Munidopsis

Schnabel, Kareen E. & Ahyong, Shane T., 2015, Two new species of Munidopsis (Crustacea: Anomura: Munidopsidae) from the Kermadec and Louisville ridge systems off New Zealand, Zootaxa 3995 (1), pp. 241-251 : 249

Key to New Zealand species of Munidopsis

1. Abdominal segments 2 and 3 furnished with distinct spines or strong median processes.............................. 2

– Abdominal segments 2 and 3 without distinct spines or strong median processes; segments may have distinct transverse ridges but these lack medial projections......................................................................... 6

2. Dorsal carapace surface and appendages almost entirely covered with tubercles or squamae; lateral margin with or without squamous processes.................................................................................... 3

– Dorsal carapace surface and appendages not almost entirely covered with tubercles or squamae; lateral margin with simple spines or unarmed..................................................................................... 5

3. Carapace gastric region with distinct median ridge. Ocular peduncle without distal squamae or papillae.. M. sculpo sp. nov.

– Carapace gastric region without a distinct median ridge. Ocular peduncle with distal squamae or papillae................ 4

4. Dorsal carapace surface densely covered with large squamae; lateral margin irregular but unarmed behind anterolateral margin............................................................................... M. bractea Ahyong, 2007

– Dorsal carapace surface densely covered with small tubercles; lateral margin with 3 irregular lateral processes behind anterolateral spines........................................................... M. papanui Schnabel & Bruce, 2006

5. Lateral carapace margin unarmed other than anterolateral spine. Eye spine absent. Cheliped finger shorter than palm (approx. 0.7 times length of palm)............................................................. M. kaiyoae Baba, 1974

– Lateral carapace margin armed with four simple spines other than anterolateral spines. Eye spine present. Cheliped finger longer than palm (approx. 1.2 times length of palm)............................................. M. bamberi sp. nov.

6. Distinct eye spine or tuberculate mesial process present....................................................... 7

– Distinct eye spine or tuberculate mesial process absent....................................................... 11

7. Central eye spine present. Dorsal surface of carapace unarmed....................... M. victoriae Baba & Poore, 2002

– Eye spine or tuberculate process at mesial position of the ocular peduncle. Dorsal carapace surface with spines and/or tuberculate or squamose processes.............................................................................. 8

8. Eye spine simple and acute. Antennal spine absent. Carapace furnished with simple, acute spines (may be in addition to scattered short striae and granules). Typically large species (cl> 40 mm)............................................. 9

– Eye spine tuberculate and irregular. Antennal spine present. Carapace furnished with irregular tubercles and squamae. Typically small species (cl <20 mm)......................................................................... 10

9. Dorsal carapace surface covered with spines and short striae; lateral margin with>4 spines other than anterolateral spine, anteriormost spine distinctly larger than anterolateral spine; posterior carapace margin with transverse row of spines.......................................................................................... M. abyssicola Baba, 2005

– Dorsal carapace surface covered with spines and small granules; lateral margin with 1–3 spines other than anterolateral spine, anteriormost spine subequal to anterolateral spine; posterior carapace margin without transverse row of spines.............................................................................................. M. antonii Filhol, 1884

10. Carapace covered with small tubercles. Robust chelae (palm about twice as long as high)................................................................................................... M. tasmaniae Ahyong & Poore, 2004

– Carapace covered with strongly rugose, upraised squamae and tubercles. Slender chelae (palm about four times as long as high)................................................................... M. proales Ahyong & Poore, 2004

11. Extremely short rostrum (0.1 times the remaining carapace length)................ M. maunga Schnabel & Bruce, 2006

– Rostrum distinctly longer than 0.1 times the remaining carapace length.......................................... 12

12. Rostrum leaf-shaped (posteriorly constricted at level of eyes), without sub-apical spines............................ 13

– Rostrum not leaf-shaped, with a pair of sub-apical spines..................................................... 14

13. Lateral carapace margin slightly widening posteriorly, with three distinct spines other than anterolateral spine. Cheliped palm slightly longer than fingers, with spines on mesial margin............................... M. ceres Macpherson, 2007

– Lateral carapace margin distinctly inflated laterally posterior of anterolateral spine, otherwise unarmed. Cheliped palm distinctly longer than fingers, without spines on mesial margin......................... M. marginata ( Henderson, 1885)

14. Lateral carapace margin without distinct spines behind anterolateral spine, remaining margin irregular................. 15

– Lateral margin with two or more distinct spines behind anterolateral spine........................................ 16

15. Dorsal carapace surface smooth and unarmed. Cheliped with dorsal row of spines on merus and carpus. Walking legs with distinct spines along extensor margins.................................................. M. kareenae Ahyong, 2013

– Dorsal surface covered with granules, a small pair of epigastric spines present. Cheliped without dorsal row of spines on carpus and merus. Walking leg surfaces covered with granules, margins irregular, without distinct rows of spines on extensor margins....................................................................... M. ternaria Macpherson, 2007

16. Lateral carapace margin with two distinct spines behind anterolateral spine, remaining margin smooth. Dorsal carapace surface smooth and unarmed. Telson composed of seven plates.............................. M. treis Ahyong & Poore, 2004

– Lateral margins with three spines behind anterolateral spine. Dorsal carapace with pair of epigastric spines, otherwise unarmed. Telson composed of eight plates........................................... M. pyrochela Ahyong, 2014