Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852

Koh, S. K. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2008, A Revision Of The Shore Crabs Of The Genus Eriphia (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56 (2), pp. 327-355 : 334-337

Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852

( Figs. 8 , 12A–C )

Eriphia gonagra Krauss, 1843: 36 (not Cancer gonagra Herbst, 1798 ).

Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852a: 82 ; Dana: 1852b: 247, Pl. 14, Fig. 5 a–b ; Stimpson, 1858: 37; A. Milne-Edwards, 1873: 256; Hilgendorf, 1879: 198; Richters, 1880: 151; Miers, 1884: 518; Miers, 1886: 162; Ortmann, 1893: 480; Whitelegge, 1897: 137; Alcock, 1898: 216; Borradaile, 1900: 589; Borradaile, 1902: 263; Nobili, 1906: 292; Rathbun, 1907: 57; Stimpson, 1907: 72; Calman, 1909: 48; Stebbing, 1910: 303; Rathbun, 1911: 233; Edmondson, 1923: 19; Sendler, 1923: 39; Urita, 1926: 16; Boone, 1934: 156, Pl. 80; Sakai, 1934: 311; Balss, 1935: 66; Miyake, 1936: 509; Miyake, 1939: 217; Sakai, 1939: 523, Pl. 94, Fig. 3 ; Barnard, 1950: 275; Tweedie, 1950: 125; Holthuis, 1953: 20; Forest & Guinot, 1962: 68; Chang, 1963: 5; Michel, 1964: 26; Derijard, 1966: 169; McNeill, 1968: 66; Serène, 1968: 83; Stoddart & Taylor, 1971: 99; Lundoer, 1974: 7; Sakai, 1976: 478, Pl. 172, Fig. 2 ; Takeda & Nunomura, 1976: 76; Hwang & Yu, 1980: 153, Pl. 8(1); Miyake, 1983: 131, Pl. 44 Fig. 4; Crosnier, in Serène, 1984: 311, Figs 232–233, Pl. 47A – Guinot, 1985: 450; Dai et al., 1986: 333, Pl. 48(1), Fig. 174 (2); Garth et al., 1987: 257; Dai & Yang, 1991: 357, Pl. 48(1), Fig. 174 (2); Takeda et al., 1994: 287; Yu et al., 1996: 54, Fig. 54; Ng et al., 2001: 23; Davie, 2002: 174; Ng et al., 2008: 63.

Eriphia scabricula garciaensis Ward, 1942: 99 , Pl. 6, Fig. 4; Serène, 1968: 83; Stoddart & Taylor, 1971: 99.

Eriphia pilumnoides Ward, 1941: 13 , Fig. 25, 26; Serène, 1968: 83.

