Munida redacta, Ahyong, Shane T., 2007

Ahyong, Shane T., 2007, Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae, Zootaxa 1593, pp. 1-54 : 34-36

Munida redacta sp. nov.

( Fig. 14 C, 17)

Type material. Holotype: AM, male (9.4 mm), S of Norfolk Island, 29°41.84’S, 168°02.62’E, 322–337 m, TAN0308/020 #071, 14 May 2003.

Diagnosis. Carapace branchial margin with 5 spines. Abdominal tergite 2 with 2 spines at each lateral extremity of anterior ridge; with 3 transverse striae. Sternite 7 with granulate posterolateral surface. Maximum corneal diameter half basal distance between anterolateral spines. Distal spines of basal antennular segment subequal. Maxilliped 3 merus flexor margin with 2 spines; extensor margin with small distal spine. Cheliped dactylus longer than palm. Dactylus of first walking leg about three-quarters propodus length.

Description. Carapace: Transverse ridges well spaced, generally entire; gastric and hepatic regions with several short striae; cervical groove distinct; with pair of distinct epigastric spines behind supraocular spines, flanked mesially by 1 smaller spine, and laterally by 5 smaller spines; with 1 parahepatic, 1 anterior branchial and 1 postcervical spine. Frontal margins almost transverse; rostrum spiniform, horizontal, about four times as long as supraocular spines and about half remaining carapace length. Supraocular spines subparallel. Anterolateral spines well-developed, parallel, situated at anterolateral angle, extending almost to base of sinus between rostrum and supraocular spine. Margins of carapace anterior to cervical groove with 4 spines (including anterolateral); with 5 spines posterior to cervical groove.

Sternum: Sternite 3 broadly subquadrate; anterior margin sinuous. Sternite 4 with pair of striae, otherwise smooth; anterior margin broadly convex. Sternites 5 and 6 smooth. Posterolateral surface of sternite 7 granular. Ridges demarcating sternites smooth.

Abdomen: Tergite 2 with 2 spines at each extremity of anterior ridge; with 3 uninterrupted transverse striae and several short arcuate striae laterally. Tergite 3 unarmed, with 4 uninterrupted transverse striae. Tergite 4 with 4 transverse striae, posteriormost medially interrupted. Tergite 5 with 3 striae.

Eye: Large, with maximum corneal diameter half basal distance between anterolateral spines; peduncle without distal setae.

Antennule: Basal segment elongate, slightly overreaching cornea; mesial and lateral terminal spines subequal; with 2 lateral spines, distal markedly longer than proximal.

Antenna: Basal segment with strong mesial spine, apex reaching to midlength of segment 3. Segment 2 with small spine on mesial margin and with mesial and lateral terminal spines, mesial overreaching distal segment of peduncle, lateral overreaching segment 3. Segments 3 and 4 unarmed.

Maxilliped 3: Ischium with strong distal flexor spine. Merus shorter than ischium; flexor margin with strong distal and proximal spines; extensor margin with small distal spine.

Pereopod 1 (cheliped): About 1.7 times carapace length; with rows of small spines and few short squamae; sparsely setose. Dactylus longer than palm; with 4 small dorsal spine in proximal half and small subterminal spine; occlusal margin denticulate, without gape. Propodus palm 1.8 times as long as high, surface spinose; pollex with 2 subdistal spines and 3 stout spines along margin. Carpus 1.8 times as long as high, subequal to palm length; strongly spinose dorsally, surface with 2 rows of small spines. Merus with strong distal and dorsal spines, surface otherwise unarmed except for row of 3 small lateral spines.

Pereopod 2: Merus with 8 extensor and 7 flexor spines. Carpus with 5 extensor spines and distal flexor spine. Propodus 5.3 times as long as high; extensor margin unarmed; flexor margin with 11 small movable spines. Dactylus 0.7 propodus length; flexor margin with 8 movable spines; terminal third of margin unarmed except for spinule at base of unguis.

Pereopod 3: Merus with 5 extensor and 2 flexor spines. Carpus with 5 or 6 extensor spines and distal flexor spine. Propodus 5.5 times as long as high; extensor margin unarmed; flexor margin with 13 small movable spines. Dactylus 0.7 propodus length; flexor margin with 7 or 8 movable spines; terminal third of margin unarmed except for spinule at base of unguis.

Pereopod 4: Merus extensor margin with distal spine; with 2 flexor spines. Carpus with distal extensor and flexor spine. Propodus 5 times as long as high; extensor margin unarmed; flexor margin with 10 small movable spines. Dactylus 0.8 propodus length; flexor margin with 7 movable spines; terminal third of margin unarmed except for spinule at base of unguis.

Colour in life. Base colour translucent white with diffuse orange mottling. Carapace spines red. Chelipeds and walking legs with diffuse orange-red banding.

Etymology. From redacta, Latin , for reduced, alluding to the fewer abdominal and cheliped striae of the new species in comparison to M. stigmatica .

Remarks. Munida redacta sp. nov. closely resembles M. stigmatica Macpherson, 1994 , from the New Caledonian region, in sharing five spines on the branchial carapace margins, a pair of spines at the lateral extremities of the anterior ridge of abdominal tergite 2, and a granular posterolateral surface of sternite 7. Munida redacta differs from M. stigmatica in the following features: abdominal tergite 2 bears fewer secondary striae, fewer primary striae (three versus about six); the cheliped and walking legs are sparsely, rather than densely squamate; the dactylus of the cheliped is longer, rather than shorter than the palm; the lateral spine of the basal antennular segment is subequal to, rather than shorter than the mesial spine; the dactylus of the first walking leg is about three-quarters rather than half the propodus length; and the flexor margin of the merus of maxilliped 3 is bi- rather than trispinose.

Distribution. Presently known only from the type locality, south of Norfolk Island; 322– 337 m.

Figures

FIGURE 14. A, Munida exilis sp. nov., male paratype, 11.4 mm, TAN 0308 / 136 (NMNZ). B, Munida howensis sp. nov., male holotype, 19.2 mm, TAN 0308 / 066 (AM). C, Munida redacta sp. nov., male holotype, 9.4 mm, TAN 0308 / 020 (AM). D, Munida rubrimana sp. nov., ovigerous female holotype, 15.0 mm, TAN 0308 / 043 (NMNZ). E, Munida tangaroa sp. nov., ovigerous female paratype, 14.1 mm, TAN 0308 / 29 (NIWA 28070).