Philyra samia, 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 : 284-286

Philyra samia n. sp.

( Figs 2B ; 3 )

Philyra globosa – Barnard 1947: 373; 1950: 380, fig. 72f-h. — Kensley 1981: 39.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: South Africa. Natal , off Tugela River mouth, 22 m, id. K. H. Barnard, 1 ♂ cl 21.6 mm ( SAM A8335 ).

Paratypes:same data as holotype, 3 ♂♂ cl 14.6-16.1 mm, 2 ♀♀ cl 13.1, 17.8 mm ( SAM A 8335).

ETYMOLOGY. — Named for the South African Museum (SAM), in recognition of its important role in the study and conservation of the South African marine biota. Gender feminine.

DISTRIBUTION. — Known only from the type location, Natal, South Africa.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace minutely punctuate, bearing closely-spaced minute granules on branchial, intestinal regions. Front strongly deflexed anteriorly, frontal margin bearing triangular denticle medially. Circumference of carapace behind front evenly beaded. Anterior margin of epistome straight, inner angles of afferent branchial canals slightly prominent. Margins of external maxillipeds minutely granulate, exopod subquadrate, shovel-like. Pterygostomian region closely granulate. Anterolateral margin very slightly sinuous, posterolateral margin arcuate.

Thoracic sternites prominently granulate. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus in male specimens beaded.Fused male abdominal segments 3-6 bearing granulate basal knobs separated by a concavity. Margins of fused abdominal segments in female beaded, first and second segments prominently granulate. Cheliped merus rugose, bearing perliform granules, increasingly smaller distally. Carpus and propodus nearly smooth in female specimens, lower margin of propodus prominently granulate in males. Fingers punctate; inner margins minutely denticulate.Lower margin of merus of last pereiopod minutely granulate; meri of pereiopods 1-3 bear line of increasingly minute granules along ventral margin; carpi and propodi smooth; upper margin of propodus of first pereiopod carinate, propodi of pereiopods unicarinate on upper, lower margins. Male first pleopod with apical process elongate, slightly curved distally, bearing line of cirri distad, subterminal alate and cirrate triangular process, distally curved vermicular tip.

REMARKS

Barnard (1950: 381) may have sensed his specimens differed subtly from the typical form since he conceded that “strict identity with the Indian form can only be proved by examination of the first pleopod ♂ ”. Indeed, comparison with Indian specimens of P. globosa has shown that the apical process of the pleopod of the South African specimen is longer, nearly straight, with triangular subterminal process; its carapace and chelipeds are more distinctly granulate, and the lower margin of first pereiopodal propodus unicarinate.

Figures

FIG. 2. — A, Philyra globus (Fabricius,1775) n. comb., ♂ cl 18.8 mm (NHM 1999.6),first male pleopod, distal end of first male pleopod; B, P. samia n. sp., ♂ holotype, cl 21.6 mm, South Africa (SAM A8335), first male pleopod, distal end of first male pleopod; C, Afrophila punctata (Bell,1855) n. comb.,♂ cl 20.1 mm, South Africa (USNM 252713),first male pleopod,distal end of first male pleopod,second male pleopod; D, Atlantolocia laevidorsalis (Miers, 1881) n. comb., ♂ lectotype cl 15.4 mm, Senegal, Gorée I. (NHM 1881.24), first male pleopod, distal end of first male pleopod; E, Atlantophila cristata (Miers, 1881) n. comb., ♂ lectotype cl 5.7 mm, Senegal, Gorée I. (NHM 1881.24), first male pleopod, dorsal and ventral views; F, Hiplyra platycheir (De Haan, 1841) n. comb., ♂ cl 15.5 mm, Japan (NSMT 9661), first male pleopod, distal end of first male pleopod. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 3. — Philyra samia n. sp.,South Africa,♂ holotype cl 21.6 mm, Natal, off Tugela River mouth (SAM A8335), dorsal carapace.