Neogoneplax serratipes, 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 : 706-709

Neogoneplax serratipes n. sp.

( Figs 33 ; 34 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — HALIPRO 1, stn CP 851, ♂ holotype, cl 8.3 mm, cw 11.9 mm ( MNHN-B 29836 ) ; ♀ allotype, cl 8.0 mm, cw 11.4 mm ( MNHN-B 29837 ). — MUS- ORSTOM 10, stn CP 1320, ♂ paratype, cl 7.6 mm, cw 9.7 mm ( MNHN-B 29259 ). — BATHUS 2, stn DW 742, ♂ paratype, cl 7.1 mm, cw 9.7 mm ( MNHN-B 29286 ). — BATHUS 1, stn CP 713 ♀ paratype, cl 7.0 mm, cw 10.1 mm ( MNHN-B 29344 ) .

TYPE LOCALITY. — New Caledonia, off east coast, 21°45’S, 168°37’E, 241- 250 m.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Solomon Islands. SALOMON 2, stn DW 2271, 08°32.4’S, 157°44.2’E, 290-440 m, XI.2004, 1 pre-adult ♂, 1 pre-adult ♀ ( MNHN-B 30108).

Vanuatu. MUSORSTOM 8, stn CP 1136, 15°40.62’S, 167°01.60’E, 398-400 m, 11.X.1994, 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29282)

New Caledonia. BIOCAL, stn CP 108, 22°03’S, 167°06’E, 335 m, 9.IX.1985, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29218).

BATHUS 1, stn DW 641, 21°52.18’S, 166°49.06’E, 240- 258 m, 10.III.1993, 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN-B 29552). — Stn DW 643, 21°50.1’S, 166°47.8’E, 383 m, 10.III.1993, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29283). — Stn CP 645, 21°51.9’S, 166°48.6’E, 250-258 m, 10.III.1993, 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN-B 29284). — Stn CP 650, 21°47.52’S, 166°40.53’E, 246-269 m, 11.III.1993, 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN-B 29345). — Stn CP 654, 121°17.11’S, 165°56.77’E, 237- 298 m, 12.III.1993, 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN-B 29354). — Stn DW 687, 20°34.62’S, 165°07.30’E, 408-440 m, 16.III.1993, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29350). — Stn CP 708, 21°43.05’S, 166°38.57’E, 550-580 m, 19.III.1993, 1 pre-adult ♂ ( MNHN-B 29285). — Stn CP 700, 20°57.22’S, 165°34.60’E, 162-222 m, 18.III.1993, 1 pre-adult ♂ ( MNHN-B 29353). — Stn CP 713, 21°45.28’S, 166°36.83’E, 250 m, 19.III.1993, 1 ♀ paratype ( MNHN-B 29344).

BATHUS 2, stn DW 742, 22°33.4’S, 166°25.9’E, 340- 470 m, 14.V.1993, 5 ♂♂ ( MNHN-B 29326). — Stn DW 758, 22°18.4’S, 166°10.5’E, 377-386 m, 16.V.1993, 1 ♂ paratype ( MNHN-B 29286).

HALIPRO 1, stn CP 851, 21°45’S, 168°37’E, 241-250 m, 19.III.1994, 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29196 ) ; 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 ♀ parasitised by Sacculina ( MNHN-B 29195 ), 1 ♂ holotype ( MNHN-B 29836 ), 1 ♀ allotype ( MNHN-B 29837 ). — Stn CP 852, 21°44’S, 168°36’E, 253-266 m, 19.III.1994, 9 pre-adult ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ ( MNHN-B 29197 ) ; 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29249 ). — Stn CP 853, 21°45’S, 168°37’E, 241-250 m, 19.III.1994, 6 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ ( MNHN-B 29194 ) ; 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29191 ) .

