Pseudolitochira pacifica, Ng & Clark, 2022

Ng, Peter K. L. & Clark, Paul F., 2022, Descriptions of three new Pseudolitochira Ward, 1942 species (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pilumnidae) from the West Pacific, Journal of Natural History 56 (5 - 8), pp. 349-364 : 359

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2022.2065221
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6772859
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/355087A1-FFBA-0D14-FE57-FD5AE2EF288C
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Pseudolitochira pacifica
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Pseudolitochira pacifica View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figures 2a View Figure 2 ; 5a–d View Figure 5 ; 6a, d, f View Figure 6 ; 7b View Figure 7 )

Litocheira longipes – Yokoya 1933: 196; Sakai, 1934: 314 (not Pilumnoplax longipes Stimpson, 1858 View in CoL ).

Heteropilumnus longipes View in CoL – Sakai 1939: 540, text-fig. 55; 1976: 493, pl. 176 fig. 4.

Material examined

Holotype female, 5.2 × 3.5 mm, ZRC 2017.190 View Materials , station DB71, south of Turtle Island , massive coral ‘ Aldric’, 15.360°S, 167.208°E, Santo, Vanuatu, 7 m, coll. Santo Expedition, 27 September 2006. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis

Carapace transversely subovate, width 1.49 times length ( Figures 2a View Figure 2 , and 5a View Figure 5 ); surface covered with short, relatively dense pubescence which obscures surface and margins, with long simple setae along margins which do not obscure margin ( Figures 2a View Figure 2 , and 5a View Figure 5 ); anterolateral margin almost entire, with small granules, junction with posterolateral margin with small low lobe but not dentiform ( Figure 5a View Figure 5 ); posterior margin of epistome with median lobe flattened, almost level with endostome, lateral margin gently concave ( Figure 5b, c View Figure 5 ); third maxilliped with short, subquadrate ischium, merus quadrate, subdistal margin with prominent rounded granules ( Figures 5d View Figure 5 , and 7b View Figure 7 ); major chela with fingers subequal to or almost as long as length of palm ( Figure 6a View Figure 6 ); ambulatory legs with merus and propodus relatively short, stout ( Figure 6d View Figure 6 ); vulvae relatively smaller, ovate, positioned farther apart, opening obliquely ( Figure 6c View Figure 6 ).

Etymology

This species is named after the Pacific Ocean.

Remarks

Pseudolitochira pacifica sp. nov. in most characters, especially the carapace characters, resembles P. integra . For comparisons with congeners, see Discussion.