Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918

Pandya, Pranav J. & Richard, Jasmine, 2019, Report of Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae) and description of a new species Caridina kutchi sp. nov. from Gujarat, India, Zootaxa 4568 (3), pp. 470-482 : 472-477

Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918

( Figs. 2 , 3 )

Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918: 388 , figs. 4, 5, 6; 1925: 231, figs. 524-532; J. Roux, 1931: 34.

Material examined. India. Types: Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 , Lectotype, (designated here) Inde anglaise, Masegaon (Majghaon-refer remarks), coll. Guy Babault, 1913-1914, det. Bouvier, E.L., MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), 1♀; Paralectotypes, Inde anglaise Masegaon (Majghaon-refer remarks), coll. Guy Babault, 1913-1914, det. Bouvier, E.L., MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), 1♀ ovig., 6♀, 1juv., 2 damaged specimens; Inde anglaise, Majghaon, coll. Guy Babault, 1913-1914, det. Bouvier, E.L., MNHN IU 2013-11295 (=MNHN Na 670), (Note in the vial: Guy Babault 1915, Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 , Majghaon, ♂ typen. 20.11.’17) 2 6 (cephalothorax separated specimens); Masegaeon (Majghaon-refer remarks), coll. Guy Babault, 1913-1914, MNHN IU 2013-11425 (=MNHN Na 668), det. Bouvier, E.L., 1♀ ovig., 4♀; Mukki, coll. Guy Babault, 1913-1914, det. Bouvier, E.L., MNHN IU 2013-11294 (=MNHN Na 669), 1♀ ovig. (only few eggs left in between pleopods), 3♀ (damaged specimens with separated eggs); Inde anglaise, Rajadhar, 1913-1914, coll. Guy Babault, det. Bouvier, E.L., MNHN IU 2013-11296 (=MNHN Na 671), 2 specimens (pleopod 1 and 2 missing; cephalothorax separated specimens).

Non-types: Gujarat, India. Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 , Shetrunji River , coll. Pandya, 2014, det. Pandya & Richard 2015, Chachiya, RRLC/BIO-SH/04, 6♂, 7♀; Lilivav (Talaja), RRLC /BIO-SH/05, coll. Pandya, 2014, det. Pandya & Richard 2015, 1♂ .

Other material examined. India. Types: Syntypes. Caridina rajadhari Bouvier, 1918 , Inde anglaise, Rajadhar, coll. Guy Babult, 1915, det. Bouvier, E.L. 1918, MNHN IU 2014-10343 (=MNHN Na 868), 2♀ (pleopods damaged in one specimen); Inde anglaise, Rajadhar, coll. Guy Babult, 1915,. det. Bouvier, E.L. 1918, MNHN IU 2014-10344 (=MNHN Na 868), 1♂, 1♀ ovig., 1♀ (cephalothorax separated specimens with loose eggs); Rajadhar,(note in the vial: Inde anglaise, Mukhi) coll. Guy Babault, 1915, det. Bouvier, E.L. 1918, MNHN IU 2014-10345 (=MNHN Na 869), 1♀ ovig.(considered abnormal by Bouvier 1918, but is considered as a typical specimen by this study); Rajadhar (note in the vial: Inde anglaise, Majghaon) coll. Guy Babault, 1915, det. Bouvier, E.L. 1918, MNHN IU 2014-10346 (=MNHN Na 870), 2♀.

Description. Adult size 12–25 mm. Carapace length 2.2–3.5 mm.

Rostrum ( Fig. 2a, b ): Equal to antennular peduncle or shorter reaching middle of 3 rd antennular peduncle segment, 0.4–0.7×long as carapace; 14–25 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.23 of dorsal margin unarmed distally. 3– 7 postorbital teeth present. Tip pointed. 3–8 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.45 of ventral margin unarmed distally. Formula (3–7) 14–25/3–8.

Carapace ( Fig. 2a, b ): Antennal spine well developed. Pterygostomian angle mostly rounded rarely pointed.

Mouth parts: Mandibles asymmetrical without palp. Incisor process of mandibles ending in irregular teeth, molar process truncated. Maxillula with broadly truncated lower lacinia and elongated upper lacinia bearing distinct teeth on inner margin; palp slender. Upper endites of maxilla subdivided, palp elongated, scaphognathite with long, narrow posterior lobe bearing tuft of setae at the truncated tip. Palp of first maxilliped rounded ending in a finger like projection. Ultimate endopod segment of second maxilliped fused with penultimate segment; exopod longer than endopod. Third maxilliped reaching to the antennular peduncle. Exopod reaching to the middle of the 2 nd segment of the endopod.

Antennular peduncle ( Fig. 2a, b ): 0.6–0.8×carapace. Stylocerite 0.6–0.8×length of basal

segment. Anterolateral teeth of basal segment 0.15–0.35×second segment. 7–18 segments bearing aesthetascs.

First pereiopod ( Fig. 3a ): Dactylus 1.25–1.7×palm of propodus. Chela 2.2–2.6×long as broad. Carpus 1.6– 2.3×long as broad, anterior excavation deep.

