Urnalana purarensis ( Ovaere, 1987 )

Galil, Bella S. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2015, Leucosiid crabs from Papua New Guinea, with descriptions of eight new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), Zootaxa 4027 (4), pp. 451-486 : 480-482

Urnalana purarensis ( Ovaere, 1987)

( Figs. 19 , 20 , 22 H, 23A, B, E–H)

Leucosia purarensis Ovaere, 1987: 192 , figs 2b, 6°; Ng et al. 2008: 95 (list).

Material examined. Holotype female (8.3 mm) (IRSNB-RBINS IG.26253), stn 69, Purar Reef, Hansa Bay, Madang Province, 10 m, 4°11’47”S 144°55’05”E, coll. J. Pierret, 29.10.1980. Additional material: 1 female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU-2013-17898), 1 male (7.6 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013-17897), 1 ovigerous female (8.9 mm) ( ZRC 2015.274). Madang area, no precise data, coll. Papua Niugini Biodiversity Expedition, 2012, coll. 10–12.2012.

Remarks. The type specimen, a female, was examined and it agrees very well with several specimens collected by the expedition from Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, there was no station data with the recent specimens other than a “ PNG ” code and they were with the rest of the expedition material. So while we are certain they were obtained in the expedition area, we have no precise data. In any case, the type locality, Hansa Bay, is within the expedition area.

A detailed description of the type specimen is given in Ovaere (1987). The vulvae, which were not described, are prominent, large, anteriorly overreaching suture 5/4; ovoid, and interiorly bordered by a calcified, rounded raised rim, narrowing anteriorly, with the outer margin crested anteriorly and the opening facing interiorly, occluded, fibula-shaped, with the narrow part pointing anteriorly ( Fig. 19 H). The male is recorded for the first time, and it is figured in detail here ( Figs. 20 , 23 E–H).

Urnalana purarensis is closest to U. flammea sp. nov. but differs in a number of carapace, ambulatory leg and gonopod characters (see discussion for next species).

Geographical distribution. Papua New Guinea: Madang Province, Hansa Bay, Purar Reef ( Ovaere 1987).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Urnalana purarensis, holotype female (8.3 mm) (IRSNB-RBINS IG. 26253), Purar Reef, Papua New Guinea. A, overall habitus; B, right lateral view of cephalothorax showing thoracic sinus; C, frontal view of cephalothorax; D, third maxillipeds and telson; E, dorsal view of left cheliped; F, G, thoracic sternum and abdomen; H, thoracic sternum and vulvae.

FIGURE 20. Urnalana purarensis, male (7.6 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 17897), Papua New Guinea. A, overall habitus; B, right lateral view of cephalothorax showing thoracic sinus; C, frontal view of cephalothorax; D, third maxillipeds and telson; E, dorsal view of left cheliped; F, third maxillipeds and abdomen; G, thoracic sternum and abdomen.

FIGURE 22. A, B, F, Urnalana flammea sp. nov., paratype female (7.6 mm) (ZRC 2015.275), stn PR 14; C – E, Urnalana flammea sp. nov., paratype ovigerous female (10.7 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 13123) stn PR 28; G, Urnalana flammea sp. nov., holotype male (9.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 1341), stn PR 227; H, Urnalana purarensis, holotype female (8.3 mm) (IRSNB- RBINS IG. 26253), Purar Reef, Papua New Guinea. A, overall habitus; B, dorsal view of left cheliped; C, third maxillipeds and abdomen; D, abdomen; E, thoracic sternum and vulvae; F – H, ventral view of left cheliped.

FIGURE 23. A, B, Urnalana purarensis, holotype female (8.3 mm) (IRSNB-RBINS IG. 26253), Purar Reef, Papua New Guinea; C, D, Urnalana flammea sp. nov., paratype female (7.6 mm) (ZRC 2015.275), stn PR 14; E – H, Urnalana purarensis, male (7.6 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 17897), Papua New Guinea; I – M, Urnalana flammea sp. nov., holotype male (9.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 1341), stn PR 227. A, C, left third maxilliped; B, D, right last ambulatory leg; E, I, left G 1 (ventral view); G, J, left G 1 (dorsal view, denuded); F, L, distal part of left G 1 (ventral view); K, distal part of left G 1 (dorsal view); H, M, left G 2. Scales = 1.0 mm.