Munidopsis pericalla, 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 : 91-93

Munidopsis pericalla n. sp.

( Figs. 43, 55K)

Material examined. Solomon Islands, SALOMON 1, Stn 1831, 135– 325 m: 1 M 7.0 mm (MNHN-Ga5564), 1 ovig. F 6.3 mm (MNHN-Ga5565) . Philippines, PANGLAO 2005, Stn 2381, 241– 259 m: 1 ovig. F 6.3 mm.— Stn 2399, 342 m: 1 M 5.2 mm ( NTOU) .

Types. The male of 7.0 mm from SOLOMON 1, Stn 1831 is the holotype (MNHN Ga 5564) . The other specimens are paratypes.

Etymology. From the Greek perikallos, very beautiful, in reference to the nice colour pattern of the species.

Description. Carapace devoid of setae, as long as broad, slightly arched transversely, bifurcated cervical groove slightly distinct; dorsal surface unarmed and smooth, with numerous pits. Gastric region somewhat inflated. Cardiac region distinctly circumscribed. Rostrum broad triangular, horizontal, nearly half as long as remaining carapace, maximum width 0.3 times carapace breadth; lateral margin carinate, smooth; dorsal surface slightly concave, ventrally convex and carinate. Front margin transverse, with strong antennal spine. Anterolateral spine smaller than antennal spine; lateral margins smooth, strongly convex, carinate and overhanging pterygostomian flap.

Pterygostomian flap anteriorly ending in small spine, surface smooth.

Sternum slightly wider than long, maximum width at level of sternite 7, covered with numerous pits. Sternite 3 three times longer than broad, with or without median notch, each lobe with anterior margin transverse or slightly convex. Sternite 4 scarcely separated from preceding sternite, more than 2.5 times wider than sternite 3.

Abdomen smooth. Segments 2–4 each with slightly elevated anterior transverse ridge, without groove. Segment 6 rather smooth, posteromedian lobe nearly transverse, not overreaching lateral lobes. Telson consisting of 7 or 8 plates, posterior plates broad relative to length.

Ocular peduncle movable, unarmed, cornea as long as eyestalk. Distinct spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles.

Antennular basal article with strong dorsolateral and distolateral spines, with additional distolateral process.

Antennal peduncle having basal article with strong distomesial spine, exceeding article 2, distolateral corner blunty produced; article 2 with strong blunt distolateral process.

Mxp 3 ischium with 15 or 16 denticles on crista dentata, bearing flexor and extensor margins produced; merus with well-developed distal spine on extensor margin, flexor margin with some small spines.

P1 twice carapace length, devoid of setae. Merus with blunt distomesial spine, marked carina along proximal half of dorsal side; carpus as long as high, mesial margin carinate; palm 1.5 times carpus length, mesial margin carinate; fingers 0.7 times palm length, fixed finger with denticulated carina along distolateral margin.

P2–4 legs relatively stout. P2 clearly not exceeding P1. Meri, carpi and propodi subtriangular in section, each with carina along dorsal margin and 2 subparallel carinae along ventral margin; each carina on meri and carpi distally produced; propodi with 2 or 3 small distal spines along flexor margin; dactyli slightly curved, flexor margin straight, with 7–9 teeth, each with accompaying seta, ultimate tooth closer to penultimate tooth than end of article. P2 nearly 0.7 times carapace length, merus 2.5 times as long as high, twice carpus length and 1.5 times propodus length; propodus 2.5 times longer than high and more than 1.5 times dactylus length.

Epipod present on P1, absent from P2–4.

Colour. Carapace whitish, anterolateral region between base of rostrum and midlength of lateral margin red; second and third abdominal segments whitish, first and fourth to sixth abdominal segments reddish with whitish median band. P1–P5 red.

Remarks. Munidopsis pericalla belongs to the group of species with carapace unarmed and abdomen smooth, rostrum triangular, P1 longer than P2, eye with ocular peduncle movable, cornea oval and unarmed, and carapace strongly cristate on lateral margin. This group contains M. carinimarginata Baba, 1988 (see above), and three new species M. denudata , M. lophia and M. strigula .

Munidopsis pericalla is distinctive in the strong convexity of the lateral margins of the carapace, strong antennal spine and the presence of epipods on P1. These characters are not observed in the other species.

Distribution. Solomon Islands, Philippines, between 135 and 342 m.