE, 419- 403 m, 0 7.07.2007 (stn SS05/2007/198), NMV J62081 (male, cl 30.2 mm).

Paratypes. AUSTRALIA. Western Australia (all collected by FRV Southern Surveyor, 2005–2007). Collected with holotype (stn SS05/2007/198), NMV J57295 (5 males, cl 19–27 mm; 5 ovigerous females, cl 19–24 mm; 2 juveniles females, cl 17 mm). Ashmore L30 transect, 12°28.8ʹS 123°25ʹE, 397–405 m (stn SS05/2007/189), NMV J55987 [now in MNHN] (male, cl 18 mm; ovigerous female, cl 23 mm); NMV J57257 (5 juveniles, cl 7 mm). Kulumburu L29 transect, 13°15.9ʹS 123°22.4ʹE, 394– 390 m (stn SS05/2007/180), NMV J55988 (3 males, cl 20–24 mm; 2 ovigerous females, cl 22, 25 mm; 2 juvenile females 22, 23 mm; 1 with bopyrid parasite and 2 with Peltagaster parasite). Adele L28 transect, 14°03.7ʹS 122°37.0ʹE, 394–400 m (stn SS05/2007/166), NMV J55985 (ovigerous female, cl 24 mm). Adele L28 transect, 14°03.8ʹS 122°36.2ʹE, 397– 393 m (stn SS05/2007/167), NMV J55989 (male, cl 7 mm; 2 ovigerous females, cl 20, 24 mm; juvenile female, cl 11 mm). Lacepede L26 transect, 15°36.6ʹS 120°48.4ʹE, 399 m (stn SS05/2007/130), NMV J57293 (17 juveniles). Broome L25 transect, 16°36.3ʹS 120°34.4ʹE, 407–414 m (stn SS05/2007/120), NMV J55986 (2 males, cl 24 27 mm; ovigerous female, cl 21 mm). Mermaid L24 north transect, 17°01.1ʹS 119°35.4ʹE, 451– 440 m (stn SS05/2007/080), NMV J55983 (27 juveniles, cl 7 mm). Mermaid L24 south transect, 17°11.8ʹS 119°34.8ʹE, 435–438 m (stn SS05/2007/079), NMV J56022 (female, cl 10 mm). Mermaid L24 east transect, 17°02.8ʹS 119°39.6ʹE, 424–456 m (stn SS05/2007/077), NMV J56413 (male, cl 32 mm). Imperieuse L23 transect, 17°21.5ʹS 118°57.3ʹE, 437–446 m (stn SS05/2007/056), NMV J62811 (2 supermales, cl 29, 33 mm, 1 male; 4 juvenile females, 3 ovigerous females). off Point Cloates, 22°50.8ʹS 113°20.2ʹE, 420–430 m (stn SS10/2005/137), NMV J60796 (ovigerous female, cl 28 mm). Perth Canyon, 31°59.5ʹS 115°10.9ʹE, 508– 478 m (stn SS10/2005/068), NMV J55031 (3 males, cl 17–22; 3 ovigerous females, cl 21–23 mm; 1 juvenile female cl 10 mm).

Other material. Northwestern Australia no further data (stn SS05/2007/unknown), NMV J57294 (17 specimens). 220 km N of Port Hedland, 17°59ʹS 118°17ʹE, 768 m, (stn S 02/82/17), AM P67303 (male, cl 26.6 mm; ovigerous female, cl 25.8 mm).

Diagnosis. Telson anterolateral margin concave and smooth over anterior 70%, remainder prominent, widest well anterior to transverse suture and narrower adjacent to transverse suture, with crenellate margin. Pereopodal 2–4 dactyli 5.1–5.77 times as long as greatest basal width; robust setae on dactylus of pereopod 2 number 25–50 (median about 35), of pereopod 3, 6–31 (median about 17) and of pereopod 4, 2–19 (median about 10). Pereopod 4 merus usually with spines proximally on upper face.

Descriptions. Supermale. Based on NMV J62081 , cl 30.2 mm. Frontal margin inclined posteriorly at 18° from midline. Rostrum spiniform, 0.44 length of carapace (both measured from base of supraocular spines); supraocular spine 0.56 length of rostrum (both measured from base of rostrum). Thoracic sternite 3 0.48 width of sternite 4. Telson greatest width 1.9 times midlength; anterolateral margin concave and smooth over anterior 70%, remainder prominent, widest well anterior to transverse suture and narrower adjacent to transverse suture, with crenellate margin; lateral margin almost straight, more curved proximally and distally.

