Munidopsis keijii, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, Species of the genus Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1784 from the Indian and Pacific Oceans and reestablishment of the genus Galacantha A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae), Zootaxa 1417, pp. 1-135 : 70-73

Munidopsis keijii n. sp.

( Figs. 33, 34)

Material examined. Solomon Islands, SALOMON 1, Stn 1754, 1169– 1203 m: holotype, 1 F 11.8 (MNHN- Ga5562) .

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Keiji Baba for his friendship and exceptional contributions to the knowledge of Galatheidea.

Description. Carapace slightly longer than broad; dorsal surface moderately convex from side to side, areolations protuberant, covered with produced serrated striae; 2 serrated epigastric protuberances; regions well delineated by furrows including distinct anterior and posterior cervical grooves. Median branchial region well marked. Cardiac region more produced than other regions, preceded by deep transverse depression. Posterior margin preceded by elevated ridge. Rostrum narrow triangular, upcurved, length half that of remaining carapace, maximum width one-quarter carapace breadth; dorsal surface carinate in midline, with numerous small striae; lateral margins serrated. Frontal margin slightly oblique behind ocular peduncle, leading to minute antennal spine, then slightly oblique toward anterolateral corner of carapace, margin lateral to antennal spine serrate. Lateral margins with protuberances, weakly convex, anterolateral angle blunty produced.

Pterygostomian flap with small short produced striae, anteriorly unarmed.

Sternum as long as wide, maximum width at sternite 7, with numerous short setose striae. Sternite 3 narrow, nearly 2 times wider than long, anterior margin serrated, divided into 2 lobes. Sternite 4 with some short striae, narrowly elongate anteriorly; surface weakly depressed in midline; greatest width nearly 3 times that of sternite 3.

Abdomen with numerous protuberances and granules; segments 2ñ4 each with median protuberance, anterior and posterior transverse ridges separated by groove, pleurawith granules; fifth and sixth segments with numerous granules; segment 6 with weakly produced posterolateral lobes and nearly transverse posteromedian margin. Telson composed of 8 plates; posterior plates combined 1.7 times as wide as long.

Ocular peduncle movable; cornea subglobular, unarmed, shorter than remaining eyestalk, not reaching end of third antennal segment. Well-developed spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles.

Basal article of antennular peduncle granulated, with strong distolateral spine accompanying 3 additional spines, distomesial margin ending in small spine.

Basal article of antennal peduncle with rounded distomesial and distolateral processes; article 2 armed with acute distolateral spine and additional small spine at base; articles 3–4 unarmed.

Mxp 3 ischium as long as merus measured on extensor margin; flexor and extensor margins terminating in blunt spine; 25 or 26 corneous denticles on crista dentata; flexor margin of merus with 3 strong spines, decreasing in size distally, with 3 additional small spines, extensor margin with 2 distal spines; carpus with granules on extensor border; lateral surface of ischium, merus and carpus with granules.

P1 subequal, 1.5 times longer than carapace, covered with numerous short serrated striae on merus to fingers. Carpus nearly 1.5 times longer than high, unarmed. Palm moderately slender, 0.7 length of carpus, and as long as fingers. Fingers not gaping, distally spooned; prehensile edges each with row of subtriangular teeth, proximal teeth obsolete; fixed finger not dentate on distolateral margin.

P2–P4 moderately stout, with numerous short serrated striae on mesial and lateral sides of articles, decreasing in size posteriorly; P2 longest. P2 nearly reaching end of P1, 1.5 times carapace length; merus triangular in section, elongate, 0.8 times carapace length, 3.5 times longer than high, 1.5 times that of P4, 2 times length of carpus and slightly longer than propodus, dorsal and ventral margins with row of spines increasing in size distally, also present on P3 and P4; carpus with distal spine on dorsal margin, lateral side with longitudinal crest; propodus more than 4 times as long as high; dactylus 0.8 length of propodus; moderately curved; flexor margin curved, with 6–8 minute teeth.

Epipods on P1–P3.

Remarks. The new species is closely related to M. gibbosa Baba, 1978 , from south of Hong Kong. Both species have the carapace and abdomen with numerous protuberant areolations. However, they can be readily distinguished by the following differences:

—Protuberances on the abdomen and P1–P4 are more prominent in M. gibbosa than in M. keijii .

—The rostrum bears paired spines near the midlength in M. gibbosa , whereas these spines are absent in M. keijii .

—The dorsolateral spine of the antennular basal article bears 3 additional spines in M. keijii , whereas these spines are absent in M. gibbosa .

—The sternites 3 and 4 are contiguous in M. keijii , being clearly separated in M. gibbosa .

Distribution. Only known from Solomon Islands, at 1169–1203 m.