BATHUS 4, stn CP 883, 22°03.43’S, 165°56.03’E, 450- 600 m, 1.VIII.1994, 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29413). — Stn CP 885, 22°05.03’S, 165°58.28’E, 250-300 m, 1.VIII.1994, 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN-B 29193). — Stn CP 887, 21°06.67’S, 164°27.62’E, 320-344 m, 2.VIII.1994, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29348). — Stn DW 896, 20°15.92’S, 163°51.70’E, 315-350 m, 3.VIII.1994, 1 ♂, 1 ovig. ♀ ( MNHN-B 29250). — Stn CP 899, 20°16.68’S, 163°50.26’E, 500- 600 m, 3.VIII.1994, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29192). — Stn CP 906, 19°1.07’S, 163°14.51’E, 339-350 m, 4.VIII.1994, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29248).

Fiji. MUSORSTOM 10, stn CP 1320, 17°16.8’S, 177°53.6’E, 290-300 m, 6.VIII.1998, 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 ovig. ♀, 1 ♀ parasitised by Sacculina ( MNHN-B 29287 ) ; 1 ♂ paratype ( MNHN-B 29259 ). — Stn CP 1325, 17°16.1’S, 177°49.8’E, 283-322 m, 7.VIII.1998, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29358 ). — Stn CP 1348, 17°30.3’S, 178°39.6’E, 353-390 m, 11.VIII.1998, 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29288 ). — Stn CP 1349, 17°31.1’S, 178°38.8’E, 244- 252 m, 11.VIII.1998, 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29356 ). — Stn CP 1351, 17°31.1’S, 178°40.0’E, 292-311 m, 11.VIII.1998, 1 ♂ ( MNHN-B 29289 ) .

Tonga. BORDAU 2, stn SH 1596, 19°06’S, 174°18’W, 371-437 m, 14.VI.2000, 1 ♀ ( MNHN-B 29556).

ETYMOLOGY. — From serra, Latin for “saw”, and pes, Latin for “feet”, in reference to the diagnostic row of teeth along the dorsal margin of the meri and carpi of the ambulatory legs (P2-P5) and the carpi of the chelipeds (P1).

DISTRIBUTION. — Southwestern Pacific Ocean: Solomon Is, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Depth: 162- 600 m.

DESCRIPTION

Carapace ( Figs 33A ; 34 ) transversely rectangular, wider than long (1.4 as wide as long in holotype), anterolateral borders straight. Carapace slightly convex, without clear indication of regions. Front sinuous, marked by 2 slight median emarginations, small median projection between emarginations. Notch between front, inner edge of supraorbital border absent. Supraorbital borders conspicuously bilobed; bordered by raised, finely granular edge, wider, sinuous along front, long setae along expanded distal portion. Suborbital borders granular, each with short, obtuse inner tooth not visible dorsally. Slender, acute tooth on outer orbital angle; smaller, short, narrowly triangular, acute-tipped anterolateral tooth on each side of carapace; carapace border between outer orbital, anterolateral teeth conspicuously tuberculated. Posterolateral borders oblique, nearly straight.

Subhepatic, pterygostomial regions, pterygostomial crest, merus, ischium of third maxilliped endopod with short granules.

Eye peduncles ( Figs 33A ; 34 ) long (1.1 front width), cornea reniform.

Chelipeds (P1) ( Fig. 34 ) slightly unequal in males, females; fingers slender, shovel-like, curved, particularly in heavier cheliped of males, slightly shorter than propodus, much shorter in heavier cheliped of males, with blunt teeth, heavier cheliped of males with fewer teeth on dactylus, large cutting edge on fixed finger; no dark colour on fingers.Broad, curved, acute-tipped tooth, row of slender teeth (progressively larger distally) on inner (ventral), proximal margin of carpus, smaller tooth on outer (dorsal), distal margin. Ambulatory legs (P2-P5) ( Fig. 34 ) moderately long, slender; varying number of slender teeth (holotype: 1 on right P2, blunt tooth on left P2, 9 on right P3, 8 on left P3, 14 on right P4, 13 on left P4, 11 on right P5, 14 on left P5), varying number of low tubercles on dorsal margin of meri; varying number of short, slender teeth on dorsal margin of carpi; few long, simple setae along inner, outer margins of meri, carpi, propodi; dactyli long, slender, each with 2 carinae along each side; length of P5 merus 0.9 cl.

