Visaya lira, Ahyong, Shane T., 2004

Ahyong, Shane T., 2004, New species and new records of stomatopod Crustacea from the Philippines, Zootaxa 793, pp. 1-28 : 22-25

Visaya lira sp. nov. ( Figure 5 )

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: AM P67178, female (TL 110 mm), Balicasag Island, P. Ng et al. from local fishermen, 25–30 Jul 2003. PARATYPES: ZRC 2003.0306, 1 male (TL 91 mm), type locality, P. Ng et al. from local fishermen, 25–30 Jul 2003; ZRC 2004.0615, 1 male (TL 93 mm), type locality, P. Ng et al. from local fishermen, 2 Mar 2004.

Description. Dorsal integument distinctly pitted, rugose.

Eye extending beyond midlength but not to apex of A1 peduncle segment 1; cornea strongly bilobed, set obliquely on stalk; CI 480–536. Ophthalmic somite anterior margin faintly emarginate. Ocular scales separate, apices truncate.

A1 peduncle length 1.07–1.12 CL. A1 somite dorsal processes with acute apices, directed anterolaterally. A2 scale length 0.71–0.76 CL.

Rostral plate trapezoid, slightly broader than long, apex rounded; median carina short. Carapace anterior width 0.40–0.43 CL; anterolateral spines extending almost to base of rostral plate; with median, intermediate, lateral, marginal, reflected marginal carinae; with short, irregular carinae flanking posterior bifurcation of median carinae; median carina distinct, not interrupted at base of anterior bifurcation; branches of anterior bifurcation opening anterior to dorsal pit. Carapace posterior margin with distinct, triangular, median projection.

Raptorial claw dactylus with 5 teeth, outer margin broadly rounded, outer proximal margin obtuse; carpus dorsal carina entire; propodus distal margin unarmed; merus outer inferodistal angle rounded.

Mandibular palp 3­segmented. MXP1–4 each with epipod. MXP5 basal segment with ventrally directed tooth. Pereiopod 1–3 basal segments unarmed; endopod segments fused, slender.

TS5–8 with distinct submedian and intermediate carinae, and short, irregular carinae or tubercles between submedian and intermediate carinae. TS7–8 with median carina. TS5 lateral process bilobed; anterior lobe a slender spine directed anteriorly; posterior lobe short, directed laterally. TS6 lateral process bilobed; anterior lobe subquadrate; posterior process triangular. TS7 lateral process bilobed; both lobes triangular, posterior larger. TS8 anterolateral margin triangular, apex sharp; sternal keel rounded.

Pleopod 1 endopod with posterior ‘endite’; tube process longer and broader than hook process.

AS 1–5 with distinct median and irregular carina between submedian and lateral carinae in addition to submedian, intermediate, lateral, and marginal carinae. Submedian carinae parallel on AS 1–5. AS 6 with median, submedian, intermediate, and lateral carinae; with ventral spine anterior to uropodal articulation; posterior margin of sternum unarmed. Abdominal carinae spined as follows: submedian 5–6, intermediate 1–6, lateral 1–6, marginal 1–5.

Telson flattened, subquadrate, slightly longer than broad; with 3 pairs of primary teeth (submedian, intermediate, lateral), each with dorsal carina; submedian teeth with fixed apices; prelateral lobe slightly shorter than margin of lateral tooth; median carina interrupted proximally, with slender posterior spine. Dorsolateral surface with curved rows of carinae; proximally with scattered tubercles; median carina flanked by low, irregular accessory median carina and row of widely spaced tubercles. Denticles rounded, each with low dorsal tubercle or swelling; submedian 4, intermediate 7–8, lateral 1. Telson ventral surface with short postanal carina; ventrolateral carina extending from anterolateral margin to base of lateral tooth.

Uropodal protopod terminating in 2 slender spines; lobe on outer margin of inner spine rounded, markedly narrower than adjacent spine; with small ventral spine anterior to endopod articulation; protopod outer margin smooth, inner margin crenulate. Uropodal exopod proximal segment longer than distal segment; proximal segment carinate; with 10 or 11 movable spines on outer margin; distal segment bicarinate dorsally.

Colour in alcohol. Overall light tan. Dorsal carinae and apices of spines of carapace and AS 1–5 red. Carapace and body with diffuse brown patches, between carinae. Posterior half of lateral process of TS6, lateral process of TS7 and anterior half of lateral process of TS8 dark brown. AS 2 with dark brown bar medially. AS 5 with pair of diffuse dark brown submedian patches. Telson with diffuse, dark­brown, transverse band across posterior middle portion; prinary teeth red with dark brown carinae; denticles red. Uropodal protopod with dorsal spine and terminal spines red; distal half of endopod black; exopod with red movable spines; distal margin of proximal segment and entire distal segment black.

Measurements of holotype. TL 110 mm, CL 26.00 mm, anterior carapace width 10.50 mm, cornea width 4.85 mm, A1 peduncle length 29.00 mm, A2 scale length 19.70 mm.

Etymology. Named lira, Latin for ridge, alluding to the supplementary carinae adorning the dorsum of the species.

Remarks. According to a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the squilloid genera (Ahyong, unpublished), Visaya lira gen. et sp. nov. is most closely related to species of Alimopsoides Moosa, 1991 , Paralimopsis Moosa, 1991 , and Alimopsis Manning, 1977 , which share similar, supplementary abdominal and telson carination. Visaya lira differs from members of each of the aforementioned genera in having strongly bilobed instead of indistinctly bilobed lateral processes of TS6–7. Visaya further differs from Alimopsoides in having five rather than six teeth on the dactylus of the raptorial claw and in having one instead of two lobes between the terminal spines of the uropodal protopod. Visaya further differs from Paralimopsis in bearing a mandibular palp, and from Alimopsis in bearing four instead of two epipods.

The three specimens of Visaya lira sp. nov. are morphologically uniform and appear to be sexually mature. Slight, but normal, variation is present in corneal and anterior carapace widths, relative lengths of the antennular peduncle and antennal scale, and numbers of telson denticles.

Distribution. Presently known only from Balicasag Island, the Philippines.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Visaya lira sp. nov. A – I, holotype female TL 110 mm (AM P 67178). J, paratype male TL 91 mm (ZRC 2003.0306). A, anterior. B, right dorsal process of A 1 somite, lateral view. C, carapace, posteromedian portion. D, right raptorial claw, lateral view. E, TS 5 – 8 lateral processes, right. F, TS 5, right lateral view. G, TS 8 sternal keel, right lateral view. H, AS 5 – 6, telson and uropod. I, right uropod, ventral. J, right pleopod 1 endopod. Scale A – I = 5.0 mm, J = 2.5 mm.