Uroptychus pilosus Baba, 1981

Ahyong, Shane T. & Poore, Gary C. B., 2004, The Chirostylidae of southern Australia (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura), Zootaxa 436 (1), pp. 1-88 : 71-73

Uroptychus pilosus Baba, 1981 ( Fig. 21 )

Uroptychus pilosus Baba, 1981: 126–129 , figs. 10–11 [type locality: Kumanonada , off E coast of Kii Peninsula, Japan].

Material examined. NEW SOUTH WALES: AM P65626, 1 male (8.2 mm), E of Ulladulla , 35°27’S, 150°55’E, K83­14­02, 987–1025 m, 25 Oct 1983 .

Diagnosis. Body entirely covered with fine setae. Carapace excluding rostrum slightly wider than long, widest near midlength; with small anterolateral spinules; dorsum and lateral margins unarmed. Anterior margin of sternite 3 with broad concavity and narrow median notch; laterally unarmed. Eyes elongate; cornea not dilated. Basal antennal segment with outer spine; antennal scale as long as or slightly longer than penultimate peduncle segment. Cheliped slender, subcylindrical; 4–5 times carapace length; setose. Pereopods 2–4 similar, slender, relative lengths 2>3>4; dactylus with 2 distal spines (terminal calcareous, subterminal corneous); propodi not distinctly widened distally, unarmed; merus with series of spines on proximal extensor margin.

Remarks. The Australian specimen differs from Baba’s (1981) account of the holotype in the following features: the rostrum is broader, with straight instead of concave margins; the chelae are considerably less setose, with dense setae only on the proximal half of the merus instead of the entire chela; the outer orbital angle is spinose instead of rounded; and the median anterior notch in sternite 3 is slit­like instead of U­shaped. The latter two differences were also noted by Baba (1981) for the male paratype of U. pilosus . The differences noted above might represent polymorphism or indicate the presence of more than one species. Further study of additional Australian specimens and the Japanese material is required to better evaluate the matter. At present we refer the specimen to U. pilosus .

Distribution. Japan and now from southeastern Australia at depths of 987–1160 m.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Uroptychus pilosus Baba, 1981, male, 8.2 mm, off Ulladulla, AM P65626. A, dorsum. B, anterior carapace, right lateral. C, cheliped, proximal right lateral. D, anterior carapace, right dorsal. E, sternum. F, telson. G, maxilliped 3, right lateral. H, crista dentata, right. I, antenna, right ventral. A–C = 3 mm, D–G = 1.5 mm. H–I = 0.8 mm.