Male abdomen ( Fig. 33C ) wide, short, triangular, with 6 freely-movable somites plus telson; telson much wider than long.Somite 3 covers space between P5 coxae, carinated, somite 1 not visible; somite 2 narrower than somite 3, leaving large portion of thoracic sternite 8 visible. G1 ( Fig. 33D ) short, stout, wide basal part, straight distal part; truncated tip with 2 large, broadly pointed teeth with acute spinules on surfaces. G2 ( Fig. 33E ) slender, nearly equal or slightly shorter than G1, slightly curved flagellum shorter than proximal part (peduncle), pointed tip.

Female abdomen wide, outer margin of thoracic sternites visible. Telson much wider than long. Somite 3 covers space between P5 coxae, somites 1, 2 narrower than somite 3, leaving large portion of thoracic sternite 8 visible. Vulva of mature females long, extending from edge of suture 5/6 to near edge of suture 6/7, covered by globular vulvar cover, leaving large, semi-circular anterolateral opening.

COLOUR

Photographs of two freshly collected specimens from Vanuatu (Santo 2006 expedition; ZRC) show irregular orange lines and spots on the carapace, chelipeds, and walking legs.

REMARKS

Differences between N serratipes n. sp. and N. costata n. sp. are given in the description of the latter species (see above). The many teeth along the dorsal margins of the meri and carpi of the ambulatory legs of the new species and the short, triangular anterolateral teeth ( Figs 33B ; 34 ) are in sharp contrast with the single, distal tooth on each of the meri of the ambulatory legs and the well developed, acute anterolateral teeth of N. renoculis n. comb. ( Fig. 28B ).

The number of teeth on the meri and carpi of the ambulatory legs (P2-P5) varies widely among

Revision of Goneplacinae ( Crustacea, Brachyura)

specimens, even on the opposite sides of the same pair of legs of the same specimen. The number of teeth is lowest on the P2, the highest on the P5. Smaller, regenerated legs may have fewer teeth, and small individuals have a smaller number of teeth. Low tubercles are usually present in addition to the teeth.

A male, apparently pre-adult, from the Solomon Is (cl 7.4 mm, cw 9.8 mm; MNHN-B 30108) had a slender G1 with a truncated tip that only showed a slight bifurcation.

Figures

FIG. 33. — Neogoneplax serratipes n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 8.3 mm, cw 11.9 mm, off eastern coast of New Caledonia, HALIPRO 1, stn CP 851, 241-250 m (MNHN-B 29836): A, dorsal surface of the carapace; B, right P5; C, abdomen; D, left G1, dorsal view; E, left G2, ventral view. Scale bars: A, 5 mm; B, C, 3 mm; D, E, 1 mm.

FIG. 34. — Neogoneplax serratipes n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 8.3 mm, cw 11.9 mm, off eastern coast of New Caledonia, HALIPRO 1, stn CP 851, 241-250 m (MNHN-B 29836).

FIG. 28. — A, Goneplacoides marivenae (Komatsu & Takeda, 2003) n. comb., ♀, cl 7.6 mm, cw 11.6 mm, off southern coast of New Caledonia, SMIB 8, stn DW 177, 320-370 m (MNHN-B 29262); B, Neogoneplax renoculis (Rathbun, 1914) n. comb., ♂, cl 10.1 mm, cw 16.0 mm, South China Sea off Philippine Is, MUSORSTOM 3, stn CP 108, 188-195 m (MNHN-B 10334); C, Paragoneplax serenei (Zarenkov, 1972) n. comb., ♂, cl 8.6 mm, cw 14.9 mm, north of New Caledonia, BATHUS 1, stn CP 669 (MNHN-B 29327).