Catapagurus spinicarpus de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin, 2000

McLAUGHLIN, Patsy A. & Rahayu, Dwi Listyo, 2008, Pteropagurus and Catapagurus (Decapoda, Anomura, Paguridae): resource sharing or “ any port in a storm ”?, Zoosystema 30 (4), pp. 899-916 : 909-913

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.4525838
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C22CA730-D40D-0C2E-6D7E-FE32B75629DD
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Catapagurus spinicarpus de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin, 2000
status

Treatment

Catapagurus spinicarpus de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin, 2000 View in CoL

( Figs 4 View FIG ; 5 View FIG )

Catapagurus spinicarpus de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin, 2000: 146 View in CoL , fig. 46. — McLaughlin 2004: 14.

HOLOTYPE. — New Zealand. Kermadec Islands BS 438, 29°14.7’S, 177°49.4’W, 165- 149 m, 28.X.1975, ovig. ♀ (2.7 mm) (NMNZ Cr 9651). GoogleMaps

NEW MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. EBISCO, stn 2492, 24°44.0’S, 159°41.0’E, 285 m, 6.X.2005, 30 ♂♂ (1.4-3.0 mm), 18 ♀♀ (1.5-2.8 mm), 46 ovig. ♀♀ (1.7-2.2 mm) (MNHN-Pg 7765).

DISTRIBUTION. — Kermadec Islands , New Zealand, Chesterfield Islands, New Caledonia ; 149-285 m.

SUPPLEMENTAL DESCRIPTION

Shield ( Fig. 4A View FIG ) broader than long; surface with several tufts of setae. Rostrum broadly rounded to obtusely subtriangular, varying from not quite reaching levels of lateral projections to extending beyond. Lateral projections broadly rounded to obtusely triangular, unarmed or with marginal small spine or spinule. Ocular peduncles moderately short, broadened distally, 0.6-0.7 length of shield, dorsal surfaces each often with sparse tuft of setae at corneal indentation; corneal diameter 0.7-0.9 of peduncular length; ocular acicles narrowly triangular, slender, not quite reaching midlength of peduncles to reaching considerably beyond; terminating acutely. Antennular peduncles overreach distal margin of corneas by entire lengths of ultimate segments to 0.6 of penultimate segments. Antennal peduncles reaching distal margins of corneas to overreaching margins by 0.6 length of fifth segments. Third segment with spinule or small spine at ventrodistal angle. Second segment with dorsolateral distal angle produced, reaching proximal margin of fourth peduncular segment to nearly distal margin, terminating in acute or subacute spine; dorsomesial distal angle with spine. First segment with small to moderately large spine on laterodistal margin, ventral margin also with prominent spine distolaterally. Antennal acicle reaching basal corneal margin to overreaching distal margin, with small terminal spinule, mesial margin with few long setae. Antennal flagella long, often overreaching outstretched chelipeds; each article usually with 2 microscopic to short setae, at least in distal half.

Mandible ( Fig. 4B View FIG ) with calcified cutting edge, and small corneous tooth at lower outer angle; palp 3-segmented. Maxillule ( Fig. 4C View FIG ) with weakly developed external endopodal lobe, internal lobe with 1 stiff bristle. Maxilla ( Fig. 4D View FIG ) with endopod not overreaching distal margin of scaphognathite. First maxilliped ( Fig. 4E View FIG ) with very slender exopod. Second maxilliped ( Fig. 4F View FIG ) without distinguishing characters. Third maxilliped ( Fig. 4G, H View FIG ) with 3 or 4 teeth on basis; crista dentata with 8-10 teeth and prominent accessory tooth; merus with dorsodistal spine.

