Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888

Cardoso, Irene, 2006, Caridea (Crustacea, Decapoda) collected on the Brazilian (13 / 22 S) continental shelf and slope, Zootaxa 1364, pp. 1-44 : 34-38

Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888

( Figs. 23–27 )

Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888: 859 ; Rathbun, 1901: 127; Williams, 1965: 41; 1984: 58; Chace, 1972: 16; 1976: 36.

Material examined: 16º19´55”S, 38º14´39”W, 40m, 2 females (2.3, 2.5mm), 1 male Diagnosis: Carapace, rostrum short, unarmed, orbital margin with dorsolateral margin serrate. Stylocerite acute, reaching the tip of basal antenular peduncle segment. Scaphocerite without distal tooth, with acute tip. Telson with one median pair of cuspidate setae, 2 pairs of dorsolateral cuspidate setae and 5 pairs of distal serrate cuspidate setae.

Description: Carapace rostrum short, unarmed, orbital margin with dorsolateral margin serrate; small antennal spine present; branchiostegal and hepatic spines absent ( Fig. 23 A). Stylocerite acute, reaching the tip of basal antenular peduncle segment ( Fig. 23 B). Scaphocerite without distal tooth, with acute tip ( Fig. 23 C). Mandible, molar process absent, incisor process with 13 teeth, palp flattened and undivided ( Fig. 24 A). Maxilla 1, distal endite rounded, with cuspidate serrate setae on inner margin; basal endite small, with 3 cuspidate serrate setae on inner margin; palp bilobed, outer lobe elongate, inner lobe with a long plumose seta on tip ( Fig. 24 B). Maxilla 2, scaphognathite with plumose setae on all margins; endopod one sixth of the scaphognathite length; endite with 3 lobes with pappose setae on inner margin ( Fig. 24 C). Maxilliped 1, exopodal lobe well developed, with plumose setae on outer margin; exopod broad, rounded; endopod slender, reaching exopod base; endite with 2 conspicuous lobes with pappose setae on inner margin ( Fig. 24 D). Maxilliped 2, carpus short; rounded propodus with simple setae on anterior margin and cuspidate serrate setae on inner margin; dactylus small, with cuspidate serrate setae on inner margin; without exopod(Fig. 28E). Maxilliped 3, basis, ischium and merus fused; elongate carpus; propodus and dactylus fused, leaf-like ( Fig. 24 F). Pereopod 1 slender and elongate, shorter than second; ischium with distal cuspidate seta on outer margin; merus and carpus with one distal small cuspidate seta on inner margin; propodus elongate almost twice dactylar length; propodus with 21 and dactylus with 18 cuspidate setae forming a comb-like chela ( Fig. 25 A, B). Pereopod 2 slender and elongate, ischium with 3 cuspidate setae on inner margin; merus with one distal, small cuspidate seta; carpus with 5 cuspidate setae on inner margin; propodus with 2 cuspidate setae on inner margin; propodus with 24 and dactylus with19 cuspidate setae forming a comb-like chela; dactylus with 4 cuspidate setae on inner margin ( Fig. 25 C, D). Pereopod 3 longer than pereopods 4 and 5; basis with 2 cuspidate setae on inner margin; ischium elongate, with 3 cuspidate setae on inner margin, 2 cuspidate setae near outer margin, and 6 simple setae on outer margin; merus elongate, with 5 cuspidate setae on inner margin, and 7 simple setae on outer margin; carpus short with 3 simple setae on inner margin; propodus short with 5 simple setae on inner margin, and 6 simple setae on outer margin; dactylus short with an elongate simple seta on tip ( Fig. 26 A). Pereopod 4 with all articles short, basis, merus, carpus and dactylus with one cuspidate seta on outer margin ( Fig. 26 B). Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopods 3 and 4; ischium with one, merus with 3 and carpus with 2 cuspidate setae on outer margin ( Fig. 26 C). Male endopod of pleopod 1 with oval shape and a basal lobe with 3 simple setae ( Fig. 27 A, B). Male endopod of pleopod 2, appendix masculina two thirds the appendix interna length, with 3 serrate cuspidate setae on lateral margins; appendix interna with many hook setae on tip ( Fig. 27 C); appendix masculina leaf-like with serrate setae on distal and lateral margins ( Fig. 27 C). Telson with one median pair of cuspidate setae, 2 pairs of dorsolateral cuspidate setae and 5 pairs of distal serrate cuspidate setae ( Fig. 27 D). Endopod of uropod with 8 cuspidate setae on outer margin and lateral margin ending in sharp triangular projection; with a strong posterolateral tooth that overreaches exopod; exopod with 3 cuspidate setae on tip ( Fig. 27 D).

Distribution: Western Atlantic: North Carolina, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Barbuda, Dominica, Virgin Islands, Leeward Islands and Brazil (from Amapá to Pernambuco, Bahia and São Paulo).

Remarks: The genus Leptochela comprises 12 species, 3 of which occur in the Western Atlantic: L. bermudensis Gurney, 1939 ; L. papulata Chace, 1976 and L. serratorbita . This species differs from L. bermudensis and L. papulata in having 2 pairs of dorsolateral cuspidate setae on telson, instead one.

The material herein examined agrees with Chace´s (1976) description in the short, unarmed rostrum,; orbital margin with dorsolateral margin serrate; stylocerite acute; scaphocerite tapering to tip without distal tooth; mouth parts shape and setae pattern, and in telson shape and setae pattern. No differences between material examined and Chace´s (1976) description were observed.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888, male, 3 mm, MNRJ 19461; A. lateral view; B. right antennule, dorsal view; C. right antenna, dorsal view (as — antennal spine; st — stylocerite).

FIGURE 24. Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888, male, 3 mm, MNRJ 19461; A. left mandible; B. left maxilla 1; C. left maxilla 2; D. left maxilliped 1; E. left maxilliped 2; F. left maxilliped 3.

FIGURE 25. Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888, male, 3 mm, MNRJ 19461; A. right pereopod 1, lateral view; B. right pereopod 2, lateral view.

FIGURE 26. Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888, male, 3 mm, MNRJ 19461; A. right pereopod 3, lateral view; B. right pereopod 4, lateral view; C. right pereopod 5, lateral view.

FIGURE 27. Leptochela serratorbita Bate, 1888, male, 3 mm, MNRJ 19461; A. endopod and exopod of right first pleopod, lateral view; B. endopod of right first pleopod, lateral view; C. appendix interna and masculina, endopod of right second pleopod; D. telson and uropods, dorsal view.