Munidopsis analoga, 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 : 34-37

Munidopsis analoga n. sp.

( Fig. 19)

Material examined. New Caledonia, BATHUS 1, Stn 651, 1080– 1180 m: 1 M 10.0 mm ( MNHN Ga5717), 2 M 7.6–9.8 mm, 2 ovig. F 9.3–11.1 mm ( MNHN Ga5718). BATHUS 2, Stn 743, 713– 950 m: 1 M 16.0 mm

( MNHN Ga5719). Fiji, BORDAU 1, Stn 1401, 600– 648 m: 3 M 7.7–8.4 mm ( MNHN Ga5720).

Types. The male of 10.0 mm from BATHUS 1, Stn 651 is the holotype (MNHN Ga 5717) . The other specimens are paratypes.

Etymology. From the Greek analogos, resembling, in reference to the similarity between this species and M. africana and M. calvata .

Description. Carapace 1.3 times longer than broad; dorsal surface moderately convex from side to side, smooth, with numerous short striae having short uniramous setae; regions well delineated by furrows includ- ing distinct anterior and posterior cervical grooves. Posterior cardiac region bluntly triangular, preceded by deep transverse depression. Posterior margin preceded by elevated ridge. Rostrum triangular, nearly horizontal in lateral view, 0.5 length of remaining carapace, maximum width one-quarter carapace breadth, terminating acutely; dorsal surface slightly convex, with some small striae but without longitudinal ridge or groove; lateral margins carinated and straight. Frontal margin slightly oblique behind ocular peduncle, leading to slightly produced region, then nearly transverse toward anterolateral corner of carapace. Lateral margins weakly convex and subparallel, anterior corner rounded, anterior end of anterior cervical groove with distinct notch, posterior cervical groove without notch at anterior end.

Pterygostomian flap smooth, with small striae, anteriorly unarmed.

Sternum nearly 1.5 times longer than broad, maximum width at sternites 4 and 7. Sternite 3 moderately broad, twice wider than long, anterior margin divided into 2 lobes by deep median notch; lateral margin of each lobe convex, with small granules. Sternite 4 narrowly elongate anteriorly; surface depressed in midline, smooth; greatest width 2.5 times that of sternite 3.

Abdomen smooth, without spines; segments 2–4 each with 2 elevated transverse ridges, but 5 and 6 segments lacking such ridges; segment 6 with weakly produced posterolateral lobes and nearly transverse posteromedian margin. Telson composed of 12 plates; posterior plates combined 1.7 times as wide as long.

Ocular peduncle movable; cornea unarmed, much longer than remaining eyestalk, feebly curving outward; distinct spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles.

Basal article of antennular peduncle with strong dorsolateral and distolateral spines; distomesial margin with small granules but no dorsal spine.

Antennal peduncle not overreaching eye; article 1 with distomesial angle granulated, blunty produced, barely reaching midlength of article 2; articles 2–3 armed with blunt distolateral spine, distomesial angle of article 3 rounded; article 4 unarmed.

Mxp 3 ischium as long as merus measured on extensor margin; flexor margin sharply ridged, terminating in small blunt spine; extensor margin also with small blunt spine; 14–16 corneous denticles on crista dentata; merus with small striae on lateral surface, flexor margin with 2 or 3 distinct spines and several smaller spines, extensor margin with distal spine.

P1 subequal, 2.4 times longer than carapace, covered with small granules and short striae on merus to dactylus; numerous soft plumose setae present on dorsodistal margins and mesial surfaces of merus, less abundant on carpus, palm and fingers. Merus with 3 distal spines (lateral, mesial, and dorsal). Carpus nearly twice longer than high, with 2 small distal spines (mesial and lateral). Palm slender, nearly 1.5 length of carpus, and 1.5 times as long as fingers. Fingers not gaping, distally spooned; prehensile edges each with row of subtriangular teeth, proximal teeth obsolete.

P2–P4 moderately stout, with small granules and short striae on dorsal surface, somewhat compressed laterally, decreasing in size posteriorly; second longest, P2 merus 1.5 times P4 merus, reaching end of P1 merus; ischium to propodus with some soft plumose and uniramous setae mesially on dorsal and ventral margins, setae on propodus dense and long; some long simple setae also present on ventral faces of merus to propodus; dactylus with tufts of short simple setae. P2 merus elongate, half length of carapace, nearly 3 times length of carpus and 1.5 times length of propodus, distal spine on dorsal margin, also present on P3 and P4; carpus with 2 prominent, blunt distal spines on dorsal and ventral borders, lateral side with longitudinal crest; propodus 3.5 times as long as high, unarmed except for 2 corneous spines on distal margin on ventral margin; dactylus 0.7 length of propodus; distal claw short, moderately curved; flexor margin nearly straight, with 8 or 9 teeth decreasing in size proximally, each with slender corneous spine.

Epipods absent from pereiopods.

Remarks. Munidopsis analoga belongs to the group of species with the carapace unarmed and abdomen smooth, rostrum triangular, P1 longer than P2, eye with ocular peduncle movable, cornea unarmed, much longer than remaining eyestalk. The group contains M. andamanica MacGilchrist, 1905 , M. cylindrophthalma (Alcock, 1894) , M. africana Balss, 1913 , M. calvata n. sp. and M. analoga n. sp. The closest species is M. calvata n. sp. (see below) and the two species are distinguishable from each other by the shape and length of the walking legs (P2–P4). The propodi are more than three times longer than high in M. analoga , whereas they are less than 3 times longer than high in M. calvata . Furthermore, the P2 reaches the end of the P1 merus in M. analoga , whereas it only reaches the midlength of the P1 merus in M. calvata .

Munidopsis cylindrophthalma can be easily distinguishable from the other species of the group by the length of P1. In M. cylindrophthalma P1 is, at least, 3 times as long as carapace, whereas P1 is, at most, 2.5 times as long as carapace in the other species.

Distribution. New Caledonia between 600–1180 m.