Weltneria cf. hirsuta (Tomlinson, 1963)

Botha, Thomas P. A. & Griffiths, Charles L., 2021, South African Acrothoracica (Crustacea: Cirripedia), Zootaxa 4949 (1), pp. 45-78 : 60-62

Weltneria cf. hirsuta (Tomlinson, 1963)

Lithoglyptes hirsutus Tomlinson, 1963b: 299 , figs 1–7.

Utinomia newmani Tomlinson, 1963a: 265 : 265, figs 1–5.

Weltneria hirsuta Kolbasov, 2009: 280 (in Russian), fig. 8 (a), fig. 12 (a), fig. 14 (б), fig. 15 (a), fig. 17 (в), fig. 18 (e), fig. 26 (г), fig. 37 (б, в), fig. 39 (a, в), fig. 82.— Chan, Hsieh & Kolbasov 2014: 49, fig. 42, fig. 43.

Deposited material: ELMC 0421 , Kwelera Bay , Eastern Cape, 7 January 1986, 14 specimens on Charonia lampas shell (7 specimens not deposited, used for SEM, dissections and genetic analyses) .

Diagnosis. Weltneria with opercular bars that have numerous sharp, simple teeth and long setae, opercular bars terminating in tapered, conspicuous, spine-shaped posterior process.

Description. Female, length 1.6–2.5 mm (mean = 2.05 mm) and width 1–1.7 mm (mean = 1.31 mm). Body oval-shaped, except opercular area flat surface, not rounded (fig. 10A; 12A). Opercular bars broad, concave on outer surface, average of 1.05 mm, with large upper surface and pair of posterior processes (fig. 11C, D), simple teeth along edges and down lateral surface of opercular area (fig. 11C, A, F). Occludent margins of opercular bars forming small, narrow aperture with almost no internal structures visible (fig. 11C). Row of simple and bifid teeth on either side of opercular bars, with several others randomly distributed on dorsal surface ( Fig. 11A ). Comb collar of long, feather-like projections (fig. 11B). Several bifid and trifid teeth on surface of mantle. Lateral surface below opercular bars with spines, setae and broad multifid scales, similar to those of W. spinosa (fig. 11E, F). Opercular knob and lateral bars absent. Mantle surface with several, randomly distributed, bifid teeth. Live colour unknown; dark brown/orange when preserved in ethanol (fig. 10A). Burrow oval-shaped, opercular bars well-fitted to burrow (fig. 10B).

Terminal cirri five pairs with two-segmented caudal appendages, with setae at distal segment (fig. 12B, C). Mouth cirri with three-segmented posterior ramus shorter than four-segmented anterior ramus (fig. 12D, E). Both rami with setulated setae. Labrum saddle-shaped, bullate, upper edge convex, armed with developed dorsal process, while anterior edge horseshoe-shaped, smooth (fig. 12D). End of mandibular palp trapezoid, with dense simple setae as well as setae with small sparse setules on tip ( Chan, Hsieh & Kolbasov, 2014). Mandible with three major teeth becoming smaller towards inferior angle, first upper tooth separated from the rest. Inferior angle with several denticles, inferior angle ending in two large denticles ( Chan, Hsieh & Kolbasov, 2014). Maxillule with single notch, two large cuspidate and small setae above notch, more than five sharp setae at margin below notch (fig. 12F). Lateral surfaces with dense serrate setae. Maxilla sub-triangular with many simple setae on outer margin and apex (fig. 12E).

Hosts. Originally found in two corals, Psammocora and Porites , in Hawaii, and shells of Bursa in Japan and Murex in Taiwan ( Chan, Hsieh & Kolbasov, 2014). Found in South Africa in Charonia lampas from Kwelera Bay, collected in 1986 and stored in the East London Museum (ELMW0952). This is a new record for South Africa.

Distribution. Type locality is Hawaii ( Chan, Hsieh & Kolbasov, 2014). Also Japan, Taiwan and a single sample from South Africa at Kwelera Bay (3250’08.0”S, 2807’09.5”E), near East London, Eastern Cape. In South Africa only occuring in the Eastern Cape.

Remarks. Live colour unknown. Some mouthparts could not be dissected out. Only 14 individuals were available from a single sample, collected in 1986 and held at the East London Museum. The individuals were in bad condition. Given that only a single, poorly-preserved South African sample, collected more than 30 years ago, was available for examination, and that this record is so geographically distant from the type locality, this identification should be confirmed using genetic methods and is recorded here as ‘cf’. It is possible that this is a cryptic new species.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Weltneria cf. hirsuta collected from Charonia lampas collected in Kwelera Bay. Scanning electron microscopy of external features, female. A—Row of teeth on opercular bar, with nodules; B—Comb collar; C—Opercular area, upper-lateral view showing opercular bars; D—Posterior processes of opercular bars; E—Multifid scales; F—Surface below opercular area showing bifid teeth and spines. Abbreviations: ob—opercular bar, obp—posterior process of opercular bar.