Parasesarma persicum Naderloo & Schubart, 2010

Naderloo, Reza, 2011, Grapsoid crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Thoracotremata) of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, Zootaxa 3048, pp. 1-43 : 26-29

Parasesarma persicum Naderloo & Schubart, 2010

( Figs. 7 c–d, 13a–f)

Parasesarma persicum Naderloo & Schubart, 2010: 35 , figs. 1, 2, 3, 5a, 6. Sesarma plicata — Clayton 1986: 86.

Sesarma (Parasesarma) plicata — Jones 1986a: 160, pl. 46.

Sesarma (Parasesarma) plicatum — Al-Ghais & Cooper 1996: 414, fig. 4. Parasesarma plicatum — Tirmizi & Ghani 1996: 151, fig. 58. — Apel & Türkay 1999: 133. — Apel 2001: 119.

Type locality. Khalij-Nayband ( Iran, Persian Gulf).

Material examined. Holotype: PERSIAN GULF, Iran: 1 male ( ZUTC Brach1251) (CL = 22.9 mm, CB = 28.9 mm), mangroves, Khalij-Nayband, Bushehr, 27º 38'N, 52º '65E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 26.04.2008.

Paratypes: PERSIAN GULF, Iran: 4 males ( ZUTC Brach1252), locality information same as holotype; 2 males, 9 females, 1 juv. ( ZUTC Brach1138), muddy flats, 30 km off sea, Bahmanshir River, Khuzestan, coll. E. Gholinejad, summer 2005; 1 male ( ZUTC Brach1139), mangroves, Khalij-Nayband, Bushehr, 27º 38'N, 52º 65'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 05.06.2005; 5 males, 5 females ( ZUTC Brach1140), muddy substrate among planted mangrove trees, fisheries jetty of Majidieh, Bandar-Mahshahr, Khuzestan, 30º 28'N, 49º 11'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 16.04.2006; 2 juv. ( ZUTC Brach1147), mangroves, Khor-Khalasi, Jask, Hormozgan, 25º 35'N, 58º 02'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 21.11.2005; 18 males, 13 females, 9 juv. ( ZUTC Brach1149), muddy bank, Arvandroud River, Yadman-Valfajr, Khuzestan, 29º 43'N, 48º 58'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 17.04.2006; 3 males, 6 females, 4 juv. ( ZUTC Brach1150), muddy substrate among mangrove trees, fisheries jetty Majidieh, Bandar-Mahshahr, Khuzestan, 30º 28'N, 49º 11'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 16.04.2006; 2 males, 7 females, 1 juv. ( ZUTC Brach1152), muddy bank, Arvandroud River, Khuzestan, 29º 43'N, 48º 58'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 17.04.2006; 1 female ( ZUTC Brach1154), mangroves, Khalij-Nayband, Bushehr, 27º 38'N, 52º 65'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 05.06.2005; 1 male, 1 female ( ZUTC Brach1195), estuarine sandy mud-flat, Bandar-Rig, Bushehr, 29º 28'N, 50º 37'E, coll. R. Naderloo &A. Kazemi, 13.04.2006; 8 males, 2 females ( SMF 34801), muddy bank, Arvandroud River, Yadman-Valfajr, Khuzestan, 29º 43'N, 48º 58'E, coll. R. Naderloo & H. Salehi, 20.04.2008; 1 male ( SME 34796), mangroves, Khalij-Nayband, Bushehr, 27º 38'N, 52º 65'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 05.06.2005; 3 males ( SMF 34803), muddy substrate, fisheries jetty Majidieh, Bandar-Mahshahr, Khuzestan, 30º 28'N, 49º 11'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 21.05.2008; 4 males, 1 juv. ( SMF 34803), muddy substrate of water channel, S. coast, Qeshm I., 26º 43'N, 55º 49'E, coll. R. Naderloo & M. Türkay, 09.01.2008; 3 males ( SMF 34791), muddy substrate of tidal water channel, Park Saheli, Bandar-Emam, 30º 28'N, 49º 04'E, coll. R. Naderloo, A. Kazemi & H. Salehi, 20.05.2008; 1 male ( SMF 34790), estuarine sandy mud-flat, Bandar-Rig, Bushehr, 29º 28'N, 50º 37'E, coll. R. Naderloo &A. Kazemi, 24.05.2008. UAE: 5 males, 2 females (ovig.) ( SMF 34757), mangroves, Khor Qaiwain, Umm al Qaiwain, 25º 35'N, 55º 34'E, coll. M. Apel, 0 9.07.1995. GULF OF OMAN, Iran: 4 males, 5 females ( ZUTC Brach1180), mangroves, Khor-Khalasi, Jask, Hormozgan, 25º 35'N, 58º 02'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 21.11.2005; 1 male, 1 female, 1 juv. ( ZUTC Brach1200), mangroves, Guader Bay, Baluchestan, 25º 08'N, 61º 27'E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 19.11.2005.

Redescription. Carapace subquadrate ( Figs. 7 c, 13a), moderately wider than long (CB/CL = 1.3), maximum breadth behind exorbital angle; posterior surface relatively convex, smooth, with bundles of small setae sparsely on it, especially on branchial regions; regions relatively well delimited; 6 smooth curved ridges of various-size on posterolateral region. Frontal region sharply deflexed, 4-lobed, median 2 larger, with narrow, deep groove between them, separated from laterals by shallow groove; frontal edge clearly longer than posterior edge of carapace, sinuous form. Supraorbital margin, smooth, without fissure; infraorbital margin finely serrated, forming gentle sinuous form. Lateral margins of carapace without tooth, short behind outer orbital teeth straight or slightly divergent backwardly, convergent in posterolateral part, giving more or less concave form to lateral margin ( Fig. 13 a).

