Lauriea teresae, Macpherson, Enrique & Robainas-Barcia, Aymee, 2013

Macpherson, Enrique & Robainas-Barcia, Aymee, 2013, A new genus and some new species of the genus Lauriea Baba, 1971 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae) from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, using molecular and morphological characters, Zootaxa 3599 (2), pp. 136-160 : 152-154

Lauriea teresae n. sp.

( Figs 6 , 8 E, 9E–F)

Material examined. Holotype: French Polynesia, Society Islands, Moorea Island. Outer reef slope, 17°28.48’S, 149°50.35’W, 18 m, 28 July 2006: 1 ov. F 2.7 mm (UF10148).

Paratype: French Polynesia, Society Islands, Moorea Island. Outer reef slope, 17°28.48’S, 149°50.35’W, 18 m, 28 July 2006: 1 M 1.9 mm (UF10171), 2 ov. F 2.2–2.7 mm (UF10146).—S of Vaiare Pass, outer reef slope: 17°31.82’S, 149°45.73’W, 22 m, 27 October 2008: 1 M 1.8 mm (UF16172).—no depth recorded, November 2009: 1 M 1.8 mm (UF24131).

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Teresa Alcoverro (CEAB-CSIC), for her important contributions to littoral ecology.

Description. Carapace: as long as wide, dorsal surface covered with long and short fine setae arising from numerous short transverse ridges; small spines scattered on dorsal surface, 2 largest spines on epigastric region, and 6–8 spines along transverse ridge anterior to posterior margin. Cervical groove indistinct. Lateral margins convex, with 7 or 8 small but distinct spines on each side, last spine sometimes absent or mesial to lateral margin; first (anterolateral) smaller, directly lateral to lateral limit of orbit, remainder more or less distantly separated from one another; 1 small spine mesial to anterolateral spine. Rostrum sharply triangular, with 4 moderately incised lateral teeth, dorsal surface slightly concave, flattish on distal portion, with a few long setae; length (measured from the tip to level of orbital margin) 0.4 times carapace length, and 0.9 times width (measured at level of orbital margin); rostral spine and distalmost lateral teeth with convex lateral margins.

Abdomen: somites with thick long coarse setae. Somites 2–4 with 2 transverse setiferous ridges each preceded by groove.

Sternum: sternite 3 with anterior margin medially produced, 2.3 times wider than long; sternite 4 nearly twice as wide as sternite 3, and 3.6 times wider than long.

Eyes: orbit not laterally produced, unarmed. Eyestalks moderately elongate, 1.5 times longer than wide, slightly exceeding antennal peduncle, proximally somewhat wider, distally with long setae directly proximal to cornea; cornea not swollen, length slightly less than that of remaining eyestalk.

Antennule: article 1 with 3 distal spines: distomesial slender, distolateral well developed, dorsolateral larger than distolateral; 2 slender terminal segments, ultimate segment with tuft of pronounced setae on extensor distal margin.

Antenna: article 1 with ventromesial process ending in acute spine nearly reaching distal end of article 2, article 2 with distomesial spine exceeding article 3, distolateral spine not reaching end of article 3, additional spine on mesial margin; article 3 with small distomesial spine.

Mxp3: ischium slightly longer than merus when measured in midlateral line, flexor margin with short distal spine, mesial ridge with 26–29 denticles. Merus with 2 subequal spines on flexor margin. Carpus with small distal spine on flexor margin.

P1: 2.5–2.7 times carapace length; very setose dorsally, scarcely setose or nearly glabrous ventrally; long setae mostly plumose, partly coarse. Merus 0.8–0.9 times carapace length, with row of spines along lateral, dorsal and mesial sides, mesial spines larger, distal ones prominent. Carpus 1.4 times longer than wide, equally wide as propodus, and more than half length of merus; scattered spines on dorsal side, row of strong spines along mesial margin, small spines on ventral side. Palm 1.5–1.8 times as long as wide; dorsal surface unarmed, with some long setae arising from a few short striae, mesial margin with row of spines, lateral margin with row of spines continued on to fixed finger. Fingers slightly shorter than propodus, not gaping and tips crossing when closed; terminating in sharp curved spine; movable finger sometimes with proximal spine on mesial margin; fingers unarmed dorsally.

P2–4: P2 about 1.5 times carapace length, very setose on margins, setae long and coarse, often plumose on extensor margin. P2–4 meri posteriorly diminishing in size, extensor margin sharply ridged, with row of proximally diminishing spines, well-developed spines on flexor margin, and 2 extra spines on terminal margin close to distal flexor marginal spine, lateral side with long setae arising from short striae; P2 merus 0.9 times carapace length, 3.6 times longer than wide, and 1.5–2.0 times longer than propodus. Carpi with small spines (4 on P2, 0–2 on P3–4) on extensor margin (distal one larger). Propodi with line of very small proximal spines along extensor margin (absent on P4, and sometimes absent on P3) and 3 or 4 movable slender spines on flexor margin; P2 propodus 4.0 times longer than wide, and more than 2.0 times dactylus length. Dactyli sharply biunguiculate, terminal claw strongest.

Colour. Ground colour of carapace, abdomen and P1–4 dark grey or green. Carapace with several small white spots, 2 large spots, sometimes small, on metagastric and branchiocardiac areas. Abdominal somites 2–3 sometimes with 1 or 2 small median white spots; somites 4–5 each with large median pair of white spots. Corneae white on dorsal side. P1 fingers with large white band on proximal half, distal half red or brownish; distal portion of palm with brown band. P2–4 propodi each with distal white spot preceded by brown band. Setae brownish or grey.

Remarks. Lauriea teresae is closely related to L. crucis from Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. The two species can be easily distinguished from the other species of the genus by the presence of a few setose striae on the P2–4 meri. Furthermore, the P2–4 meri are carinated along the extensor margin.

However, L. teresae is distinguished from L. crucis by the width of the eyes that is less than 1.5 times instead of 1.8 times longer than wide.

The genetic divergences between L. teresae and L. crucis were 7.0% (COI) and 1.0% (16S rRNA).

Distribution. French Polynesia (Society Iislands), 18– 22 m.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Lauriea teresae n. sp., holotype, ovigerous female, 2.7 mm, French Polynesia, Moorea Island (UF- 10148). A, carapace and abdomen, dorsal view; B, sternal plastron, sternites 3 and 4; C, left cephalic region, showing antennular and antennal peduncles, ventral view; D, right Mxp 3, lateral view; E, right P 1, dorsal view; F, left P 2, lateral view; G, left P 3, lateral view; H, left P 4, lateral view. Scale: A, B – H = 1 mm; C – D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Rostrum and anterior portion of carapace, dorsal view. A, Lauriea gardineri Laurie, 1926, ovigerous female, 2.4 mm, Madagascar, ATIMOVATAE, Stn DW 3605, male, 2.4 mm. B, Lauriea simulata, New Caledonia, LIFOU, Stn 1448, male, 1.8 mm. C, Lauriea punctata, Vanuatu, SANTO, Stn AT 85, male, 2.6 mm. D, Lauriea adusta, Philippines, PANGLAO, Stn B 39, male, 2.0 mm. E, Lauriea teresae, French Polynesia, Moorea Island, male, 1.8 mm. F, Triodonthea setosa, New Caledonia, SMIB 5, Stn DW 100, ovigerous female, 4.8 mm. Scale, 0.5 mm.