Eyes with maximum corneal diameter 1 basal width of supraocular spines. Maxilliped 3 ischium 0.6 times as long as merus.

Pereopod 1 (cheliped) of grossly expanded supermale form, slightly asymmetrical, covered with elevated squamae fringed with short setae; 4.6 times as long as carapace, carpus 0.6 times as long as merus, propodus 1.6 times as long as merus, fingers 0.53 times as long as total propodus length. Merus with 1+7 spines along upper margin, 4 spines along mesial face, 14 spines along lateral face, with distal spine only on lower margin; carpus with 1+0 spines on upper margin (modified squamae only), 0 spines on mesial face, 0 spines on lateral face; propodus oval in cross-section, with shallow longitudinal grooves mesially and laterally, palm deeper distally, spines with spines at base of dactylus only, propodus without spines along lower margin or on lower lateral face; dactylus cutting edge with 2 proximal blunt teeth and ridge of c. 50 uneven teeth, few more prominent than others.

Minor pereopod 1 with only minor differences.

Pereopod 2 3.2 times carapace length, 8.3 times a long as greatest width, carpus 0.22 times as long as merus, propodus 0.5 times as long as merus, dactylus 0.6 times as long as propodus; merus with 1+12–14 spines along extensor margin, with 1+3–4 spines along flexor margin; carpus with 1+3–4 spines along extensor margin; dactylus strongly curved over distal half, 5.7 times as long as greatest basal width, with row of 36 robust setae distal to heel of flexor margin.

Pereopod 3 3.2 times carapace length, 7.2 times a long as greatest width, carpus 0.23 times as long as merus, propodus 0.6 times as long as merus, dactylus 0.5 times as long as propodus; merus with 1+11 spines along extensor margin, with 1+8 spines along flexor margin; carpus with 1+2 spines along extensor margin; dactylus 5.4 times as long as greatest basal width, with row of 20 robust setae distal to heel of flexor margin.

Pereopod 4 3 times carapace length, merus 1.1 times carapace length, 6.6 times a long as greatest width; merus with 1+12–13 spines along extensor margin, with 1+7–8 spines along flexor margin; carpus with 1+1–2 spines along extensor margin; dactylus more gently curved than dactyli 2 or 3, distally less setose, 5.1 times as long as greatest basal width, with 2–14 robust setae distal to heel of flexor margin.

Ovigerous female. Based on NMV J57295 , cl 24.6 mm. Rostrum spiniform, 0.4 length of carapace (both measured from base of supraocular spines); supraocular spine 0.61 length of rostrum (both measured from base of rostrum). Telson greatest width 1.7 times midlength; anterolateral margin sinusoidal, concave and smooth over anterior 60%, remainder convex, widest adjacent to transverse suture, with crenellate margin.

Pereopod 1 (cheliped) 3.4 times as long as carapace, merus as long as carapace, carpus 0.6 times as long as merus, propodus 1.5 times as long as merus, fingers 0.5 times as long as total propodus length. Merus with 1+5 spines along upper margin, 3 spines along mesial face, 10 spines along lateral face, with distal spine only on lower margin; carpus with 1+2 spines on mesial face, 0 spines on lateral face; propodus with 4 spines on upper margin, with 1+1 spines along mesial face, with 1+1 spine on lateral face near base of dactylus, with 1–3 oblique spines along lower margin plus 1–3 spines on lower lateral face; dactylus cutting edge with ridge of c. 50 denticles.

Minor pereopod 1 not differentiated.

Pereopod 2 2.8 times carapace length, merus 1.3 times as long as carapace; merus with 1+13 spines along extensor margin, with 1+6 spines along flexor margin; carpus with 1+1 spines along extensor margin; dactylus strongly curved over distal half, with row of 27–30 robust setae distal to heel of flexor margin.

Pereopod 3 3 times carapace length, merus 1.2 times carapace length; merus with 1+13 spines along extensor margin, with 1+7 spines along flexor margin; carpus with 1+2 spines along extensor margin; dactylus with row of 6–15 robust setae distal to heel of flexor margin.

Pereopod 4 2.9 times carapace length, merus as long as carapace; merus with 1+15 spines along extensor margin, without spines or with 1–4 spines proximally on upper face (usual); carpus with 1+2 spines along extensor margin; dactylus unknown on this specimen.

