Bathypaguropsis kuroshioensis ( Miyake, 1978 )

Mclaughlin, Patsy A., 2003, Reassignment and redescription of “ Eupagurus ” microps Balss, 1911 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Paguridae), with notes on Bathypaguropsis kuroshioensis (Miyake, 1978), Zoosystema 25 (4), pp. 635-642 : 640

Bathypaguropsis kuroshioensis ( Miyake, 1978)

Pagurus kuroshioensis Miyake, 1978: 115 , fig. 48; 1982: 197 (list), 225 (key); 1991: 198 (list), 225 (key); 1999: 198 (list), 225 (key). — Baba 1986: 203, fig. 150.

Bathypaguropsis rahayuae McLaughlin, 1997: 539 , figs 291-h, 42c, d.

Bathypaguropsis kuroshioensis – de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin 2000: 117. — Komai & Lemaitre 2002: 43, figs 4-7.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Southwest Pacific. Combe Bank, MUSORSTOM 7, stn CP 552, 12°16’S, 177°28’W, 786-800 m, 18. V.1992, 1 3.7 mm ( MNHN Pg. 6341).

DISTRIBUTION. — Sagami and Tosa bays, Japan, Banda Sea, Indonesia, Combe Bank, southwestern Pacific ; 120-786, possibly 800 m.

REMARKS

The female specimen from MUSORSTOM 7 is slightly smaller than the majority of specimens reported by Komai & Lemaitre (2002), and slightly larger than the holotype of B. rahayuae as describ- ed by McLaughlin (1997). The armature of the right cheliped of the present specimen agrees more closely with the Indonesian specimen than with those described from Japan. In particular, the tubercles on the surfaces of the chela of the right cheliped are much weaker and do not show the pits ascribed to the Japanese specimens. Although Komai & Lemaitre (2002) did not discuss armature variation among their 30 specimens, the variation seen in the specimens from the southwestern Pacific and Indonesia follows patterns seen in B. yaldwyni from New Zealand. McLaughlin (1994) and de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin (2000) have pointed out that B. yaldwyni exhibits considerable variability, particularly in chela morphology. In that species cheliped armature increases in strength with increase animal size regardless of sex. Neither McLaughlin (1994) nor de Saint Laurent & McLaughlin (2000) directly addressed variations in telson armature; although in their descriptions of B. marionensis and B. cruentus , variation in armature is apparent. In the MUSORSTOM specimen, the terminal margins of the telson are unarmed, whereas they were each described as being armed with a row of small spines by Komai & Lemaitre (2002) for Japanese specimens or five very small spinules by McLaughlin (1997) for the holotype of B. rahayuae .

Colour in life

Shield, antennal peduncles, chelipeds and ambulatory legs red-orange; antennular peduncles with basal and penultimate segments red, ultimate segment fading to colorless distally ( Komai & Lemaitre 2002).