Munidopsis denudata, Published, 2007

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 : 65-67

Munidopsis denudata n. sp.

( Fig. 31)

Material examined. Solomon Islands, SALOMON 1, Stn 1783, 399– 700 m: 1 F 7.9 mm (holotype, MNHN- Ga5561) .

Etymology. From the Latin denudatus, wholly bare, in reference to the shape of the body.

Description. Carapace slightly longer than wide, dorsal surface unarmed, nearly devoid of setae, bifurcated cervical groove slightly marked. Gastric region weakly convex, indistinctly circumscribed, having 2 weak and short epigastric ridges and some short striae. Cardiac region depressed in front of slightly elevated transverse ridge. Posterior transverse ridge slightly elevated, uninterrupted and unarmed. Rostrum broadly triangular, lateral margin finely serrated, proximally subparallel, slightly deflexed, about one-third as long as remaining carapace, maximum width one-quarter carapace breadth, flattish dorsally, ventral margin cristate. Front margin different in level in mesial and lateral halves of width, each half margin transverse, lateral half depressed below level of mesial half, anterolateral corner rounded; lateral margin slightly convex, cristate, overhanging pterygostomian flap, with notch at end of anterior branch of cervical groove.

Sternum as long as wide, maximum width at level of sternite 7. Sternite 3 with 2 anterior lobes, 3 times as wide as long; anterior margin of sternite 4 wide, slightly narrower than sternite 3, lateral margins concave, more than 2.5 times wider than sternite 3.

Abdominal segments unarmed; segments 2–4 with slightly elevated anterior transverse ridge, without transverse groove; posterolateral lobes of segment 6 slightly distinct but not overreaching transverse posteromedian margin. Telson divided into 7 plates, posterior plates combined nearly twice as wide as long.

Eye small, movable, falling short of midlength of rostrum; cornea ovate, moderately small, longer than remaining eyestalk. Distinct spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles.

Basal article of antennule with small denticulated distomesial process, strong distolateral and distodorsal spines.

Antennal peduncle having basal article with strong distomesial spine and stout distolateral process; article 2 with distolateral process; article 3 distomesially produced.

Mxp 3 ischium as long as merus measured along extensor margin; merus with strong proximal spine on flexor margin, extensor distal margin with well-developed spine; carpus with crenulate extensor margin.

P1 nearly twice carapace length, devoid of setae, finely granulated. Merus with blunt distomesial spine, with marked carina along proximal half of dorsal side; carpus longer than wide, mesial margin carinate; palm 1.5 times carpus length, fingers 0.7 palm length, fixed finger with denticulated carina along distolateral margin.

P2–P4 moderately slender, decreasing in length posteriorly, nearly devoid of setae, finely granulated. P2 clearly not reaching end of P1; merus 2.5 times longer than high, about twice carpus length and 1.5 times longer than propodus, triangular in cross section, with one dorsal and 2 ventral crests, each ending in acute point; carpus cristate dorsally, with lateral crest; propodus cristate dorsally, ventral margin with 1or 2 distal spinules; dactylus slightly curved, flexor margin straight, with 11 teeth, each with accompaying seta, ultimate tooth closer to penultimate tooth than end of article.

Epipods absent from pereiopods.

Remarks. Munidopsis denudata belongs to the group of species with the carapace unarmed, abdomen smooth, rostrum triangular, P1 longer than P2, ocular peduncle movable, corneae oval and unarmed, and lateral margin of carapace cristate. The closest species in M. lophia n. sp. (see below). Munidopsis denudata can be differentiated from M. lophia by the armature of the Mxp 3 and the antennal peduncle. Munidopsis denudata has the merus of the Mxp 3 with a very strong spine on the flexor margin, and the extensor margin with a long distal spine; furthermore the carpus has the extensor margin crenulate; the basal article of the antennal peduncle with a strong distomesial spine, reaching the end of the second segment. Munidopsis lophia has the basal article with the distomesial angle slightly produced and rounded, furthermore the merus of the Mxp 3 with 2 short spines on the flexor margin, and a short distal spine on the extensor margin.

Distribution. Solomon Islands, at 399– 700 m.