Tetralia ocucaerulea, Trautwein, Sandra E., 2007

Trautwein, Sandra E., 2007, Four new species of coral crabs belonging to the genus Te tra li a Dana, 1851 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Tetraliidae), Zootaxa 1450, pp. 1-20 : 12-18

Tetralia ocucaerulea , new species

(Pl. 1, Figs. A-B, D; Pl. 5, Figs. A-H; Pl. 6, Fig. D; Pl. 7, Fig. D; Pl. 8, Fig. D)

Tetralia vanninii – Castro, 2003: 442 (part). Tetralia muta – Castro & Godwin, 2006: 54.

Type material: Holotype, LACM CR 2002-041.7 (1 male) Mariana Is., Guam, Hagatna (=Agana) Bay (13°29’N, 144°45'E), collected by snorkeling on reef crest from Acropora sp., depth 3 m, Sept. 16, 2002, S. Trautwein coll. Paratypes (total of 7 specimens), Guam, Hagatna (=Agana) Bay: LACM CR 2002-041.7 (allotype, 1 ovigerous female, depth 3 m, Sept. 16, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.15 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 3 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.); Guam, Shark's Hole (13°31’N, 144°46'E): LACM CR 2002-040.13 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, 1 subadult male, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.14 (1 male, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.).

PLATE 5. Tetralia ocucaerulea , new species ( LACM CR 2006 -008.4 freshly-collected female for image A; LACM CR 2002-041.7, holotype, freshly-collected male for image B; LACM CR 2006 -008.3 freshly-collected male for image C; LACM CR 2006 -003.4 freshly-collected male for image D; LACM CR 2002-040.14 preserved male for images E, G; LACM CR 2002-040.13 preserved female for image F; LACM CR 2006 -008.5 freshly-collected female for image H). A. whole body, dorsal view, brown morph; B. whole body, dorsal view, white morph; C. frontal margin, dorsal view; D. right pereopods, dorsal/posterior view; E. major right cheliped propodus (partial), carpus, and merus, dorsal view, arrows indicate carpus and merus anterior margins; F. female tomentose pit (arrow) of major right cheliped; G. median view of major right cheliped propodus and dactylus, arrow indicates fingers; H. “face” color pattern. All scale bars 1mm.

Other material examined (total of 55 specimens): Guam. Hagatna (=Agana) Bay: LACM CR 2002- 0 41.8 (1 male, depth 2 m, Sept. 16, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-041.9 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 2 m, Sept. 16, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-041.10 (1 female, depth 2 m, Sept. 16, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.); Shark's Hole: LACM CR 2002-040.13 (3 juveniles, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.16 (1 male, 1 female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.14 (1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.17 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.18 (1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.19 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.20 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.21 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2002-040.22 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 5 m, Sept. 18, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.); Ipan Beach Park (13°27’N, 144°46'E): LACM CR 2002-042.1 (1 juvenile, depth 2 m, Sept. 19, 2002, S. Trautwein coll.); Pago Bay (13°28’N, 144°46'E): SMF 26928 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, 1 juvenile labeled as Tetralia vanninii ).

PLATE 6. Frontal margin illustrations for new species described herein. A. Tetralia aurantistellata , new species ( LACM CR 2002-043.1, holotype, male); B. T. brengelae , new species ( LACM CR 2002-040.23, holotype, male); C. T. brunalineata , new species ( LACM CR 2002-040.3, holotype, male); D. T. ocucaerulea , new species ( LACM CR 2002-041.7, holotype, male). All scale bars 1mm.

French Polynesia. Society Is., Moorea (17°32'S, 149°47'W): LACM CR 2001-053.1 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, 1 juvenile, depth 2 m, July 25, 2001, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2001-054.1 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 2 m, July 22, 2001, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -004.1 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 1 m, April 22, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -005.1 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, 1 juvenile, depth 1 m, April 26, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -005.2 (1 ovig. female, depth 1 m, April 26, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -006.1 (1 female, depth 1 m, April 27, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 - 0 0 6.2 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 1 m, April 27, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -006.3 (2 juveniles, depth 1 m, April 27, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -003.4 (1 juvenile, depth 1 m, April 28, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -003.5 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 1 m, April 28, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -007.1 (1 juvenile, depth 0.5 m, April 29, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -007.2 (1 juvenile, depth 0.5 m, April 29, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -008.1 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 0.5 m, May 2, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -008.2 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 0.5 m, May 2, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.), LACM CR 2006 -008.3 (1 male, 1 ovig. female, depth 0.5 m, May 2, 2006, S. Trautwein coll.).

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. French Frigate Shoals, Maro Reef (25.4614º N, 170.6830º W): BPBM S12812 (1 male, 2 ovig. female, S. Godwin coll.).

Description. Carapace: Carapace quadrilateral (Plates 5A, 5B), flattened in both sexes; carapace width exceeds length ( Table 1 ); anterolateral margins parallel to slightly convex in both sexes; exterior orbital angle pointed in both sexes; frontal margin denticulate to dentate with teeth pronounced, more widely spaced laterally (serrate), discernible notch present (Plates 1B, 6D), several long setae scattered between teeth.

