Gonodactylellus rubriguttatus Erdmann & Manning, 1998

Ahyong, Shane T., 2017, Stomatopod Crustacea of the Austral and Gambier Islands, French Polynesia, Zootaxa 4286 (4), pp. 555-564 : 557-558

Gonodactylellus rubriguttatus Erdmann & Manning, 1998

( Fig. 2 )

Gonodactylellus rubriguttatus Erdmann & Manning, 1998: 619 –620, fig. 1d [type locality: Tanjung Torosie, Komodo, Indonesia].— Ahyong 2001: 60 –61, fig. 29; 2012b: 239–240, 247, fig. 2G–H.

Material examined. AUSTRAL ISLANDS. Tubuai Islands: MNHN IU- 2016-9503, 1 female (TL 20 mm), N of Raivavae, 23°49.67'S, 147°41.62'W, 100 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1939, 15 November 2002 ; MNHN IU-2016- 9504, 5 males (TL 20–28 mm), 5 females (TL 14–17 mm), Président Thiers Bank , 24°39.71'S, 145°57.09'W, 80– 100 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1936, 14 November 2002 ; MNHN IU- 2016-9505, 2 females (TL 22–26 mm), Président Thiers Bank , 24°38.16'S, 146°00.82'W, 50–90 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1926, 13 November 2002 ; MNHN IU-2016-9506, 1 male (TL 25 mm), 1 female (TL 32 mm), Président Thiers Bank , 24°39.03'S, 146°01.58'W, 95–105 m, BENTHAUS stn DW 1927, 13 November 2002 .

Bass Islands : MNHN IU- 2016-9507, 1 male (TL 16 mm), 2 females (TL 17–18 mm), Teruametitoi Point, Rapa, 27°34.8'S, 144°18.6'W, 30 m, dead coral , RAPA 2002 stn 33, 19 November 2002; MNHN IU- 2016-9508, 1 male (TL 16 mm), 1 female (TL 23 mm), North East Bank , Rapa, 24°24.70'S, 144°01.44'W, 100–118 m, BENTHAUS stn CP1908, 9 November 2002 ; MNHN IU- 2016-9509, 1 female (TL 20 mm), Tubuai , 23°19.77'S, 149°30.62'W, 230–262 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1960, 18 November 2002 ; MNHN IU- 2016-9510, 1 male (TL 24 mm), 3 females (TL 20–26 mm), Tubuai , 23°19.77'S, 149°30.44'W, 95–380 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1959, 18 November 2002 ; MNHN IU- 2016-9511, 1 male (TL 21 mm), 5 females (TL 18–25 mm), Tubuai , 23°19.64'S, 149°30.30'W, 80–150 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1958, 18 November 2002 ; MNHN IU- 2016-9512, 1 female (TL 22 mm), Neilson Reef , 27°03.29'S, 146°03.82'W, 50–60 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1917, 11 November 2002 ; MNHN IU- 2016-9513, 1 male (TL 15 mm), 1 female (TL 22 mm), Neilson Reef , 27°03.52'S, 146°04.01'W, 150 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1914, 11 November 2002 ; AM P98497, 1 female (TL 9 mm), Baie Pariati , Rapa, 27°34.35'S, 144°22.15'W, 15–22 m, rubble, SFP2014-016-007, coll. A. Berthelesen et al., 3 October 2014 .

Remarks. The specimens of the present series agree well in most respects with material reported from Indonesia, Australia and New Caledonia including the diagnostic fused ocular scales ( Fig. 2 F) ( Erdmann & Manning 1998; Ahyong 2001). The red meral spot on the raptorial claw is still visible in most specimens. With the prior size record for G. rubriguttatus at TL 28 mm ( Ahyong 2001), the present series includes the largest known specimen (TL 32 mm). The accessory median carinae of the telson of the 32 mm specimen ( Fig. 2 C) is considerably longer than in smaller specimens ( Fig. 2 A), extending anteriorly to about three-fourths instead of half the length of the median carina. Abnormally, the rostral plate in a TL 24 mm female (BENTHAUS stn DW1958) is asymmetrically malformed with a reduced left side and bifid median spine ( Fig. 2 B).

The discovery of G. rubriguttatus at the Austral Islands marks a considerable eastward range extension, having been previously documented only from Indonesia, Australia and New Caledonia. Further sampling at moderate depths will likely show G. rubriguttatus to occur at intermediate localities.

Distribution. Japan Indonesia, Australia, New Caledonia, and for the first time from French Polynesia; shallow subtidal to 380 m depth.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Gonodactylellus rubriguttatus Erdmann & Manning, 1998. A, male, TL 25 mm, BENTHAUS stn DW 1927 (MNHN IU- 2016 - 9506). B, female, TL 24 mm, BENTHAUS stn DW 1958 (MNHN IU- 2016 - 9511). C – G, female, TL 32 mm, BENTHAUS stn DW 1927 (MNHN IU- 2016 - 9506). A, C, abdominal somite 6 and telson, dorsal view; D, abdominal somite 6 and telson, lateral view; E, thoracic somites 6 – 7, right lateral view; B, G, rostral plate; F, ocular scales. Scale: A, C – G = 2. 0 mm, B = 1.0 mm.