Material examined. – NATAL: 2 males (16.1 × 23.2 mm, 14.5 × 20.0 mm), 2 females (15.1 × 23.0 mm, 14.9 × 22.2 mm) ( SAM-A 12155 ), Boteler Point, intertidal pools, coll. Jan.1965 . COCOS- KEELING ISLANDS: 6 males (16.3–6.2 × 23.9– 9.8 mm), 2 females (13.4 × 20.6 mm, 8.7 × 12.7 mm), 1 ovigerous female (10.9 × 16.0 mm) ( ZRC 1965.11.17.41–49), coll. C. A. Gibson- Hill, 1941. CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Indian Ocean) : 8 males (12.3–5.3 × 18.9–8.0 mm), 5 females (8.4–6.1 × 13.3– 9.1 mm), 1 ovigerous female (8.3 × 12.7 mm) ( ZRC 1965.11.17.50–59), coll. C. A. Gibson-Hill, 1940 ; 1 male (14.2 × 20.7 mm) ( WAM 2262-86 ), Flying Fish Cove , coll. Powell, Jul.1961 . PHILIPPINES: 1 male (11.4 × 17.4 mm) ( AMNH 8301 ) (holotype of Eriphia pilumnoides Ward, 1941 ), Gulf of Davao, Padoda Beach , coll. G. R. Oesch, 6–19 Jul.1936 . TAIWAN: 1 male (22.4 × 15.3 mm) , 1 female (11.5 × 17.9 mm) ( ZRC 1995.617 ), Kaoshiung , coll. C. C. Lin, 27 Nov.1987 ; 2 males (13.3 × 19.6 mm, 12.8 × 19.4 mm), 2 females (12.7 × 19.1 mm, 10.1 × 15.2 mm), 1 ovigerous female (14.0 × 21.1 mm) ( ZRC 1988.426 ), Pingtung County, Hengchun peninsula, Hsiang Chiao Wan, coll. H. C. Liu, 19 May 1998 ; 1 male (17.3 × 24.9 mm), 1 female (16.9 × 24.8 mm) ( ZRC 1998.450 ), Pingtung County, Hengchun Peninsula, Hsiang Chiao Wan , coll. H. C. Liu, 19 May 1998 . AUSTRALIA: 1 male (12.9 × 18.7 mm) ( AM-P 9099 ), Pleasant Islands , coll. Power & Stephens ; 1 female (11.3 × 17.5 mm) ( AM-G 3203 ), Santa Cruz Group, Vanikoro Islands , 11°42'S 166°50'E, coll. E. Troughton & A. A. Livingstone, 1926 ; 1 ovigerous female (16.1 × 23.9 mm) ( AM-P 3723 ), Queensland, Hope Islands , coll. A. R. McCulloch, 1905 ; 1 juvenile (4.7 × 6.5 mm) ( AM-P 17047 ), Queensland Herald Group, North East Cay , 170°20'S 148°28'E, coll. D. F. McMichael & J. C. Yaldwyn, 9 Nov.1964 ; 2 females (14.2 × 21.0 mm, 8.1 × 12.3 mm) ( WAM 667–85 ), north Western Australia, Scott reef, northwestern sandy islet, station 2, coll. P. Berry, 9 Sep.1984 ; 1 male (10.5 × 15.2 mm) ( WAM 695- 85 ), north Western Australia, Scott reef, reef flat, coll. P. Berry, 15 Sep.1984 ; 2 females (11.2 × 16.3 mm, 7.0 × 10.0 mm) ( WAM 1396-86 ), northwestern station 15, near wreck of the ‘ Mildura’, large intertidal rock platform, coll. WAM Group, 16 Feb.1986 ; 1 male (16.1 × 24.0 mm) ( WAM 1399–86 ), northwestern Station 15, near wreak of the ‘ Mildura’, large intertidal rock platform, coll. WAM Group, 16 Feb.1986 ; 1 male (15.7 × 22.9 mm) ( WAM 2263- 86 ), entrance to Anamo Bay, station NH 11, Hawl 1, 11–15 fms, coll. Marquesas Expedition, 1909/1967 ; 1 male (15.7 × 22.5 mm, damaged), 4 females (13.0–11.0 × 19.6–16.0 mm), 3 ovigerous females (13.8–11.7 × 19.8– 17.4 mm), 1 juvenile (6.6 × 9.7 mm) ( WAM 2265-86 ), western Ningaloo homestead, Point Cloates , coll. Ningaloo Expedition, 4 Oct.1968 ; 2 males (17.8 × 25.6 mm, 14.6 × 20.4 mm), 4 females (14.9–11.5 × 22.7– 17.1 mm) ( WAM 2266- 86 ), north Ningaloo Islands, Carbaddaman , 22°28'S 113°44'E, coll. Ningaloo Expedition, 23 Aug.1968 ; 1 male (6.7 × 9.7 mm) ( WAM 2267-86 ), Western Australia, Point Quobba, coll. Oct.1959 ; 1 male (11.0 × 16.4 mm) ( WAM 687-85 ), north Western Australia, Scott reef, sandy islet, coll. P. Berry, 15 Sep.1984 ; 1 male (17.1 × 24.8 mm) ( WAM 764-85 ), north Western Australia, Scott reef, reef flat, coll. P. Berry, 15 Sep.1984 ; 1 male (8.7 × 22.4 mm) ( WAM 2264- 86 ), Rowley Shoals, western part of Mermaid Reef , reef flat, coll. Rowley Shoal Expedition, 26 Jul.1982 ; 1 ovigerous female (20.1 × 29.4 mm) ( WAM 2268-86 ), Western Australia, Barrow Islands , intertidal coral reef, coll. 12 Aug.1986 ; 1 male (20.0 × 29.0 mm) ( WAM 21419), Bluebell Islands, northern barrier reef, Montebella’s Station 4b, 20°23'21'S 115°30'00'E, 0–1 m, coll. L. Marsh & S. Slack – Smith, 20 Aug.1993 ; 1 juvenile (6.4 × 8.8 mm) ( WAM 153- 94 ), Western Australia, Montebello , outside reef, flat rocky bottom with sandy hollows, 20°20'52'S 115°29'22'E, coll. P. Berry et al., 13 Aug.1993 . ENIWETOK: 2 males ( BPBM 10507 ), seaward reef, coll. E. Guinther, 15 Sep.1970 ; 1 ovigerous female ( BPBM 10663 ), coll. B. Bruce, 1978. GUAM : 1 male, 2 females ( BPBM), coll. Hornbostel, 1933 ; 2 males, 2 females ( ZRC 2000.689 ), Pago Bay, outside marine biology station, University of Guam , coll. P. K. L. Ng & C. H. Wang, 15–18 Apr.2000 . PALMYRA ISLANDS: 1 male ( BPBM 860 ), coll. Thurston, 1922. JARVIS ISLAND : 1 male ( BPBM 4979 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 1935 ; 1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile ( BPBM 1989 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Aug.1924 . HOWLAND ISLAND: 2 males ( BPBM 4160 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, Mar.1936 ; 4 males ( BPBM 2041 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Oct.1924 ; 2 males ( BPBM 4171 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 27 Jun.1935 ; 1 male, 3 females ( BPBM), coll. 1935. BAKER ISLAND : 1 male ( BPBM 4204 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 1936. WAKE ISLAND : 1 male ( BPBM 1428 ), coll. C. H. Edmondson, 1923. FANNING ISLAND : 1 male, 2 females ( BPBM 7916 ), ocean side of reef, opposite Vai Tepu, Line Island , coll. E. Guinther, Jan.1970 ; 5 males, 5 females ( BPBM 807 ), coll. Ball & C. H. Edmondson, Jul.–Aug.1922 ; 1 male ( BPBM 7917 ), ocean side of reef, opposite cable station, coll. E. Chave, Jan.1917 . CAROLINE ISLANDS: 2 females ( BPBM 4470 ), coll. Y. Kondo. TUVALU : 1 male (14.3 × 21.0 mm) ( AM-G 1379 ), Pacific Ocean, Funafuti , 08°31'S 179°14'E, coll. Hedley. FIJI: 1 dried male ( MMUS-C 1332 ), Ovalau. SAMOA : 1 male, 1 female, 1 juvenile ( BPBM 4839 ) , 1 male (20.6 × 14.4 mm) ( ZRC), coll .