Right cheliped ( Fig. 5 View FIG A-D) long, moderately slender, somewhat dorsoventrally compressed; sexually dimorphic. Dactyl 0.5-0.8 length of palm; dorsomesial margin not delimited, surfaces minutely tuberculate or spinulose and with scattered short setae, particularly ventrally; cutting edge with 2 large, widely-spaced, often denticulate, calcareous teeth interspersed with much smaller calcareous teeth, row of similar small calcareous teeth distally, terminating in tiny corneous claw and overlapped by fixed finger, at least in larger specimens of both sexes.Palm approximately equal to or slightly longer than carpus in females ( Fig. 5B View FIG ) and small males, considerably longer than carpus in larger males ( Fig. 5A View FIG ); dorsomesial margin weakly delimited at least proximally and distally, dorsolateral margin not distinctly delimited, convex surfaces all with covering of minute to tiny granules or spinules except for generally smooth dorsodistal half of fixed finger; cutting edge of fixed finger with 2 or 3 low, broad, often denticulate calcareous teeth and few smaller calcareous teeth distally, terminating in small corneous or calcareous claw; ventral surface with scattered setae. Carpus with row of slender spines on dorsomesial margin, dorsodistal margin unarmed, dorsal surface granular or minutely tuberculate, dorsolateral margin with single or double row of slightly to considerably smaller spines; lateral and mesial faces minutely granular; ventral surface granular or tuberculate. Merus usually with small spine on dorsodistal margin, occasionally only with few stiff bristles, dorsal surface with 2 to complete row of low protuberances or very short transverse ridges, each with 1 or more short stiff bristles and occasionally small corneous spine; mesial and lateral faces microscopically granular; ventral surface tuberculate or granular; ventrolateral margin with row of tiny spinules or granules, 1 or 2 quite small spines at distal angle; rounded ventromesial margin minutely granular or spinulose, ventromesial distal angle with acute or blunt spine.

Left cheliped ( Fig. 5 View FIG E-H) slender, as long as right, occasionally slightly longer; somewhat dorsoventrally compressed; dactyl and fixed finger straight in females and small males ( Fig. 5H View FIG ), becoming ventrally arched in large males ( Fig. 5G View FIG ). Dactyl equaling length of palm to 1.3 longer in large specimens of both sexes; dorsomesial margin only faintly delimited and microscopically spinulose or granular, several short to moderately long setae marginally and on dorsal and ventral surfaces; cutting edge with row of tiny corneous teeth, terminating in very small corneous claw. Palm 0.6-0.8 length of carpus; rounded dorsomesial and dorsolateral margins microscopically or minutely spinulose; dorsal surface of palm and proximal 0.4-0.5 of fixed finger minutely granular; mesial and lateral faces and ventral surface microscopically granular; distal 0.5 of fixed finger with few short to moderately long setae; cutting edge with row of minute corneous teeth, terminating in tiny corneous claw. Carpus with row of slender spines on dorsomesial and dorsolateral margins; surfaces all minutely granular and with few short to moderately long setae. Merus with or without small spine at dorsodistal margin, dorsal surface with row of short transverse ridges or low protuberances, each accompanied by few stiff setae and often corneous spine, at least in large specimens; ventral surface with scattered very small tubercles, ventromesial and ventrolateral margins each weakly delimited by row of very small to tiny spinules or spinulose tubercles, ventrodistal angles each with 1 or 2 small spines. Ischium unarmed or with row of minute granules on ventromesial margin.

Ambulatory legs ( Figs 5 View FIG I-K) elongate, generally similar. Dactyls not blade-shaped; in dorsal view, straight; in lateral view, curved ventrally in distal halves; 1.1 to 1.6 longer than propodi, third often longer than second but not markedly so; dorsal margins each with row of spiniform setae, longer and more bristle-like distally, but often broken off; mesial faces ( Fig. 5K View FIG ) each with ventral row of 14 to 25 very small corneous spinules; lateral faces with few setae; ventral margins usually glabrous, occasionally with few setae. Propodi 1.7-3.0 length of carpi; dorsal surfaces each with row of granules or tiny spinules, often accompanied by short bristle-like setae, third occasionally only with row of protuberances and short bristle-like setae; mesial and lateral faces unarmed or minutely granular; ventromesial margins each with row of very short spiniform bristles often hardly discernable. Carpi short, 0.4-0.6 length of meri; dorsal surfaces each with sparse setae and row of small spines, lateral faces of second pereopods each occasionally with short irregular row of small spinules or tubercles; mesial and ventral surfaces usually unarmed, occasionally microscopically granular. Meri of second pereopod distinctly longer than third; each with dorsal surfaces varying from irregularly spinulose to with 1-4 short transverse ridges distally, often each with small spine or corneous spinule and/or 1-3 short bristles; ventrolateral distal angles each sometimes with very small spine or spinule, ventromesial and ventrolateral margins each with row of granules, spinules or small spines, sometimes few additional granules, tubercles or spinules on ventral surfaces. Fourth pereopods ( Fig. 4I View FIG ) each with very small preungual process at base of quite small claw.

