Pullosquilla thomassini (Manning, 1978)

Wang, Jing-Wen & Chiou, Tsyr-Huei, 2017, Three new records of Nannosquillidae from Taiwan with notes on their ecology (Crustacea, Stomatopoda, Lysiosquilloidea), ZooKeys 721, pp. 33-43 : 35-39

Pullosquilla thomassini (Manning, 1978) Figs 4, 5

Pullosquilla thomassini Manning, 1978: 20-21, fig. 9; Manning 1980: 269-270; Ahyong 2001: 168-170, fig. 84.

Material examined.

NMNS-7834-009, 1 female (TL 14.6 mm), June 2017. NMNS-7834-010, 1 male (TL 16.2 mm), July 2017.

Diagnosis.

Cornea subglobular. Eyes reaching to the end of the A1 peduncle. Rostral plate triangular, longer than broad; apex depressed anteriorly. Dorsal processes of A1 somite forming sharp spines directed anterolaterally; with slightly sinuate margin. A2 protopod with blunt projection adjacent to basal rostral plate (Fig. 5A).

Rostral claw with 13-14 teeth on dactylus. Propodus pectinate; occlusal margin pectinate, and with 4 movable spines proximally. Distal end of ischium ventrally armed with slender spine (Fig. 5B). Basal segment of pereiopods 1-3 posteriorly with short spine. Mandibular palp absent; five epipods present.

AS6 with one ventrolateral spine at each lateral margin anterior to uropodal articulation; posterior margin on ventral surface with two spines directed posteriorly. Telson broader than long; dorsal surface smooth; mid-ventral surface covered with short spines. Lateral margin of telson with four broad and curved spines directed posteriorly, each ventro-medially flanked by slender spine. Posterior margin of telson depressed, forming a broad false eave with 21 posteriorly directed small spines, placed in row. Ventromedial telson margin with 12-13 submedian denticles either side of midline (Fig. 5C, D).

Uropodal protopod with two distal spines above proximal exopod articulation; with two primary spines, inner spine longer than outer spine. Outer margin of uropodal exopod proximal segment with 3 movable spines, inner margin with 2-4 stiff setae. Distal segment of exopod and endopod slender and elongated (Fig. 5C, D).

Distribution.

Based on Ahyong (2001), P. thomassini is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region (Australia, French Polynesia to Ogasawara Island, Japan). These specimens are the first records of P. thomassini from Taiwan.

Remarks.

The telson of P. thomassini is unique in the genus by bearing four strong spines on lateral margins, each flanked by a short spine on its inner ventral surface (Fig. 5C). Two specimens examined here, a female (TL 14.6 mm) and a male (TL 16.2 mm), agree well with the descriptions of P. thomassini by Manning (1978) and Ahyong (2001).