Harris Expedition , 1937–1938. NIUE: 1 female ( BPBM 1699 ), coll. Loeb, 1924. CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Pacific): 1 male ( BPBM 1877 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, 1924 .

Type locality. – Fiji Islands .

Diagnosis. – Carapace broader than long, dorsal surface slightly convex, entirely tuberculated, pubescent. Front entire on each side of median notch. Orbit occupying one third of anterior margin, entire margin minutely denticulated; external orbital spine present, usually denticulated forming bifurcated structure; supraorbital margin with two longitudinal fissures, infraorbital margin with one longitudinal fissure. Anterolateral margin convex, with three to five spines. Surface of third maxilliped generally smooth, uniformly pubescent. Pterygostomial region glabrous, smooth. Suborbital region tuberculated, especially near external edges of antennules, endostome and distal part of third maxilliped exopod. Chelipeds tuberculated, pubescent; denticles present on ventral margin of basis-ischium and merus, with one prominent spine on distal part of basis-ischium; carpus with prominent acute spine at distal inner margin, one or two more minute ones below ventral surface; chela pubescent, outer surface densely tuberculated, arranged in numerous rows, may be tuberculated ventrally. Ambulatory leg surface smooth, both anterior and posterior margins with long and short setae. Anterior male thoracic sternum pubescent. G1 relatively short, stout, few spinules present on inner edge, with row of smaller ones extending to basal segment.

Remarks. – Eriphia scabricula is a small-sized species, with adults not exceeding 30 mm in carapace width. It is also the only species that has its frontal margin smooth and devoid of denticles. This does raise the question of its relationship with other Eriphia species which easily can reach a size of 70 mm. Examination of a large series of specimens, however, shows that E. scabricula is a valid species of Eriphia . Its form actually resembles juveniles of other Eriphia species especially Pacific ones like E. sebana and E. smithii . Eriphia scabricula also shares all the diagnostic characters of Eriphia species , such as the antennae being inserted at the external edge of the frontal margin; a denticulate anterolateral margin and shape of the third maxillipeds.

There seems to be little variation among the specimens examined, except for the density of the pubescence from juvenile to adult. Juvenile specimens have the entire carapace and chela covered with pubescence that becomes progressively less dense and shorter in adults. The external orbital spine may be denticulated, the denticles arranged in groups of two or three, giving it a multi-spinate appearance. The tuberculation on both chelae varies, with the density of tubercles and pubescence on the major chela much less than those on the minor one. The most distinctive character of the species is perhaps the presence of a spine on the inner ventral margin of the merus of the cheliped. Sometimes, an additional one is present, but this is not common, being present in only a few specimens.

Stebbing (1910) commented that the Eriphia gonagra of Krauss (1843) predated Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852 . While this is true, this earlier name unfortunately cannot be used as it is a junior homonym of Cancer gonagra Fabricius, 1781 , which is now also a species of Eriphia . We have examined the type of Eriphia pilumnoides Ward, 1941 , and we have no doubt that it is a junior synonym of E. scabricula . Ward (1942) also described Eriphia scabricula garciaensis from Chagos, Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean. He felt that the subspecies could be separated by the more intense granulations on the carpus of the cheliped, a shorter and broader telson, a shorter frontal lobe and much longer and thinner fingers of the chela. While we have not examined his specimen, on the basis of his figure and descriptions, as well as the good series of specimens on hand, we believe that all these differences can be easily accounted for by variation.

There are no known existing types of E. scabricula , with Dana’s specimens all believed to be lost. The species, however, is so distinct, that we feel that a neotype designation is not necessary at the present time.

Distribution. – West Pacific Ocean extending north to Japan southwards to Marshall Islands to Australia, spreading to westwards to Indian Ocean to Mozambique, Africa. It is not known from the Sunda Shelf per se.

Figures

Fig. 8. Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852, male, 20.0 × 29.0 mm, WAM C 21419: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, chelipeds; D, ventral view.

Fig. 12. Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852, male, 16.1 × 23.2 mm, SAM-A 12155: A–C; Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), male, 42.0 × 59.9 mm, AM-P 15678. A, D, G1s; B, E, distal part of G1s; C, F, G2s. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 5. Eriphia granulosaA. Milne-Edwards, 1880, holotype female (dried), 12.0 by 17.0 mm, MNHN 2447S. A, dorsal view; B, right chela; C, left chela.

Fig. 3. Gonopods: A–C, Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål, 1775), male, 50.6 × 60.4 mm, USNM 152249. D–F, E. gonagra (Fabricius, 1781), male, 26.0 × 18.7 mm, NHM 1887.23: A, D, G1s; B, E, distal part of G1s; C, F, G2s. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 2. Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781), male, 18.7 × 26.0 mm, NHM 1887.23: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, chelipeds; D, ventral view.