Coxae of fifth pereopods in males ( Fig. 4J View FIG ) each with well-developed right sexual tube typical of genus; left usually with papilla or very short tube. Females with second to fourth pleopods biramous, fifth pleopods uniramous.

Uropods varying from nearly symmetrical to markedly asymmetrical; exopods much longer than endopods, each with 2 rows of scales on outer margin.Telson ( Fig. 4K View FIG ) with triangular posterior lobes separated by moderately deep, generally V-shaped median cleft; oblique terminal margins unarmed but often with 1-3 tiny bristles; lateral margins each sometimes with narrow chitinous marginal plate and 2 short stiff bristles near marginal indentation.

Coloration

Unknown.

Habitat

Empty pteropod shells of Cuvierina urceolaris (Mörch, 1850) and other snail shells primarily belonging to the family Naticidae , usually with anemones encircling shell apertures.

REMARKS

Catapagurus spinicarpus and Pteropagurus spinulocarpus are superficially so similar as to be easily mistaken for one another at first glance. Both have broad shields; short, stout, distally broadened ocular peduncles with prominently dilated corneas and moderately short ocular acicles; long antennular and antennal peduncles; long slender chelipeds and ambulatory legs; and males with long right sexual tubes curved dorsally over the pleons. There are, of course, numerous generic characters that will differentiate between the two taxa. However, when both pairs of ambulatory legs are present, the marked difference in the lengths of the second and third pairs of P. spinulocarpus ( Fig. 3G, H View FIG ) will immediately distinguish this species from C. spinicarpus ( Fig. 5I, J View FIG ). Additionally, the broad and posteriorly produced sternite of the third pereopods ( Fig. 2I, J View FIG ) clearly identifies the former taxon. Both species exhibit sexually dimorphic growth of the left chela ( Figs 3 View FIG C-F; 5E-H), but only in C. spinicarpus is similar dimorphic growth also seen in the right chela ( Fig. 5 View FIG A-D).

In contrast to the clean, smooth and transparent shells of Cuvierina columnella occupied by Pteropagurus spinulocarpus and P.spina , the pteropod shells utilized by Catapagurus spinicarpus were appreciably shorter, broader, and most frequently scuffed and discolored. Such shell condition would suggest that these shells had dragged along the substrate by their occupants, not unexpected in a species incapable of complete withdrawal into its carcinoecia and with ambulatory legs of approximately equal length. The shells of P. spinulocarpus had been identified as Cuvierina columella , and initially it was assumed that all occupied pteropod shells belonged to the one taxon. However, in her monographic review of the pteropod family Cavaliniidae Fischer, 1883 , Rampal (2002) distinguished between Cuvierina columnella and C. urceolaris by shell length and breadth in addition to morphological attributes of the animals. She noted that although they were found sympatrically there was no indication of hybridization. The shells occupied by Catapagurus spinicarpus agree well with the measurements, description and figures of Cuvierina urceolaris provided by Rampal (2002: 210, fig. 1A), whereas the shells utilized by the Pteropagurus species agree with her (p. 211, fig. 1B) description and illustrations of Cuvierinia columella . With only the empty shells available, the specific identities of the pteropods can only be considered tentative; however, one of the areas of sympatry of the two pteropods is New Caledonia.

The majority of specimens of Catapagurus spinicarpus still retaining the carcinoecia during preliminary examination were ovigerous females, with only their pleons inserted into the shells. Nevertheless, despite the only weakly swollen lumens of the shells, the hermits were not easily removed.Their eggs, although attached in a typical manner to the left second through fourth pleopods, were carried ventrally and sometimes dorsally as well as on the left side of the pleon, thus completely filling the interiors of the shells. Additionally, and as had been observed in the Pteropagurus species, C. spinicarpus pteropod shell inhabitants carried the uropods and telson tucked under the posterior portion of the pleon. The apertures of these shells almost always had remnants of previously attached anemones, but occasionally after the shell had been dislodged, the anemone remained encircling the pleon of the crab.