Second pereiopod ( Fig. 3b ): Dactylus 1.15–2.0×long as palm of propodus. Chela 2.5–2.9×long as broad. Carpus 4.3–5.5×long as broad.

Third pereiopod ( Fig. 3c, d ): Dactylus 2.5–3.5×long as broad. 7–10 marginal spines on dactylus. Propodus 3.5–5.2×long as dactylus and 9.5–11.5×long as broad with 10–15 spines along inner margin. Carpus 0.55–0.6×long as propodus, with 1 large and 3–5minute spines on inner margin. Merus 1.5–2.0×carpus length. Merus with 3–4 large spines on posterior margin. Ischium with a spine.

Fifth pereiopod ( Fig. 3e, f ): Dactylus 3.1–4.2×long as broad with 30–45 marginal spines. Propodus 11– 14×long as broad and 3.2–3.9×long as dactylus and with 11–15 spines along posterior margin. Carpus 0.45– 0.6×propodus length and with 1 large spine and 3–4 minute spines along inner margin. Merus 1.5–1.7×carpus length, with 3 spines at posterior margin.

Epipod: present on 1–4 pereiopods; absent on fifth pereiopod.

Setobranchs: 2 setae on all pereiopods.

First female pleopod ( Fig. 3g ): Endopod 0.35–0.8×exopod length.

Eggs ( Fig. 3h ): ca. 25 eggs of 0.50–0.62×0.9–1.0 mm size (IU 2013-11292 =MNHN Na 668, ♀ ovig.).

First male pleopod ( Fig. 3i ): Endopod 0.25–0.55×exopod length; with appendix interna.

Second male pleopod ( Fig. 3j ): Appendix masculina 1.5–1.7×appendix interna and 0.3–0.4×endopod.

6th abdominal somite: 0.55–0.7×long as carapace.

Telson ( Fig. 3k, l, m, n ): Broad, 1.0–1.1×long as 6 th abdominal somite. Dorsal spines 4–6 pairs (including subterminal spine). Posterior margin broad and rounded, with or without median protrusion, bearing 1 pair of lateral spines and 2–4 pairs or 5 sparsely plumose intermediate spines of varying length; fractionally longer or shorter than the lateral spines.

Uropod ( Fig. 3o ): 12–21 diaeresis spinules.

Preanal carina ( Fig. 3p ): Unarmed.

Colouration. Freshly collected specimens are pale white in colour.

Type locality. Majghaon , Madhyapradesh Central India ( Bouvier, 1918) .

Distribution. Central, Western and Southern India.

Remarks. Bouvier (1918) described two new species of Caridina namely C. rajadhari and C. babaulti , with the specimens collected by M. Guy Babault from Majghaon, Mukki and Rajadhar (Madhyapradesh and Chhattisgarh), Central India. Later in 1925, he added additional information to C. babaulti and C. rajadhari . Guy Babault (1920) listed 22 locations of his scientific investigation in Central India including Majghaon, Mukki and Rajadhar. However, labels of the type specimens reveal that there is yet another collection location namely Masegaon (Jalna district, Maharashtra) with collection details given as collected by Guy Babault 1913-1914 and determined by Bouvier, 1917. Bouvier (1918), in his description of C. babaulti provided the details of the type specimens as, four females from Mukki, about fifteen specimens including two males from Majghaon and two females from Rajadhar. The number of specimens for Mukki and Rajadhar is correct (though the specimens are in damaged condition). The rest of the specimens are: Majghaon MNHN IU 2013-11295 (=MNHN Na 670) 2♂; Masegaon MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), 1♀ ovig., 7♀, 1juv., 2 damaged specimens; MNHN IU 2013-11425 (=MNHN Na 668), det. Bouvier, E. L., 1♀ ovig., 4♀. When all these are added, the total is 18 specimens. This number is almost equal to what Bouvier (1918) suggested as about fifteen specimens including two male specimens from Majghaon. Having taken into consideration the number of specimens as given by Bouvier (1918) for the location named as, ‘Majghaon’ by him, and the fact that Babault (1920) has not included a place called, ‘Masegaon’ in his list of locations, this study considers that the specimens labelled with collection locations as ‘Majghaon’ and ‘Masegaon’ are all from Majghaon, (Madhyapradesh) Central India. This is further confirmed by the fact that Bouvier (1925) mentioned the locations as Mukki, Majghaon and Rajadhar.

Roux, J. (1931) reported C. babaulti from Mudumalai and Masinagudi (Tamil Nadu), the Western Ghats, India. However, there were no other reports of C. babaulti from the subcontinent. As a part of a study of the decapod crustacean fauna of Gujarat by the Biology Department, Shri R. R. Lalan College, Bhuj, the present study collected and examined the freshwater shrimps from Shetrunji River and Khari River. The type specimens of both C. rajadhari and C. babaulti were examined and compared to the Caridina specimens of Gujarat and the occurrence of C. babaulti in Shetrunji River is confirmed.

