Guinotinia lehouarnoi, Forges, Bertrand Richer De & Ng, Peter K. L., 2009

Forges, Bertrand Richer De & Ng, Peter K. L., 2009, New genera, new species and new records of Indo-West Pacific spider crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Epialtidae: Majoidea), Zootaxa 2025, pp. 1-20 : 14

Guinotinia lehouarnoi n. sp.

Figs. 6 C, D, 8

Material examined. Fiji. MUSORSTOM 10: Stn. CP 1341, 16°52.51’S 177°43.66’E, 500–614 m, 10 August 1998: 1 male holotype (16.2 x 10.8 mm) ( MNHN B31859), 1 ovigerous female paratype (16.1 x 10.4 mm) ( MNHN B31860). – Tonga. BORDAU 2: stn. CP 1539, 21°36.75’S 175°19.37’E, 558–586 m, 4 June 2000: 1 male (15.4 x 10.2 mm) ( MNHN B31861).

Diagnosis. Relatively small-size species (ovigerous female 16.1 mm carapace length). Carapace pyriform showing numerous surelevated rounded plates. Bifid rostrum with short, sharp, flattened spines; ventral face of rostral spines concave. Carapace covered with short tomentum of cone-shaped setae. Raised plates of carapace arranged as follow: large mesogastric plate with 4 cross-shaped lobes; heart-shaped cardiac plate; 2 long horizontal branchial plates; 2 oblique epibranchial plates touching hepatic plates; hepatic plates fused with postocular teeth; small number of distinct intestinal plates connected to posterior border of carapace. Supraocular eave narrow, forming sharp point anteriorly. Eyes small, round. Postocular tooth cupped. Antennae as long as rostral teeth, visible from dorsal view; basal antennal article large. Buccal frame quadrangular; third maxillipeds operculiform. Anterior portion of thoracic sternum depressed. Chelipeds same length as P2: merus short, curved, enlarged distally; carpus short, rounded; propodus slightly inflated, covered with setae; fingers short, with 4 developed teeth. Ambulatory legs short, with curved articles covered by short tomentum; P3-P5 dactyli long, curved, claw-like; inferior proximal portion of propodus with distinct swelling covered with dense, long setae. Male abdomen with 7 free somites including telson. G1 gently curved outwards, relatively slender, distally flattened ( Fig. 8 D, E).

Etymology. The name honors Captain Hervé Le Houarno, whose expertise at trawling onboard the Vauban and Alis collected a large part of the MUSORSTOM Crustacea collections. He is the only person to have captured two new species of Glypheidae , in 1976 and 2005.

Remarks. The specimen from Tonga differs from the Fiji holotype in that the four portions of the gastric plate are completely fused, roughly forming a cross, and the branchial plates are also relatively larger and rounder. Tonga is about 1000 km from Fiji, but the few specimens available suggest that these differences are not significant at the species level and can easily be accounted for by variation.

For comparisons between G. lehouarnoi n. sp. and G. c o rd i s n. sp., see remarks for the latter species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Guinotinia lehouarnoi n. sp., holotype male (16.2 x 10.8 mm) (MNHN-B 31859). A, dorsal view of carapace; B, face, showing antennae, antennules and third maxillipeds; lateral view of carapace; D, E, G 1 s. Scales: A, C = 5.0 mm; B = 2.5 mm; D, E = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 6. A, B, Guinotinia cordis n. sp., holotype male (23.0 x 16.3 mm) (MNHN-B B 31857); C, D, Guinotinia lehouarnoi n. sp., holotype male (16.2 x 10.8 mm) (MNHN- B 31859); E, F, Laubierinia carinata (Griffin & Tranter, 1986), male (19.1 x 14.8 mm) (MNHN-B 31863). A, C, E, overall dorsal views; B, D, F, thoracic sternum and abdomen.