Hiplyra elegans ( Gravier, 1920 ) Galil, 2009

Galil, Bella S., 2009, An examination of the genus Philyra Leach, 1817 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Leucosiidae) with descriptions of seven new genera and six new species, Zoosystema 31 (2), pp. 279-320 : 292-293

Hiplyra elegans ( Gravier, 1920) n. comb. ( Fig. 7 )

Philyra platychira – Laurie 1906: 363.

Philyra variegata var. elegans Gravier, 1920: 379 , figs 1-7.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Madagascar. Diego Suarez , 1919, coll. R. Decary, 1 ♂ cl 16.8 mm ( MNHN B.17550).

Paratype, idem, 1 ♀ cl 13.1 mm ( MNHN B.17550).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Tulear, coll. G. Petit, id. H. Balss as P. platychira , 1 ♂ cl 12.8 mm, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 10.4 mm ( MNHN B.17554). — Nosy-be, intertidal, XII.1958, coll. J. Millot, 1 ♂ cl 13.9 mm ( MNHN B.18341). — Baie d’Ambaro, coll. R. Plante, 2 ♂♂ cl 16.1, 16.2 mm, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 12.1 mm ( MNHN B.18690).— Nosy-be, intertidal, XII.1958, 3 ♂♂ cl 12.4- 15.1 mm ( MNHN B.18752). — Tulear, 4 m, 7.III.1964, preserved dry, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 17.6 mm ( MNHN). — Nosy-be, 3 ♂♂ 5.7-6.7 mm, 11 ♀♀ cl 5.8-10.1 mm ( MNHN B.18496). — Nosy-be, intertidal, coll. A. Crosnier, 1 ♂ cl 10.2 mm, 3 ovig. ♀♀ cl 7.7-8.0 mm ( MNHN B.18497). — Nosy-be, intertidal, 24.VIII.1972, coll. A. Crosnier, 1 ♂ cl 9.3 mm, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 9.7 mm ( MNHN B.18519). — Nosy-be, 1 ♂ cl 10.0 mm ( MNHN B.18520). — Nosy-be, intertidal, I.1959, coll. Macnae, 2 ♂♂ cl 8.1, 8.7 mm ( MNHN B.18518). —Tulear, coll.B. Thomassin, 1 ♂ cl 8.7 mm ( MNHN 18513). — Nosy-be, 1 ♂ cl 9.7 mm ( MNHN B.18520).

Sri Lanka. Gulf of Manaar, coll. W. A. Herdman, 5 ♂♂ cl 12.0- 15.4 mm (NHM 1907.5.22.52-53).

DISTRIBUTION. — Known from Madagascar, Sri Lanka.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace minutely punctate anteriorly; branchial, gastric regions prominently granulate. Frontal region distinctly narrrowed,produced.Hepatic region slightly tumescent.Branchio-cardiac grooves distinct.Front with shallow median cleavage.Anterior margin of epistome medially notched.Anterior margin of efferent channel slightly sinuous, separated from beaded lateral margin by deep tear-shaped incision, lateral margin nearly reaching as far forward as anterior margin. Upper margin of subhepatic facet only medially granulate, lower margin boldly granulate throughout. Lateral margin of carapace posteriorly to subhepatic facet closely beaded, granules smaller posteriorly. Epimeral surface minutely granulate; epimeral margin minutely beaded. Sternal plates prominently granulate anteriorly, swollen laterally. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus prominently granulate. Fused male abdominal segments 2-6 bearing proximally granulate basal knobs; telson proximally swollen, slightly concave medially. First abdominal segment in female distinctly trilobate, lobes separated by deep fissures; margins of fused abdominal segments in female minutely granulate. Cheliped merus slender, nearly as long as carapace in male;its surface minutely granulate, bearing perliform granules anteriorly. Lower margin of propodus granulate, line of minute granules on inner lower surface, upper margin minutely granulate. Dactyl shorter than upper margin of propodus, sickle-shaped, its inner margin smooth. Pollex with two nearly effaced subterminal denticles. Lower margin of first and second pereiopodal meri bearing line of granules. Male first pleopod with minute apical process.

REMARKS

Gravier (1920: 382) compared his specimens with H. variegata n. comb. specimens collected by F. P. Jousseaume and H. Coutière (see following) and though finding “une grande analogie” between them, listed several differences.Yet,having just two specimens on hand, he thought it prudent to describe it as “une variété nouvelle de la Philyra variegata (Rüppell) ”. Indeed, H. elegans n. comb. resembles H. variegata n. comb. in its urn-shaped carapace and granulate hepatic tumescence, but it is readily distinguished by its larger size, indistinct subterminal denticles on pollex, distinctly trilobate fi rst abdominal segment in female specimens and proximally swollen telson in males.

Figures

FIG. 7. — Hiplyra elegans (Gravier, 1920) n. comb., ♂ cl 16.2 mm, Madagascar, Baie d’Ambaro (MNHN B.18690), dorsal view.