Frevillea barbata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880

L., Peter K., Castro, Ng Peter, Rodríguez, Paula A. & Moreno, 2024, Notes on the taxonomy of Frevillea A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Goneplacoidea), with the description of a new genus for F. sigsbei A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, Zoosystema 46 (29), pp. 733-748 : 735-739

Frevillea barbata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880

( Figs 1 ; 2 )

Frevillea barbata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880: 15 . — Rathbun 1898: 287. — A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier 1923: 336, fig. 2, pl. 2, figs 10, 11, pl. 7, figs 1, 2. — Guinot 1969b: 513, pl. 2, fig. 2; 1971: 1080 [in list]; 1984: pl. 1, fig. H. — Powers 1977: 114. — Soto 1985: 484, 487, 488; 1986: 3, 4, 36; 1991: 627. — Abele & Kim 1986: 54, 593, fig. a. — Boschi 2000: 82. — McLaughlin et al. 2005: 257 [in list]. — Ng et al. 2008: 78 [in list]. — Felder et al. 2009: 1081 [in list]. — Thoma et al. 2009: 553, 563, figs 1, 2. — Castro & Ng 2010: 53 (part). Goneplax barbata – Rathbun 1918: 25, 26, pl. 4, figs 1, 3, pl. 5.

Frevillea rosaea – Castro & Ng 2010: 56 (part) (not F. rosaea A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 ).

Not Frevillea barbata – Poupin 1994: 48, pl. 5e (= F. hirsuta ( Borradaile, 1916)) .

HISTORY. — Frevillea barbata was described from Blake’ s station 36 in the Gulf of Mexico (23°13’N, 89°16’W) from a depth of 84 fathoms (= 154 m) (A. Milne-Edwards 1880: 15). Measurements were provided for one male (26.0 × 17.0 mm), but no type was indicated (see above). For the species, Rathbun (1918: 26) stated: “type-locality, lat. 23° 13’ N.; long. 89° 16’ W., 84 fathoms, station 36, Blake; type in Paris Mus.” and “Yucatan Channel; lat. 23° 13’ 00” N, long. 89° 16’ 00” W.; 84 fathoms; temp. 60° F.; station 36, U. S. C. S. Str, Blake; male holotype (Paris Mus.).”; and although she did not examine the specimen, her action constitutes the first valid designation of a lectotype for the species. Rathbun (1918: 26), however, did examine another Blake specimen in MCZ: “Off Grenada; lat. 12° 01’ 45” N.; long. 61°47’ 25” W.; 92 fathoms; fne. S.; Mar. 1, 1879; station 262, Blake; 1 male (Cat. No. 4116. M. C. Z.).” Alphonse Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923: 336) elaborated that they studied one “type” male, one immature male, two adult females, and two juveniles. This ratified the name-bearing designation made by Rathbun (1918). Alphonse Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923) did not state the size of the type male (only one adult male is mentioned), but we presume it is the one A. Milne-Edwards originally measured, i.e., 26.0 × 17.0 mm. They figured the male pleon for the type male (A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier 1923: fig. 2), as well as the carapace and cheliped (pl. 7, figs 1, 2) and the fourth ambulatory leg (pl. 2, figs 10, 11) ( Fig. 1 A-C). In any case, apparently Rathbun (1918) and A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923) selected the same specimen as the lectotype.

Alphonse Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923: 337) also comment that “En dehors de la localité précédente qui se trouve dans le Golfe du Mexique au N. du Canal du Yucatan, l’espèce a été signalée, avec doute, au large de La Havane par Mlle Rathbun.” [Apart from the previous locality, which is in the Gulf of Mexico, N. of the Yucatan Channel, the species has been reported, with doubt, off Havana by Miss Rathbun.] (see Rathbun 1898). Guinot (1969b: 512, pl. 12 fig. 2) next recorded and figured a “cotype” female measuring 16.5 × 10.0 mm from station 36. Castro & Ng (2010: 53) listed one juvenile male (carapace width 5.9 mm, MNHN-B8733), and one male, one female and one juvenile (MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155). Guinot’s (1969b) “cotype” female measuring 16.5 × 10.0 mm from station 36 is actually a male (see Material Examined below), although the gonopods are missing.

