Munidopsis trifida Henderson, 1885

Published, First, 2007, Species of the genus Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1784 from the Indian and Pacific Oceans and reestablishment of the genus Galacantha A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae), Zootaxa 1417, pp. 1-135 : 115-116

Munidopsis trifida Henderson, 1885

Munidopsis trifida Henderson, 1885: 415 .— Baba, 2005: 193, 298 (list of occurrences and synonymy).

Material examined. Madagascar (A. Crosnier collection), Stn CH 103, 880– 920 m: 3 M 8.6–12.7 mm, 2 ovig. F 11.4–13.3 mm, 2 F 8.4–9.1 mm (MNHN-Ga1354).— Stn CH 104, 750– 810 m: 2 M 12.3–13.8 mm, 2 ovig. F 11.3–14.5 mm, 1 F 16.6 mm (MNHN-Ga1352).— Stn CH 107, 695– 710 m: 4 M 7.9–15.4 mm, 1 ovig. F 13.0 mm, 2 F 11.4–14.4 mm (MNHN-Ga1353).— Stn CH 108, 735– 760 m: 13 M 10.4–15.5 mm, 3 ovig. F 10.6–13.5 mm, 3 F 11.2–13.8 mm (MNHN-Ga1355) . Indonesia, Kei Islands , KARUBAR, Stn 20, 769– 809 m: 11 M 8.0– 21.6 mm, 2 ovig. F 18.2–20.0 mm, 12 F 7.0– 20.7 mm (MNHN-Ga5552).—Stn 21, 688– 694 m: 3 M 11.4–19.8 mm, 4 F 11.6–22.0 mm (MNHN-Ga5520).—Stn 38, 620– 666 m: 3 M 10.2–15.2 mm, 1 F 20.7 mm (MNHN-Ga5521).—Stn 39, 466– 477 m: 1 F 16.7 mm (MNHN-Ga5522).—Stn 56, 549– 552 m: 2 F 15.5- 17.6 mm (MNHN-Ga5523).—Stn 57, 603– 620 m: 1 M 16.4 mm, 2 F 14.2–16.3 mm (MNHN-Ga5524).—Stn 69, 356– 368 m: 8 M 10.4–24.7 mm, 15 F 11.6–24.3 mm (MNHN-Ga5553) . Solomon Islands, SALOMON 1, Stn 1808, 611– 636 m: 2 M 10.2–17.4 mm, 1 ovig. F 12.8 mm (MNHN-Ga5525). SALOMON 2, Stn 2181, 645– 840 m: 1 ovig. F 11.2 mm, 1 F 6.9 mm (MNHN-Ga5526).— Stn 2197, 897– 1057 m: 1 F 8.8 mm (MNHN-Ga5527) . New Caledonia, CALSUB, Stn 16, 825 m: 1 F 13.7 mm (MNHN-Ga5528). NORFOLK 2, Stn 2066, 834– 870 m: 1 M 8.2 mm, 1 F 9.5 mm (MNHN-Ga5529).— Stn 2069, 795– 852 m: 1 ovig. F 12.3 mm (MNHN-Ga5530).— Stn 2113, 888– 966 m: 1 M 5.1 mm (MNHN-Ga5531) .

Remarks. The setose condition of this species presents certain variability, as pointed out by Baba (2005). The number of distal spines on the P1 carpus is also variable (1 or 2). Therefore the use of this character to separate M. trifida from M. serricornis should be considered with caution. These two species can also be differentiated by the presence of two well-developed epigastric spines in M. trifida , whereas these spines are always absent in M. serricornis ( Macpherson & Segonzac 2005, see above). The specimens from Madagascar are closer to the type material (from Patagonia), having a row of mesial spines along the P1 palm. This row is usually absent in specimens from the Indo-West Pacific, in agreement with the observations of Baba (1969). As Baba (2005) suggested, the existence of two subspecies ( M. trifida trifida , East Pacific and southern Africa, and M. trifida tomentosa Benedict, 1902 , Indo-West Pacific) is still questionable.

Distribution. Straits of Magellan, south of Chile, East China Sea, Sagami Bay, Suruga, Bay of Bengal, Laccadive Sea, South Arabian coast and Gulf of Aden, between 280 and 1270 m ( Henderson 1885, 1888, Alcock & Anderson 1894, Anderson 1896, Alcock 1901, Benedict 1902, Balss 1913, Yokoya 1933, Tirmizi 1966, Baba 1969, 1986, 2005). The present material has been collected in Madagascar (695–920 m), Indonesia (Kei Islands, 356–809 m), Solomon Islands (611–1057 m) and New Caledonia (795–966 m).