Chelipeds: Chelipeds unequal in both sexes (Plates 5A, 5B). Tomentose pit of major cheliped measures approximately 1/4–1/3 length of propodus in both sexes (Plate 5F) and several long setae distributed throughout pit in both sexes. Finger inner margins dentate, non-gaping (touching) in both sexes (Plate 5G); dactylus length approximately 1/2 propodus length ( Table 1 ). Propodus very finely granular; proximal dorsal surface with prominent red propodal knob with white tip. Carpus anterior margin may bear one tooth that may be followed by one or more minute serrations laterally, or margin may appear smooth (Plate 5E). Merus anterior margin serrate with crest (Plate 5E); dorsal surface granular.

Fifth pereopod (P5): Numerous, long setae present on ventral surfaces of P5 propodus, dactylus. P5 dactylus dorsal surface with 7–8 large, strongly curved spines near tip (Plate 7D), followed by 3–4 smaller spines towards the proximal end (not shown in Plate 7D); ventral surface with 4–5 discontinuous transverse rows of flattened chitinous spinules ending in 3–4 chitinous spinules at ventral base of horny tip (Plate 8D). Distal, ventral margin of P5 propodus lined with several long chitinous spinules.

Male pleopods: Male first pleopod straight, distal 1/3 covered with dense setae.

Live coloration: Anterior dorsal region of carapace white or brown (Plates 5A, 5B), may be darker than posterior region (as in Plate 5A) or carapace color may be uniform in color (as in Plate 5B); frontal margin color pattern composed of three successive lines extending laterally to anterior portion of eyestalks and exterior orbital angle. The most anterior frontal margin line is orange-brown (appearing orange-red in preserved specimens) and is followed by a black line composed of numerous black spots (leaving the most anterior margin without spots) and a thin light blue line (Plate 5C). Anterolateral margins match surrounding carapace color (when carapace is uniformly colored) or orange-brown (when anterior half is darker than posterior). Frontal margin color pattern is repeated on ventral anterior surface of carapace with light blue line appearing across the posterior margin of the epistome; three light blue lines present on anterior portion of eyestalks (Plate 5H); blue patches also appear on outermost edges of ridge between antennular socket and base of antenna (Plate 5H). Buccal region brown (Plate 5H).

Movable finger of chelipeds orange or brown, fixed finger light brown to white (Plate 5G); dorsal surfaces of propodus, carpus dark brown to orange, becoming white towards ventral surface (Plate 5G); anterior margins of carpus, merus, basi-ischium, coxa dark red, with merus teeth tipped in white (Plates 5C, 5E). Propodal knob dark red, usually with white tip (Plates 5C, 5E).

All podomeres of pereopods have alternating bands of brown and white with white bands located at podomere articulations (Plates 5B, 5D); dorsal surface of dactylus orange, especially towards tip; large black spot absent at dorsal propodal-dactylar articulation on all pereopods.

PLATE 7. Dorsal view of fifth pereopod dactylus tip for new species described herein. A. Tetralia aurantistellata , new species (LACM CR 2002-043.1, holotype, male, right fifth pereopod, magnification x120); B. T. brengelae , new species (LACM CR 2002-040.23, holotype, male, left fifth pereopod, magnification x150); C. T. brunalineata , new species (LACM CR 2002-040.3, holotype, male, left fifth pereopod, magnification x141); D. T. ocucaerulea , new species (LACM CR 2002-041.7, holotype, male, left fifth pereopod, magnification x148). All scale bars 200µm.

PLATE 8. Ventral view of fifth pereopod dactylus tip for new species described herein. A. Tetralia aurantistellata , new species (LACM CR 2002-043.1, holotype, male, right fifth pereopod, magnification x150); B. T. brengelae , new species (LACM CR 2002-040.23, holotype, male, left fifth pereopod, magnification x120); C. T. brunalineata , new species (LACM CR 2002-040.3, holotype, male, left fifth pereopod, magnification x108); D. T. ocucaerulea , new species (LACM CR 2002-041.7, holotype, male, left fifth pereopod, magnification x109). All scale bars 200µm.

Remarks. T. ocucaerulea differs from the other described species of Tetralia in its color pattern, most especially by the presence of three blue lines across the anterior eyestalks (Plate 5H), small blue patches on the buccal region (Plate 5H), and alternating brown and white bands on the pereopods (Plate 5D). In addition to its unique color pattern, T. ocucaerulea can be distinguished from other species of Tetralia by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) presence of numerous long setae on propodus and dactylus of P5, (2) discernible notch present on the frontal margin (Plate 1B), (3) tomentose pit is approximately 1/4–1/3 propodus length, and (4) presence of cheliped merus crest. Castro (2003: 442) described color pattern as T. vanninii .

Distribution. Tetralia ocucaerulea is so far known from Guam, Moorea ( French Polynesia), and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Etymology. From “oculus” (Latin) for eye, “caeruleus” (Latin) for sky blue in reference to three thin light blue lines extending across the anterior portion of the eyestalks.