Munida cristulata, Macpherson & Rodríguez-Flores & Machordom, 2017

Macpherson, Enrique, Rodríguez-Flores, Paula C. & Machordom, Annie, 2017, New sibling species and new occurrences of squat lobsters (Crustacea, Decapoda) from the western Indian Ocean, European Journal of Taxonomy 343, pp. 1-61 : 9-12

Munida cristulata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7306E1F7-0D2C-4A84-A7A6-981917391A0E

Fig. 3

Etymology

From the Latin, crista, comb, in relation to the lateral carinae on the sternites.

Type material

Holotype

FRANCE: ♂, 6.1 mm, Glorieuses Islands , N of Mayotte Island, BENTHEDI, Stn F68, 12°29.7′ S, 45°02.3′ E, 400–460 m, 30 Mar. 1977 ( MNHN-IU-2014-13480 ).

Paratypes

FRANCE: 2 ♂♂, 4.3–5.2 mm, Glorieuses Islands, N of Mayotte Island, BENTHEDI, Stn F49, 12°54.6′ S, 44°56.8′ E, 300–450 m, 28 Mar. 1977 (MNHN-IU-2014-13481).

Description

CARAPACE. 1.3 times as long as broad, without secondary ridges between main transverse ridges. Dorsal ridges with dense short non-iridescent setae and few scattered long iridescent and non-plumose setae. Gastric region with 4 pairs of epigastric spines, longest pair behind supraocular spines. One parahepatic, one postcervical and one branchial dorsal spine on each side. Frontal margins slightly oblique. Lateral margins slightly convex. First lateral spine at anterolateral angle, long, not reaching level of sinus between rostrum and supraocular spines; one small spine in front of anterior branch of cervical groove. Branchial margins with three spines. Rostrum spiniform, about 0.5 times length of remaining carapace, horizontal. Supraocular spines reaching midlength of rostrum and not reaching end of corneae, subparallel and slightly upwards directed.

STERNUM. Distinct carinae on lateral portion of sternites 6–7. Few short striae on sternite 4; distal margin of sternite 4 moderately transverse, narrowly contiguous to sternite 3.

ABDOMEN. Anterior ridge of somite 2 with 8 spines; somites 2–3 each with one transverse ridge on tergite behind anterior ridge, somites 4–5 smooth; posteromedian margin of somite 6 straight.

EYES. Ocular peduncles as long as broad, maximum corneal diameter 0.5 distance between bases of anterolateral spines.

ANTENNULE. Article 1 with 2 well-developed distal spines, distomesial spine clearly shorter than distolateral; two lateral spines, distal much longer than proximal and not exceeding distomesial spine.

ANTENNA. Article 1 with strong distomesial spine reaching distal margin of article 2. Article 2 with subequal distomesial and distolateral spines overreaching end of article 3. Article 3 unarmed.

MXp3. Ischium with small distal spine on fleXor margin. Merus shorter than ischium; fleXor margin with 2 spines, proximal spine stronger than distal; extensor margin unarmed. Carpus unarmed.

P1. 2.8 times carapace length, with some long iridescent and plumose setae along mesial margins of articles. Merus 1.0–1.1 length of carapace, 1.8 times as long as carpus, with some dorsal spines; distal spines strong, distomesial spine not reaching proximal third of carpus. Carpus 0.9 length of palm, 3.3 times as long as broad, with spines along mesial and dorsal sides. Palm 2.9 times as long as broad, with row of dorsal and ventral spines; few spines along lateral margin not continuing along lateral margin of fiXed finger; one mesial row of spines. Movable finger with proXimal and subdistal spines. Fingers slightly longer than palm.

P2–4. Moderately long and slender, with numerous plumose and iridiscent setae along extensor margin of articles. P2 2.0–2.1 times carapace length. Meri shorter posteriorly (P3 merus 0.9 length of P2 merus, P4 merus 0.7 length of P3 merus); P2 merus 0.9 length of carapace, 6.5 times as long as broad, 1.4 times as long as P2 propodus; P3 merus 6 times as long as broad, 1.2 times as long as P3 propodus; P4 merus 4.5 times as long as broad, 0.9 times length of P4 propodus. Extensor margins of P2–3 meri with row of 9–10 proXimally diminishing spines, and unarmed on P4; fleXor margins distally with one spine followed proximally by several eminences; lateral sides unarmed. Carpi with 3–4 spines on extensor margin of P2–3, unarmed on P4; lateral surface with few granules sub-paralleling extensor margin on P2–4; fleXor margin with distal spine. Propodi 8–9 (P2–3)–7 (P4) times as long as broad; eXtensor margin unarmed; fleXor margin with 4–6 slender movable spines on P2–4. Dactyli slender, length 0.5 that of propodi; fleXor margin with 8 movable spinules along entire border, without a spinule at base of unguis; P2 dactylus 4.5 times as long as wide.

GENETIC DATA. Not available.

Remarks

Munida cristulata sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of 3 spines on the branchial lateral margins of the carapace, lateral parts of posterior thoracic sternites with distinct carinae, large eyes, and spines on the anterior ridge of the second abdominal somite. The new species is closely related to M. kapala Ahyong & Poore, 2004 , from Queensland, New South Wales and New Zealand (Ayhong & Poore 2004; Yaldwyn & Webber 2011).

Munida cristulata sp. nov. is easily distinguished from M. kapala by several characters:

- The P1 fiXed finger has several spines along the proXimal half of the lateral margin in M. kapala , whereas this margin is unarmed (except terminal spine) in M. cristulata sp. nov.

- The P2–4 dactyli are longer and more slender in M. kapala than in M. cristulata sp. nov. The P2 dactylus length is 0.5 that of the propodus in M. cristulata , whereas this length is ca 0.7 in M. kapala .

Distribution

Glorieuses Islands, between 300 and 460 m.

Figures

Fig. 3. Munida cristulata sp. nov., holotype, ♂, 6.1 mm (MNHN-IU-2014-13480), Glorieuses Islands, N of Mayotte Island. A. Carapace and abdomen, dorsal view. B. Sternal plastron. C. Cephalic region, showing antennular and antennal peduncles, ventral view. D. Right Mxp3, lateral view. E. Right P1, dorsal view. F. Right P2, lateral view. G. Right P3, lateral view. H. Right P4, lateral view. Scale bar: A–B, E–H = 1.0 mm; C–D = 0.5 mm.