During the examination of material by the first author in May 2023 in the MNHN bottle labelled as “ Frevillea barbata ” (MNHNB8733), he found only one small juvenile male measuring 7.8 × 5.9 mm and labelled as the lectotype. In the card catalogues in MNHN (under MP B8733), only one cotype female measuring 16.5 × 10.0 mm from the Gulf of Mexico is listed. The locality and station labels in the bottle match those given by A. Milne-Edwards (1880), and they include the original hand-written labels at A. Milne-Edwards time from the Blake cruise. We are certain this specimen is not F. barbata , but F. rosaea (see below in Taxonomy section). The material in MCZ consists of one catalogued lot (MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155) with three specimens: one adult male (29.5 × 18.4 mm), one badly damaged juvenile male (carapace width c. 9.0 mm), and one adult female (27.3 × 17.2 mm), all being listed in the labels as “cotypes” and in the database as “ syntypes ” ( Figs 1D, E ; 2D ).

TYPE MATERIAL. — The 26.0 × 17.0 mm male of A. Milne-Edwards (1880) is the lectotype of Frevillea barbata because he did not identify a type specimen and did not indicate how many specimens he had (see above). This specimen is clearly the present MCZ male specimen measuring 29.5 × 18.4 mm (MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155); it agrees very well with the original figures (A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier 1923: pl. 7, figs 1, 2) ( Figs 1D ; 2D ). The present discrepancy in measurements can be explained by whether the carapace width was measured at the widest point of the external orbital teeth or across their bases; and if the length was taken medially, where the posterior margin is distinctly concave, or at its lateral part which is more concave. As noted above, the subsequent five specimens reported by A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923) should be now regarded as paralectotypes.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Lectotype (by inference of holotype by Rathbun 1918: 26, as Goneplax barbata ; and A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier 1923: 336 as F. barbata ). Mexico • ♂ (29.5 × 18.4 mm); station 36, north of Alacran Reef, Campeche Bay, Yucatan; 84 fathoms (= 154 m); 23°13’0”N, 89°16’0”W; coll. USCGS; George S. Blake cruise; 19-24.I.1878; MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155.

Paralectotypes. Mexico • 1 ♀ (27.3 × 17.2 mm), 1 badly damaged juvenile ♂ (c. 9.0 mm carapace width); same data as for lectotype; MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155 ) • 1 ♂ (16.5 × 10.0 mm); same data as for lectotype;MNHN-IU-2014-7505) (= MNHN-B8733) • 1♀ (22.7 × 15.7 mm), 1 juvenile ♀ (7.9 × 5.0 mm); same data as for lectotype; MNHN-IU-2014-7506) (= MNHN-B8733) .

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Western Atlantic region: Grenada and Gulf of Mexico coasts of Florida and Mexico.

TAXONOMY

When the first author compared the specimens in the MNHN bottles now labelled as “ Frevillea barbata ” and “ Frevillea rosaea ” with the descriptions and the original figures of the species in A. Milne-Edwards (1880) and A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923), it was obvious that the specimens had been switched. In any case, F. rosaea was described only from two specimens, so the three specimens in the bottle clearly do not match.