Caridina babaulti is known by the following diagnostic characters: 12–25 mm adult size; rostrum equal to antennular peduncle or shorter reaching middle of 3 rd antennular peduncle segment, 0.4–0.7×long as carapace; 14– 25 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.23 of dorsal margin unarmed distally; 3–7 postorbital teeth, tip pointed; 3–8 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.45 of ventral margin unarmed distally. Formula (3–7) 14–25/3–8; stylocerite 0.6– 0.8×length of basal segment of antennular peduncle, anterolateral teeth of the first segment 0.15–0.35×second segment; first pereiopod chela 2.2–2.6×long as broad, dactylus1.25–1.7×long as palm of propodus, carpus 1.6– 2.3×long as broad with a deep excavation; second pereiopod chela 2.5–2.9×long as broad, dactylus1.15–2.0×long as palm of propodus, carpus 4.3–5.5×long as broad; third pereiopod, dactylus 2.5–3.5×long as broad with 7–10 marginal spines; fifth pereiopod, dactylus 3.1–4.2×long as broad with 30–45 marginal spines; endopod of male first pleopod with appendix interna; 12–21uropod diaeresis spinules present; anal carina without a spine. Telson posterior margin broad, rounded with or without median protrusion bearing one pair of lateral spines and 2–4 pairs or 5 sparsely plumose intermediate spines of varying length; fractionally longer or shorter than the lateral spines; ca. 25 eggs of 0.50–0.62×0.9–1.0 mm size (IU 2013-11292 =MNHN Na 668, ♀ ovig.). As rightly pointed out by Bouvier (1918) the egg size of the specimens from Mukki is comparatively smaller being 0.43–0.5× 0.64–0.75 mm in size. The number of eggs could not be determined as the specimens are damaged and eggs are separated from the specimens. Examining fresh collections including ♀ ovig. from Mukki could prove the variations further.

Caridina babaulti from Shetrunji River is similar to the type specimens other than the endopod of first male pleopod not possessing appendix interna (vs. endopod of first male pleopod with appendix interna in the type specimens). This difference is considered as a variation within the species. Examining ovigerous females could further confirm the identification of the Shetrunji River specimens.

Caridina babaulti differs from C. rajadhari in possessing comparatively shorter rostrum being equal to antennular peduncle or shorter reaching middle of 3 rd antennular peduncle segment (vs. rostrum equal to antennal scale, fractionally longer or shorter reaching the antennular peduncle in C. rajadhari ); 14–25 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.23 of dorsal margin unarmed distally (vs. 26–36 teeth on entire dorsal margin in C. rajadhari ); 3–7 postorbital teeth which is comparatively in higher range (vs. 3–4 postorbital teeth in C. rajadhari ); 3–8 teeth proximally on ventral margin with a short unarmed end distally (vs. 8–11 teeth either up to the tip or with a short unarmed end distally in C. rajadhari ), ca. 25 eggs of 0.50–0.62×0.9–1.0 mm size (vs. ca. 100 eggs of 0.27– 0.35× 0.49–0.60 mm size in C. rajadhari ).

Al-Adhub & Hamzah (1987) described a new subspecies of C. babaulti from Iraq namely C. babaulti basrensis . However, they reiterated that, “The similarities between our specimens and C. babaulti are so great that there can be little doubt that they belong to the same species”. Although Al-Adhub & Hamzah (1987) recognised that the differences between C. babaulti and their subspecies were slight, they considered that their subspecies still merits the recognition. Examining the type specimens of C. b. basrensis would either confirm the opinion of Al- Adhub & Hamzah (1987) or prove that the Iraq specimens are C. babaulti . The type specimens of C. b. basrensis were not available for this study. As for now, the authors’ ( Al-Adhub & Hamzah, 1987) opinion is taken into consideration and the distribution of C. babaulti is considered to be within Central, Western and Southern India.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918, RRLC/Bio-SH/04, ♀: a) Anterior region of cephalothorax; MNHN IU 2013- 11292 (=MNHN Na 668), ♀ ovig.: b) Anterior region of cephalothorax. Scale bar a, b 51 mm = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Caridina babaulti Bouvier,1918.RRLC/Bio-SH/04, ♀: a) First pereiopod; b) Second pereiopod; c) Third pereiopod; d) Dactylus of third pereiopod; e) Fifth pereiopod; f) Dactylus of fifth pereiopod; MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), ♀: g) First female pleopod; MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), ♀ovig., h) Egg; MNHN IU 2013- 11295(=MNHN Na 670), ♂: i) Endopod of first male pleopod; j) Appendix masculina; RRLC/Bio-SH/04, ♀: k) Telson; l) posterior margin of telson; MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), ♀:m) Posterior margin of telson; MNHN IU 2013-11292 (=MNHN Na 668), ♀: n) Posterior margin of telson; RRLC/Bio-SH/04, ♀: o) Uropod diaeresis spinules; p) Preanal carina. Scale bar a, b, c, e, k 31 mm=0.5 mm; g, h 51mm=1mm; d, f, i, j, l, m, n, o 38 mm = 0.25 mm; p 25 mm = 0.25mm.