Cymodoce manorii ( Nooruddin, 1965 ) Khalaji-Pirbalouty, 2016

Khalaji-Pirbalouty, Valiallah, 2016, A new species of Cymodoce from Iran (Crustacea: Isopoda: Sphaeromatidae) with remarks on the status of Cymodoce manorii (Nooruddin, 1965) comb. nov. and Cymodoce spinula Yousuf & Javed, 2001, Zootaxa 4084 (2), pp. 267-276 : 268

Cymodoce manorii ( Nooruddin, 1965) comb. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Cerceis manorii Nooruddin, 1965: 267

Cymodoce spinula Yousuf & Javed, 2001: 854 .

Remarks. Nooruddin (1965) described, with one habitus figure ( Fig.1A ), Cerceis manorii from Manora Island (Karachi, Pakistan). The brief description mentioned only few generic or species-specific characters. Subsequently, Yousuf and Javed (2001) described Cymodoce spinula from rocky intertidal habitats at Bulleji and Manora Islands, near Karachi, Pakistan. Comparison of the published description of Cerceis manorii and a complete description and illustrations of Cymodoce spinula ( Fig.1B ) and examination of the type material ( Fig. 1C , holotype, ZMUC-CRU- 3678) reveals that these descriptions represent a single species from the same locality. Both “species” have a pleotelson with a pair of longitudinal ridges on anteriomedial surface, a very large domed boss, with longitudinal row of tubercles on either side, as well as a shallow apical notch. In addition, the shape of their pleon and uropod rami are similar. Considering the above information and comparing all images, there can be no doubt that these two descriptions are of the same species, from the same locality. Both species agree with the generic diagnosis of Cymodoce given by Khalaji-Pirbalouty et al. (2013) and lack any of the diagnostic character of Cerceis as diagnosed by Harrison and Holdich (1982). Consequently, I here place C. spinula into junior synonymy with C. manorii .

The type material for Cerceis manorii was stated to be held in the Zoological Survey of Pakistan, at that time based in Karachi. The organisation has since moved to Islamabad, but repeated attempts to communicate with the organization using all available e-mail addresses have failed. It appears that access the original types is not possible at present. In spite of not having the type material to examine directly, Cerceis manorii is transferred to the genus Cymodoce, and Cymodoce manorii ( Nooruddin, 1965) comb. nov. is established here.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cymodoce from the northern Indian Ocean: A, Cerceis manorii, holotype (after, Nooruddin, 1965); B, Cymodoce spinula, holotype (after Yousuf and Javed, 2001); C, Cymodoce spinula, holotype (ZMUC-CRU- 3678); D, Cymodoce brucei, sp. nov., holotype (ZMH – K – 42599).