Sakaija, Ng & Forges, 2015

Ng, Peter K. L. & Forges, Bertrand Richer De, 2015, Revision of the spider crab genus Maja Lamarck, 1801 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majoidea: Majidae), with descriptions of seven new genera and 17 new species from the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63, pp. 110-225 : 168

Key to species of Sakaija n. gen.

1. Pseudorostral spines very long; posterior carapace margin with 2 spines and long intestinal spine ( Fig. 29 ); G1 gently curved, distal part with long setae, with low subdistal swelling ( Fig. 33N–R ); Western Indian Ocean................................................ ............................. Sakaija africana ( Griffin & Tranter, 1986)

– Pseudorostral spines not elongate; posterior carapace margin with 2 short spines, sometimes not discernible, intestinal spine short or not visible ( Figs. 28 , 30 , 32 ); G1 otherwise ............2

2. Carapace with very long lateral, branchial and intestinal spines ( Fig. 32A, B ); Eastern Indian Ocean........................................ .......................................................... Sakaija longispina n. sp.

– Carapace with relatively short lateral, branchial and intestinal spines ( Figs. 28 , 30 , 32C, D )..................................................3

3. Carapace with 2 subhepatic spines, one of which is small ( Fig. 32C, D ); G1 sinuous, distal part turned backwards towards median line of sternum, with very long setae ( Fig. 33S–U ); Vanuatu and New Caledonia.................... Sakaija santo n. sp.

– Carapace with single visible hepatic spine ( Figs. 28 , 30 ); G1 otherwise..................................................................................4

4. Carapace with posterior part rounded, prominently swollen; lateral spines low; ambulatory legs relatively short, stout ( Figs. 28A–C , 31A–C ); G1 distinctly curved, distal part long, tapering with very long setae ( Fig. 33A–G ); Japan and Taiwan........... ............................................ Sakaija japonica ( Rathbun, 1932)

– Carapace more evenly ovate in appearance; lateral spines short but distinct; ambulatory legs slender, more elongate ( Figs. 28 D-G, 30); G1 otherwise ......................................................5

5. Cardiac spine long, intestinal spine distinct ( Fig. 28D, E, G ); G1 gently curved, distal part relatively short, subspatuliform, lined with long setae ( Fig. 33H–J ); Japan................................ ................................ Sakaija sakaii ( Takeda & Miyake, 1969)

– Cardiac and intestinal spines very low, almost undiscernible ( Figs. 30 , 31D, E ); G1 gently curved, distal part long, tapering with very long setae ( Fig. 33K–M ); Philippines, New Britain and Papua New Guinea.......................... Sakaija serenei n. sp.

Figures

Fig. 29. General habitus, Sakaija africana. A, as Maja africana (after Griffin & Tranter, 1986: pl. 14a); B, male (27.3 × 21.2 mm) (MNHN-IU-2010-504), Madagascar; C, male (32.2 × 25.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2010-928), Madagascar; D, ovigerous female (23.8 × 18.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2010-505), Madagascar.

Fig. 33. Left G1s, Sakaija species. A–C, S. japonica, holotype male (16.2 × 13.0 mm) (USNM 48252), Japan; D–F, S. japonica, male (22.3 × 17.8 mm) (ZRC 2013.1267), Taiwan; G, S. japonica (as Maja japonica, after T. Sakai, 1976: text-fig. 126a); H, S. sakaii (as Maja sakaii, after Sakai, 1976: text-fig. 125b); I, J, S. sakaii, male (9.0 × 6.6 mm) (NSMT-Cr 8094), Japan; K–M, S. serenei n. sp., paratype male (14.3 × 10.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.1255), Philippines; N, O, S. africana (as Maja africana, after Griffin & Tranter, 1986: fig. 73c, d); P–R, S. africana, male (32.2 × 25.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2010-928), Madagascar; S–U, S. santo n. sp., holotype male (9.4 × 6.6 mm) (MNHN), Vanuatu. Scale bars = 1.0 mm [D, K, P–R]; 0.5 mm [A, E, F, I, J, L, M, S–U]; 0.25 mm [B, C].

Fig. 28. General habitus, Sakaija species. A, S. japonica, holotype male (16.2 × 13.0 mm) (USNM 48252), Japan; B, S. japonica male (22.6 × 17.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.1269), Tashi fish port, Ilan County, northern Taiwan; C, S. japonica, male (22.3 × 17.8 mm) (ZRC 2013.1267), Taiwan; D, S. sakaii (as Maja sakaii, after T. Sakai 1976: pl. 85 fig. 2); E, S. sakaii (as Maja sakaii, after T. Sakai, 1976: text-fig. 125a); F, S. sakaii (as Maja sp., after T. Sakai, 1932: text-fig. 5); G, S. sakaii, male (9.0 × 6.6 mm) (NSMT-Cr 8094), Japan.

Fig. 30. General habitus, Sakaija serenei n. sp. A, paratype male (14.3 × 10.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.1255), Philippines; B, paratype male (17.7 × 14.6 mm) (ZRC 2013.1262), Philippines; C, holotype male (17.4 × 14.7 mm) (NMCR), Philippines; D, paratype female (14.2 × 10.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.1255), Philippines.

Fig. 32. General habitus, Sakaija species. A, S. longispinosa n. sp., holotype ovigerous female (11.4 × 8.6 mm) (NMV J63792), Australia; B, S. longispinosa n. sp., paratype ovigerous female (14.2 × 10.7 mm) (NMV J63197), Australia; C, S. santo n. sp., holotype male (9.4 × 6.6 mm) (MNHN), Vanuatu; D, S. santo n. sp., paratype female (13.1 × 10.4 mm) (ZRC 2013.1245), Vanuatu.

Fig. 31. Frontal and lateral views of carapaces, and right first ambulatory legs, Sakaija species. A–C, S. japonica male (22.6 × 17.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.1269), Taiwan; D–F, S. serenei n. sp., paratype male (17.7 × 14.6 mm) (ZRC 2013.1262), Philippines.