Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914

Ng, Peter K. L., Devi, Suvarna & Kumar, Appukuttannair Biju, 2017, Typhlocarcinus kerala, a new species of rhizopine crab from southwestern India, and the identity of T. craterifer Rathbun, 1914 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pilumnidae), Zootaxa 4272 (1), pp. 131-141 : 132

Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914

( Figs. 1 , 2 , 7A–C )

Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914: 147 ; Tesch 1918: 207; Serène 1968: 92; Ng 1987a: 89; Ng et al. 2008: 144. (not Serène 1964: 217, pls. 18C, 19A)

Material examined. Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914 : holotype female (13.4 × 9.5 mm) ( USNM 46397 ), station 5213, Destacado Island , east of Masbate Island, Philippines, 12°15'N 123°57'30"E, 80 fathoms, coll . U.S. Bureau of Fisheries steamer R.V. Albatross, 20 April 1908 .

Diagnosis. Carapace transversely subovate, width 1.41 times length; dorsal surfaces smooth, covered with short pubescence on surface, with longer plumose setae on lateral and frontal margins, regions demarcated, Hshaped gastric and cardiac grooves deep, distinct, surface adjacent appears crenulated in adult; anterolateral margin strongly convex, lined with small granules, appears entire except for low granulated tooth at junction with posterolateral margin; posterolateral margins subparallel, margin and surface with small rounded granules, median part with patch of raised granules resembling low lobe ( Figs. 1 A, B, 7A). Frontal margin deflexed downwards, barely visible from dorsal view; bilobed with distinct median cleft, margin of each lobe distinctly convex ( Figs. 1 B, C, 7B). Orbit ovate; eyes small, with stout peduncle, small cornea, fused to carapace, immovable ( Fig. 1 C). Posterior margin of epistome gently convex, not clearly divided into lobes ( Fig. 1 C). Outer surface of ischium, merus and exopod of third maxilliped with scattered small granules; anteroexternal angle of merus rounded; exopod slender ( Fig. 7C ). Chelipeds stout, carpus with low subdentiform inner angle; margins of carpus and merus with numerous granules and dense setae; chela stout, dorsal and ventral margins with rounded granules and dense setae; cutting edges of propodal finger with prominent broad teeth ( Figs. 1 A, 2D–F). Ambulatory legs moderately short; propodus of last leg relatively long; dactylus of last leg straight from dorsal view, slightly curved on mesial view ( Figs. 1 A, 2G, H). Male not known. Female pleon ovate; telson triangular, elongate ( Fig. 1 D). Vulva relatively small, rounded ( Fig. 2 C).

Colour. Not known.

Remarks. See General Discussion for taxonomic comments.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914, holotype female (13.4 × 9.5 mm) (USNM 46397), Philippines. A, overall view; B, dorsal view of carapace (right side denuded); C, frontal view of cephalothorax (partially denuded); D, ventral view of cephalothorax showing buccal cavity and pleon.

FIGURE 2. Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914, holotype female (13.4 × 9.5 mm) (USNM 46397), Philippines. A, posterior view of thoracic sternum and pleonal somites 1 – 4; thoracic sternum and pleonal somites 1 – 6; C, thoracic sternum and vulvae; D, dorsal view of right cheliped; E, outer view of right chela; F, outer view of left chela; G, right last ambulatory leg; H, right second or third ambulatory leg.

FIGURE 7. A – C, Typhlocarcinus craterifer Rathbun, 1914, holotype female (13.4 × 9.5 mm) (USNM 46397), Philippines; D – I, Typhlocarcinus kerala sp. nov., paratype male (18.3 × 13.0 mm) (DABFUK), Kerala, India. A, right side of carapace (denuded); B, frontal margin (denuded); C, left third maxilliped (denuded); D, right third maxilliped (denuded); E, ventral view of left G 1; F, dorsal view of left G 1; G, ventral view of distal part of left G 1; H, dorsal view of distal part of left G 1; I, left G 2. Scales: A = 1.0 mm; B – I = 0.5 mm.