Chelipeds subequal, large, robust. Merus anterior, posterior margins with subdistal tooth, carpus with anterior angle produced, outer surface of merus, carpus with transverse row of granules. Manus ( Fig. 13 b) with 2 prominent pectinated crests on upper surface, sometimes one small behind them; outer, inner surfaces granular, one transverse row of granules on inner surface near base of movable finger; movable finger with 12–14 large, round tubercles along upper surface, becoming oval proximally, row of 12 or 13 small tubercles on half proximal part of movable finger at inner part of large tubercles; tip of movable finger with 2, unmovable finger with 3 tooth-shaped processes. Female chelipeds smaller than those of male, without pectinated crests.

Walking legs flattened, broad; merus broad, with subdistal spine on anterior margin; upper surface granular, surface of last leg smooth ( Fig. 13 c). Carpus with 2 carinae on outer, one carina on inner surface. Propodus with one carina on outer, inner surface; carpus, propodus of last walking legs without carina on inner surface; smooth setae densely on anterior, posterior margins of propodus, distal part of carpus. Dactylus smooth, without spine, with smooth setae on proximal part.

Male abdomen ( Fig. 13 d), relatively short triangular; third somite widest; sixth longer than fifth; telson relatively small, slightly longer than sixth somite.

G1 ( Fig. 13 e) quite straight; chitinous process curved outwards at about 45º angle; slightly concave basally on mesial surface, lateral surface with distinct depression; long setae distally on ventromesial margin and around terminal process.

Female gonopore ( Fig. 13 f) with small operculum in anterior part, directed posteriorly, somewhat embraced by posterior margin of fourth sternite.

Remarks. Naderloo & Schubart (2010) described Parasesarma persicum from the Persian Gulf based on morphological and genetic characteristics. Parasesarma persicum had been already recorded as P. plicatum (Latreille, 1803) from the region by several authors (e.g. Tirmizi & Ghani 1996; Apel & Türkay 1999; Apel 2001; Naderloo & Schubart 2009). Parasesarma persicum belongs to the broad-legged group of P. plicatum , which was recently revised by Rahayu & Ng (2010). The similarity and distinctness of this species to the different species of the P. plicatum -group has been discussed in detail by Naderloo & Schubart (2010). Parasesarma persicum is close to P. guttatum ( A. Milne-Edwards, 1869) , which is readily distinguished from it by possessing a tooth on the anterolateral margin of the carapace. Perisesarma guttatum has not been recorded from the Persian Gulf.

Biology. Parasesarma persicum is a medium-size species (largest male CL = 26.2 mm, CB = 33.2 mm, largest female CL = 19.5 mm, CB = 25.6 mm). It is found on muddy substrates, occupying a variety of micro-habitats in mangrove forests and marshlands. In mangroves, it digs burrows mainly along the side of water channels, with a slight preference for the pneumatophores and tree regions. This species also occurs in the downstream reaches of rivers, as in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, where it is found along the banks of the Arvandroud (Shatt al Arab) and Bahmanshir rivers up to about 30 km from the sea ( Naderloo & Schubart 2009). Parasesarma persicum is a dominant species in this habitat and also common in the marshlands around these rivers, where it is found amongst densely covered Phragmites spp. communities. It does not normally construct borrows in open mud flats Colour. Posterior surface of carapace and walking legs dark gray, carapace is always darker than legs, in particular the anterior portion. Chelipeds are cream-colour, upper surface of carpus and manus reddish brown. A reddish brown colour is sometimes also seen on the distal segments of the walking legs and the anterior abdominal sternites (particularly in large specimens). Fingers are bright orange on the distal part ( Naderloo & Schubart 2010). Regional records. PERSIAN GULF: Kuwait (Jones 1986), UAE ( Al-Ghais & Cooper 1996), north part of the Persian Gulf ( Apel 2001), Iran ( Naderloo & Schubart 2010). GULF OF OMAN: Iran ( Naderloo & Schubart 2010).

Geographical distribution. Northwestern Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Pakistan.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Parasesarma persicum Naderloo & Schubart, 2010, male holotype (ZUTC Brach 1251): a – e; female paratype (SMF 34801): f. a, posterior surface of carapace; b, cheliped of male, outer surface; c, third walking leg of male (left); d, male abdomen; e, G 1, ventral surface (right); f, female gonopore (right).

FIGURE 7. a, Chiromantes boulengeri (Calman, 1920), male (SMF 33818); b, the same species in its habitat in Bahmanshir River, Iran (photo by E. Gholinejad); c, Parasesarma persicum Naderloo & Schubart, 2010, male (SMF 38458, CL = 24.34 mm, CB = 30.16 mm); d, the same species in its habitat in Khalij-Nayband, Persian Gulf (photo by R. Naderloo); e, Perisesarma guttatum (A. Milne-Edwards, 1869), male (SMF 29337, CL = 18.70 mm, CB = 22.49 mm); f, the same specimen from ventral view.