Nikoides multispinatus Hayashi, 1981

Grave, Sammy De & Anker, Arthur, 2013, New records of processid shrimps from the Indo-West and East Pacific (Crustacea: Decapoda), Zootaxa 3640 (2), pp. 224-241 : 233

Nikoides multispinatus Hayashi, 1981

Fig. 5

Nikoides multispinatus Hayashi, 1981: 53 ; figs. 1–3.—Hayashi, 1984: 221, fig. 1.

Material examined. Republic of Palau: 1 ov. female (pocl 5.0) FLMNH UF 3855, Palau, between Malakal and Koror, near causeway, 5–10 m, leg. G. Paulay, 22.07.1999 [ZZZ-088941]. Australia: 1 female (pocl 2.6), FLMNH UF 18243, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island, “Washing Machine” dive site, in dead Pocillopora sp., - 14.6504 145.4621, leg. M. Timmers, 18.02.2009 [AUST-2218, AUST-St-105MT]. Mariana Islands: 1 female (pocl 4.6), FLMNH UF 900, Guam, Tepungan Channel, on wall, 2–3 m, leg. J. Starmer, 0 3.12.1998 [ZZZ-003627]; 1 ov. female (pocl 4.7), FLMNH UF 23185, Guam, Tepungan Channel tunnel, 0–4 m, 13.4646 144.688, leg. G. Paulay, 16.06.2003 [BGUAM-106]. French Polynesia: 1 male (pocl 4.5), FLMNH UF 9887, Moorea, NE of entrance to Opunohu Bay, -17.4915 -149.8502, fringing reef and sandy slope of lagoon, on surface of Porites sp. at night, 1–3 m, hand collecting, leg. G. Paulay, 19.06.2006 [BMOO-1144, GP-Loc-861]; 1 male (pocl 3.5), FLMNH UF 23273, Moorea, Opunohu Pinnacle, -149.8624 -17.4952, silty wall, on/in dead piece of wood, leg. C. Meyer, 26.10.2009 [BMOO-07135, BIZ-050]; 1 male (pocl 3.0), FLMNH UF 16346, Moorea, between Cook’s Bay and Sheraton Hotel, -17.4767 -149.8300, outer reef slope, in large piece of dead coral, leg. S. McKeon, J. Moore & V. Ivanenko, 14.11.2008 [BMOO-5438, MIB-209]; 1 male (pocl 4.0), FLMNH UF 23271, Moorea, off Gump Station dock, - 17.4908 -149.8261, on wall, 0.2–0.7 m, leg. A. Anker, 23.10.2009 [BMOO-07132, BIZ-033]. Papua New Guinea: 1 ov female (pocl 7.5), OUMNH.ZC.2010-04-0025, Kimbe Bay, close to hole in reef wall, 25–30 m, hand collecting at night, leg. J.A Baeza, 0 7.2009. Taiwan: 1 female (pocl 6.0), OUMNH.ZC.201-02-074, Green Island, Chaikou Village, 22.677400 121. 482137, night dive, leg. C.W. Lin & T. Naruse, 21.07.2009; 2 females (pocl 4.0, 4.2), OUMNH.ZC.201-02-069, Green Island, Chaikou Village, 22.677400 121. 482137, night dive, leg. C.W. Lin & T. Naruse, 21.07.2009.

Colour pattern. Semitransparent with five narrow red transverse bands on abdomen; appendages mostly colourless with some red chromatophores, especially on third maxilliped and first pereiopods; tail fan with pale reddish tinge ( Fig. 5 ).

Remarks. Hayashi (1984) considered the presence/absence of the posterior spine on the lobe of the sixth pleonite of N. multispinatus to be sexual dimorphism (present in females, absent in males). However, two of the males examined during the present study also have such a spine. More material of this species will need to be examined to clarify whether this is indeed a sexually dimorphic character or a variable one. The present material is also variable in the number of dorsal spines on the telson, which varies from three to six, with the spines not always arranged in lateral pairs.

Ecology. On the basis of the present records and scattered information in the literature (Hayashi 1981, 1984), N. multispinatus seems to frequent coral reef lagoons and slopes, usually dwelling in coral rubble and dead coral heads; the known depth range is around 0– 30 m. Nocturnal records suggest that shrimps roam on the reefs at night.

Distribution. The species was previously known from the type series from Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia and Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan (Hayashi 1981), and additional specimens from Enewetak Island, Marshall Islands (Hayashi 1984) and Abaiang Atoll, Gilbert Islands (Hayashi 1986). The present records from Guam, Republic of Palau, Society Islands ( French Polynesia), Papua New Guinea and Taiwan demonstrate that N. multispinatus is widespread in the western Pacific Ocean.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Nikoides multispinatus Hayashi, 1981. A, male, dorsal view, Moorea (FLMNH UF 23271); B, same specimen, oblique view; C, male, dorsal view, Moorea (FLMNH UF 16346).