Paralomis arae Macpherson, 2001

Macpherson, Enrique & Chan, Tin-Yam, 2008, Some lithodid crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae) from Taiwan and adjacent waters, with the description of one new species from Guam, Zootaxa 1924, pp. 43-52 : 48

Paralomis arae Macpherson, 2001

( Figs 3 , 5 e)

Paralomis arae Macpherson, 2001: 799 , figs. 1–3.

Material examined. Taiwan: Stn CD 191, 28.08.2002, 21°41.04'N, 118°21.95'E, 1630– 1623 m: 1 female 14 × 14 mm ( NTOU A- 00849).

Coloration. Generally reddish pink.

Remarks. Paralomis arae is only known from the holotype (male, 74.5 x 72 mm) collected in Fiji, at 1058–1091 m. The occurrence of a juvenile specimen of this species in Taiwan widely extends its distribution range and provides new morphological information. The taxonomic status of the two specimens was confirmed by molecular analysis (COI gene, unpublished data). The clear differences between juveniles and adults in lithodid crabs have been pointed out in previous papers (Macpherson, 1988) and their illustration is strongly recommended. The specimen from Taiwan shows important differences compared to the adult holotype, as follows:

— The anterolateral spine of the carapace is much longer than the external orbital spine, whereas it is slightly shorter in the adult.

— Each branchial lateral edge have six strong spines, whereas in the adult specimen these spines are more numerous (8 or 9) and clearly smaller.

— The scaphocerite has more spines in the adult than in the juvenile. The dorsal side is unarmed in the Taiwanese juvenile, but has 3 or 4 spines in the holotype; and furthermore, the lateral margin has 4 or 5 well developed spines in the adult, but only 3 in the juvenile.

Distribution. Previously known from Fiji, at 1058–1091 m.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lithodes paulayi n. sp., Guam. (a – c) holotype male 113 × 102 mm. (d) paratype male 45 × 39 mm. (a) dorsal view of left basal segment of antennal peduncle. (b) lateral view of right chela. (c – d) right third walking leg, dorsal.

FIGURE 5. Dorsal view. (a) Neolithodes nipponensis Sakai, 1971, male, Taiwan, Stn CD 228. (b) Lithodes turritus Ortmann, 1892, male, Taiwan, Dasi fishing port. (c) Lithodes paulayi n. sp., holotype male, Guam. (d) Paralomis dofleini Balss, 1911, male, Taiwan, Dasi fishing port. (e) Paralomis arae Macpherson, 2001, female, Taiwan. f, Paralomis truncatispinosa Takeda & Miyake, 1980, broken carapace, Taiwan, Stn CD 231.