In separating F. rosaea from F. barbata, A. Milne-Edwards (1880: 15) noted that “Cette espèce se distingue de la précédente par sa carapace plus épaisse et moins élargie en avant; les bords latéraux étant presque parallèles. Le front est plus large et à bord plus droit. Les pédoncules oculaires sont plus gros et plus courts. L’angle postorbitaire est formé par une dent pointue, en arrière de laquelle existe un petit renflement tuberculiforme puis une épine hépatique courte mais acérée. Les pinces et les pattes ambulatoires sont disposées comme chez le Frevillea barbata .” [This species is distinguished from the preceding by its thicker carapace and less widened (narrower) in front; the side edges being nearly parallel. The front is wider and with a straighter edge. The eyestalks are larger and shorter. The postorbital angle is formed by a pointed tooth, behind which there is a small tuberculiform swelling and then a short but sharp hepatic spine. Claws and walking legs are arranged as in Frevillea barbata .]. Alphonse Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923: 337) added that while F. barbata and F. rosaea were close, “Aux observations précédentes j’ajouterai que les pédoncules oculaires de cette espèce sont très dilatés dans leur région cornéenne, que les deux échancrures du bord orbitaire supérieur sont très accentuées, surtout la plus interne et que les pattes ambulatoires semblent un peu moins fortes que celles du Frevillea barbata . A part quelques différences très légères, tous les autres caractères sont identiques à ceux de cette dernière espèce, du moins dans le type chargé d’oeufs et dans le très jeune exemplaire qui m’ont été soumis.” [To the preceding observations I will add that the ocular peduncles of this species are very dilated in their corneal region, that the two indentations of the superior orbital edge are very accentuated, especially the most internal one and that the ambulatory legs seem a little less strong than those of the Frevillea barbata . Apart from a few very slight differences, all other characters are identical with those of the latter species, at least in the egg-laden type and in the very young specimen provided to me.].

The characters of the present MNHN juvenile male labelled as “ Frevillea barbata ” (7.8 × 5.9 mm, MNHN-B8733) ( Fig. 3 E-G) actually match those described and figured as F. rosaea by A. Milne-Edwards (1880) and A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923) exactly. Conversely, the characters of the three MNHN specimens labelled as “ Frevillea rosaea ” (MNHN-B10152), match those of Frevillea barbata . How the specimens became switched in MNHN remains unknown and could have occurred during examination by researchers or other curatorial/digitisation processes. The second author had examined the MNHN material between March and June 2006, and the material had already been mixed, as confirmed by notes and sketches of the two species made at the time. As such, the record of F. barbata (and F. rosaea ) must be regarded as switched as they referred to both the types as well as the material they examined at that time. There are no problems with the MCZ specimens, with all the specimens of the two species agreeing with the original descriptions.

The MNHN male specimen (16.5 × 10.0 mm) now labelled as “ Frevillea rosaea ” (MNHN-B10152) actually closely matches what Guinot (1969b: pl. 12 fig. 2) figured as the MNHN “cotype” female of F. barbata from station 36 (no catalogue number indicated). They agree in measurements and the specimen agrees well in all physical features. We believe they are the same specimen. As such, after the present study of the literature and analysis of morphological characters for MNHN specimens of the two species in question, the specimens were returned to their correct jars.

Frevillea barbata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 is the type species of Frevillea (cf. Castro & Ng 2010), family Euryplacidae Stimpson, 1871 (see Rathbun 1918: 25).

Figures

FIG. 1. — Frevillea barbata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880: A-D, lectotype ♂ (29.5 × 18.4 mm) (MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155); E, paralectotype ♀ (27.3 × 17.2 mm) (MCZ-IZ- CRU-9155); F, paralectotype ♂ (16.5 × 10.0 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-7505); G, paralectotype ♀ (22.7 × 15.7 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-7506); H, juvenile paralectotype ♀ (7.9 × 5.0 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-7506): A, D-H, overall dorsal views; B, right chela; C, pleon. Credits: A-C after A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1923: fig. 2; pl. 7, figs 1, 2); D, E, photographs by Alana Rivera, MCZ;, F-H, photographs by P. K. L. Ng.

FIG. 2. — Frevillea barbata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880: A, B, F, paralectotype ♂ (16.5 × 10.0 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-7505); C, paralectotype ♀ (27.3 × 17.2 mm) (MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155); D, lectotype ♂ (29.5 × 18.4 mm) (MCZ-IZ-CRU-9155); E, paralectotype ♀ (22.7 × 15.7 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-7506): A, left side of carapace and left cheliped; B, right chela; C-E, ventral view of cephalothorax and pleon; F, ♂ sternopleonal cavity. Credits: A, B, E, F photographs by P. K. L. Ng; C, D, photographs by Alana Rivera, MCZ.