Colour. (from specimens fixed in formalin and stored in alcohol, NMV J55031 and J62811 , probably somewhat faded, and Fig. 3 D). Carapace colour not known. Transverse broad orange bands subdistally on meri of pereopods 1–4, proximally on carpi of pereopods 1–4, subdistally on carpus of pereopod 1, proximally on propodus of pereopod 1, at propodus-dactylus articulation of pereopod 1, and subdistally on propodi of pereopods 2–4.

Variation. The numbers of spines on the margins of pereopodal meri may be one or two larger or smaller than the figures given in the descriptions and are not consistent from left to right side. The numbers of robust setae distal to the heel on the flexor margin of the dactyli of pereopods 2–4 vary considerably, even from one side to the other: pereopod 2, 25–50 (median about 35); pereopod 3, 6–31 (median about 17); pereopod 4, 2–19 (median about 10).

Although the largest males of Agononida indocerta have somewhat expanded chelipeds none possesses opposing teeth on the cutting edges of the fingers. Chelipeds in these individuals are 3.6 times carapace length and exceed pereopods 2–4 when held laterally. In ovigerous females chelipeds can be longer than pereopods 2 and 3 but not necessarily so.

Distribution. Western Australia, 12.5°S –32°S; 394–508 m (the species was not taken at stations targeting the 200 m, 800 m or deeper contours). The southern outlying sample at 32°S was taken deeper than others further north.

Etymology. indocerta , a combination from Indian Ocean and incerta .

Remarks. Agononida indocerta is notable for the prominent semicircular lobes at the posterolateral corner of the anterolateral margin of the telson, more prominent in males. The pereopodal dactyli possess more robust setae on the flexor margin than any other species, usually around 35 and 17 on pereopods 2 and 3 respectively. Few species have more than 1 or 2 robust setae on the dactylus of pereopod 4; A. indocerta has usually around ten. Most specimens (not all and not always on both sides) possess 1–3 spines at the proximal end of the upper face of the merus of pereopod 4, quite distinct from the rows of marginal spines, a feature shared with A. africerta . Further similarities and differences are discussed above with this species.

The species has a characteristic colour pattern, notable for the transverse bands on the pereopods not being at the distal ends of the articles. The colour patterns on the two lots of preserved material is consistent with that displayed in a published colour photograph of a live animal labelled “ Munida sp.” in Jones & Morgan (1994) and “ Agononida sp. cf. squamosa ” in Jones & Morgan (2002). Ahyong & Poore (2004) suspected that these photographs may be of their form-a of A. incerta , a form later described as A. rubrizonata . Macpherson & Baba (2009) realised the error. The photographed specimen can not now be found.

The drawing of the telson of a male identified as M. incerta from the Bay of Bengal ( Tirmizi & Javed 1993) suggests the western Australian A. indocerta which would extend its distribution northwards.

The mitochondrial phylogeny places A. indocerta and A. africerta as sister taxa and the two as sister clade to all other species.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Telsons of species of the Agononida incerta complex, with details of the anterolateral margin at twice scale. Scale bar = 10 mm. Agononida incerta: A, male, cl 32 mm, Western Australia, NMV J 56025. B, ovigerous female, cl 24 mm, Western Australia, NMV J 55021. C, supermale, cl 38 mm, Philippines, ZMUC CRU 11555. Agononida africerta: D, male, cl 15.1 mm, MNHN IU- 2008 - 10437. E, female, cl 13.8 mm, MNHN IU- 2008 - 10438. Agononida auscerta: F, male, cl 22 mm, NMV J 62124. G, ovigerous female, cl 24.3 mm, NMV J 55995. Agononida indocerta: H, supermale, cl 30.3 mm, NMV J 62081. I, male, cl 27 mm, NMV J 57295. J, ovigerous female, cl 25 mm, NMV J 57295. Agononida norfocerta: K, male, cl 30.7 mm, MNHN IU- 2011 - 592. L, female, cl 27 mm, NMV J 62814. Agononida rubrizonata: M, male, cl 28.2 mm, Western Australia, NMV J 57292. N, ovigerous female, Western Australia, cl 25 mm, NMV J 57292.

FIGURE 3. Colour photographs of living animals. A, Agononida incerta, Nanfang-ao, Taiwan, T. - Y. Chan (from Baba et al., 2009). B, A. incerta, NMV J 55021, Karen Gowlett-Holmes. C, A. africerta, MNHN IU- 2008 - 10192, T. - Y. Chan. D, A. indocerta, Western Australia, D. Evans (from Jones & Morgan, 2002). E, A. rubrizonata, paratype, Taiwan, T. - Y. Chan. F, A. rubrizonata, Western Australia, NMV J 55029, Karen Gowlett-Holmes.