Thyraplax, Castro, 2007

Castro, Peter, 2007, A reappraisal of the family Goneplacidae MacLeay, 1838 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) and revision of the subfamily Goneplacinae, with the description of 10 new genera and 18 new species, Zoosystema 29 (4), pp. 609-774 : 674

KEY TO SPECIES OF THYRAPLAX N. GEN.

1. Entire fingers dark in colour (see Fig. 24 ). P5 dactylus with denticulate margins (see Fig. 23B ) ......................................................................... Thyraplax digitodentata n. sp.

— Fingers with only the tips dark in colour. P5 dactylus with smooth margins ............... 2

2. P5 propodus wide (see Fig. 21 ); low carina on each side ........... Thyraplax cristata n. sp.

— P5 propodus narrow; smooth surfaces ........................................................................ 3

3. Anterolateral teeth slender; acute tip (see Figs 25A ; 26 ). G1 with broad, truncated tip (see Fig. 25C ) ................................................................................ Thyraplax truncata n. sp.

— Anterolateral teeth prominent, triangular, broad; obtuse tip. G1 with slender, pointed tip .............................................................................................................................. 4

4. Anterolateral borders with slight carina (see Fig. 13C ), sometimes marked by median notch. Male telson of large individuals with broad, posterior tooth-like tubercle on each side .................................................................................................. Thyraplax crosnieri

— Anterolateral borders with slight, tooth-like prominence (see Guinot 1989: fig. 42, pl. 11, fig. G, as Carcinoplax cooki ). Male telson without lateral tooth-like tubercles ................. ............................................................................................................. Thyraplax cooki

Figures

FIG. 24. — Thyraplax digitodentata n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 8.8 mm, cw 10.8 mm, SMSRB collections, Moruroa Atoll, French Polynesia, 560 m (MNHN-B 29433).

FIG. 23. — Thyraplax digitodentata n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 8.8 mm, cw 10.8 mm, SMSRB collections, Moruroa Atoll, French Polynesia, 560 m (MNHN-B 29433):A, dorsal surface of the carapace;B, right P5 dactylus; C, abdomen;D, left G1, dorsal view;E, left G2,ventral view. Scale bars: A, 5 mm; B, 1 mm; C, 3 mm; D, E, 1 mm.

FIG. 21. — Thyraplax cristata n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 15.1 mm, cw 19.2 mm, Fangataufa Atoll, French Polynesia, SMSRB collections, stn 485, 500 m (MNHN-B 29801).

FIG. 25. — Thyraplax truncata n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 8.7 mm, cw 11.6 mm, Fiji, BORDAU 1, stn CP 1481, 441-506 m (MNHN-B 29547): A, dorsal surface of the carapace; B, abdomen; C, left G1 (with rhizocephalan parasite, Thompsonia sp.), dorsal view; D, left G2 (with rhizocephalan parasite, Thompsonia sp.), ventral view. Scale bars: A, 5 mm; B, 3 mm; C, D, 1 mm.

FIG. 26. — Thyraplax truncata n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 8.7 mm, cw 11.6 mm, Fiji, BORDAU 1, stn CP 1481, 441-506 m (MNHN-B 29547), specimen with a rhizocephalan parasite (Thompsonia sp.) on P1-P4.

FIG. 13. — A, Pycnoplax surugensis (Rathbun,1932) n. comb., ♂, cl 14.7 mm, cw 20.6 mm,off southern coast of New Caledonia,BATHUS 2, stn DW 719,22°47.57’S,167°14.58’E,444-455 m (MNHN-B 29412);B, Pycnoplax bispinosa (Rathbun, 1914) n. comb., ♀, cl 9.0 mm, cw 11.2 mm,off Rendova I., SALOMON 2,stn CP 2287,253-255 m (MNHN-B 30088);C, Thyraplax crosnieri (Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1981) n. comb., ♀, cl 10.6 mm, cw 13.5 mm, off southern coast of New Caledonia, MUSORSTOM 4, stn DW 222, 410-440 m (MNHN-B 29422).