Griffinia Richer de Forges, 1994

Ng, Peter K. L., Forges, Bertrand Richer De & Lee, Bee Yan, 2023, New and rare deep-sea majoid crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura) from Papua New Guinea, Zootaxa 5318 (1), pp. 1-44 : 32

Genus Griffinia Richer de Forges, 1994

Type species. Antilibinia lappacea Rathbun, 1918 , by original designation.

Remarks. Richer de Forges (1994) established Griffinia for three species: G. gilloloensis ( Rathbun, 1916) , G. lappacea ( Rathbun, 1918) (type species), G. polita ( Griffin & Tranter, 1986) , with a fourth described later, G. takedai Richer de Forges & Ng, 2012 . These four species fall into two distinct groups. Griffinia lappacea and G. takedai have the dorsal surface of the carapace covered with numerous long stiff setae that do not obscure the surface and margins, the pseudorostral spines are cylindrical in cross-section, long and sharp, the hepatic spine is long, spiniform, and the basal antennal article is relatively slender with antennal article 3 slender and longer than the basal article. Griffinia gilloloensis and G. polita on the other hand, completely lack the long stiff setae on the carapace, and the carapace surface is instead covered with short dense pubescence that obscures the surface and margins, the pseudorostral spines are dorso-ventrally flattened and short, the hepatic spine is dentiform and short, and the basal antennal article is relatively shorter and more quadrate with antennal article 3 shorter than the basal article ( Figs. 27 , 28A ). These two species may need to be separated into their own genus at a later date.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Griffinia gilloloensis (Rathbun, 1916). A, B, male (pcl 13.0 mm) (ZRC 2022.72), Bohol Sea; C, D, male (cl 13.5 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-2924), Manus Island. A, C, overall dorsal view; B, D, dorsal view of carapace.

FIGURE 28. Griffinia gilloloensis (Rathbun, 1916), male (pcl 13.5 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-2924), Manus Island. A, ventral view of cephalothorax; B, right chela; C, left G1 (ventral view); D, distal part of left G1 (ventral view); E, distal part of left G1 (dorsal view).