Munida clevai, Macpherson, 2009

Macpherson, Enrique, 2009, New species of squat lobsters of the genera Munida and Raymunida (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae) from Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Zoosystema 31 (3), pp. 431-451 : 435-436

Munida clevai n. sp.

( Fig. 2 )

HOLOTYPE. — Vanuatu. BOA 1, stn 2452, 15°57.43’S, 166°38.20’E, 1150-1273 m, 11.IX.2005, ovig. ♀ 10.8 mm (MNHN-Ga 6696).

PARATYPES. — Vanuatu. BOA 1, stn 2452, 15°57.43’S, 166°38.20’E, 1150-1273 m, 11.IX.2005, 7 ♂♂ 6.5 mm, 11.4 mm, 2 ovig. ♀♀ 9.2, 11.0 mm, 4 ♀♀ 9.6-11.8 mm (MNHN-Ga 6697).

ETYMOLOGY. — The species is dedicated to Régis Cleva (MNHN), for his friendship and his invaluable help in taking care of decapod collections.

DISTRIBUTION. — Vanuatu, between 1150-1273 m.

DESCRIPTION

Carapace slightly longer than wide. Few secondary striae between main transverse ridges. Ridges with very short non-iridescent setae. Few small scales on intestinal region. Gastric region with three pairs of epigastric spines. One parahepatic, one anterobranchial and one postcervical spine usually on each side.Frontal margins slightly oblique.Lateral margins slightly convex. First spine at anterolateral angle, long, reaching level of sinus between rostrum and supraocular spines. Second spine anterior to cervical groove half length of preceding one. Branchial margins with five spines. Rostrum spiniform, about 0.3 times length of remaining carapace, straight and horizontal. Supraocular spines barely reaching mid length of rostrum and slightly overreaching distal corneal margins, divergent, directed slightly upwards ( Fig. 2A ).

Lateral surfaces of thoracic sternites smooth. Fourth sternites smooth. Anterior margin of fourth sternite clearly narrower than third ( Fig. 2B ).

Second and third abdominal somites each with two transverse ridges, anterior ridge of second somite with row of 6-8 spines.

Eyes small, maximum corneal diameter one-fourth distance between bases of anterolateral spines.

Basal segment of antennule (distal spines excluded) about one-fourth carapace length, overreaching end of corneae, distance between distal end of segment and base of dorsolateral spine 0.3 length of remaining proximal portion; with two distal spines, mesial spine clearly shorter than lateral; two spines on lateral margin, proximal one short, located at mid length of segment, distal one long, nearly reaching end of distal spines ( Fig. 2C ). First segment of antennal peduncle with moderately long distomesial spine nearly reaching end of second segment; second segment with two distal spines, mesial spine longer than lateral spine, nearly reaching end of antennal peduncle; third segment unarmed ( Fig. 2C ).

Mxp3 ischium about 1.5 times length of merus measured along extensor margin, distoventrally bearing spine. Merus of third maxilliped with welldeveloped median spine on flexor margin, distal margin with very small spine or unarmed; extensor margin acute, without true spine ( Fig. 2D ).

P1 subequal in length, moderately squamous, with numerous uniramous and plumose setae denser on mesial borders of articles. Merus armed with some spines, spines stronger on distal border, not overreaching proximal quarter of carpus. Carpus twice as long as high, with several spines on dorsal and lateral sides.Palm nearly as long as fingers, with some spines along mesial, dorsal and lateral sides. Fingers unarmed, except one proximal spine on fixed finger and terminal spines on each finger, distally curving and crossing, ending in a sharp point ( Fig. 2E ).

P2 about twice carapace length; merus as long as carapace, about six times as long as high, about four times carpus length and 1.5 times as long as propodus; propodus about seven times as long as high, about 1.5 times dactylus length ( Fig. 2F ); end of carpus reaching or overreaching level of merocarpal articulation of P1. P2 merus with welldeveloped spines on extensor border, increasing in size distally, flexor margin with several spines and one long distal spine; carpus with several extensor spines and one distoventral spine; propodus with 7 or 8 movable flexor spines; dactylus slightly curving distally, with 9 movable spinules along entire flexor margin. P3 slightly shorter than P2; P4 shorter than P2 and P3. P4 merus half length of P2 merus; merocarpal articulation reaching level of anterior end of cervical groove.

REMARKS

Munida clevai n. sp. belongs to the group of species having five spines on the branchial lateral margins of the carapace, smooth thoracic sternites, small eyes, and spines on the anterior ridge of the second abdominal somite. The new species is closely related to M. parvioculata Baba, 1982 from Japan and M. endeavourae Ayhong & Poore, 2004 , from southeastern Australia and Tasmania.

However, M. clevai n. sp. is easily distinguished from M. parvioculata by several characters:

– the dorsal carapace surface is more squamate in M. parvioculata than in the new species;

– the P1-P4 are densely setose in M. parvioculata , whereas scarcely so in M. clevai n. sp.;

– the distomesial spine of the second segment of the antennal peduncle nearly reaches the end of the antennal peduncle in the new species, whereas this spine falls short of the end of the third segment as in M. parvioculata . Furthermore the third segment is unarmed in the new species, instead of bearing a distomesial spine in M. parvioculata ;

– the P1 fixed finger bears a row of several spines along the lateral margin in M. parvioculata , whereas this margin has one proximal and one distal spine in the new species. Furtermore, the dorsal side of the carpus and the palm has more spinose in M. clevai n. sp. than in M. parvioculata ;

– the P2 dactylus is about half as long as the propodus in M. parvioculata , whereas it is clearly more than half as long in the new species.

The new species is also distinguished from M. endeavourae by the following:

– the antennular basal segment is more elongate in M. endeavourae . The distance between the distal end of the segment and the base of the dorsolateral spine is 0.3 the length of the remaining proximal portion in M. clevai n. sp. This distance is more than 0.5 in M. endeavourae ;

– the distomesial spine of the second segment of the antennal peduncle clearly exceeds the antennal peduncle in M. endeavourae , whereas this spine reaches at most the end of the antennal peduncle in M. clevai n. sp.;

– the dorsal and lateral spines of P1 fixed finger are stronger in M. clevai n. sp. than in M. endeavourae .

Figures

FIG. 2. — Munida clevai n. sp., holotype, ovig. ♀ 10.8 mm: A, carapace and abdomen, dorsal view; B, sternal plastron; C, cephalic region,showing antennular and antennal peduncles,ventral view;D, right Mxp3, lateral view;E, right P1, dorsal view; F, right P2,lateral view; G, right P3, lateral view; H, right P4, lateral view; I, dactylus of right P2, lateral view. Scale bar: A, B, E-H, 2 mm; C, D, I, 1 mm.