Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Trivedi, Jigneshkumar N., Doshi, Mahima, Patel, Krupal J. & Chan, Benny K. K., 2021, Diversity of intertidal, epibiotic, and fouling barnacles (Cirripedia, Thoracica) from Gujarat, northwest India, ZooKeys 1026, pp. 143-178 : 143

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1026.60733

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A27C7BA5-F206-46A2-B307-167C99BBFDDD

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DB0EAC8F-0D68-5F38-A56A-42153A8DD12B

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
status

 

Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Figures 2H, I View Figure 2 , 8 View Figure 8

Examined material.

Two specimens (BD 5.33 and 5.59 mm), LFSc.ZRC-159, on carapace of crab Portunus sanguinolentus , Kuda, Bhavnagar (21°37.70'N, 72°18.40'E), 17 April 2019, Gujarat, India, sandy shore, leg. J. Trivedi. GoogleMaps

Diagnosis.

Shell white, slightly conical and six-plated, radii board. Specimens living on turtles display oval-shaped depressions on radii of each shell plate. Specimens living on surfaces of decapods have a smooth outer surface, without any depressions on radii (Fig. 2I View Figure 2 ). Aperture large, scutum and tergum reduced, elongated rectangular in shape (Fig. 2I View Figure 2 ). Maxilla bilobed (Fig. 8A View Figure 8 ); maxillule feebly notched, cutting edge straight (Fig. 8B View Figure 8 ); mandible with five teeth, lower margin short (Fig. 8C-E View Figure 8 ). Mandibulatory palp elongated with rough edges (Fig. 8F View Figure 8 ). Labrum having cleft with numerous sharp teeth (Fig. 8G, H View Figure 8 ).

Remarks.

Previously, Chelonibia living on decapods were identified as C. patula and Chelonibia living on sea turtles as C. testudinaria . Cheang et al. (2013) and Zardus et al. (2014) revealed there is no significant genetic difference between C. patula and C. testudinaria , suggesting that these are the same species and their morphological differences are the result of phenotypic plasticity. We consider C. testudinaria as including two major morphs. The Chelonibia patula morph has a smooth white shell and lives mainly on decapods, while the Chelonibia testudinaria morph has oval depressions on the radii and lives mainly on surfaces of turtles. Dwarf males are often housed in these depressions on the Chelonibia testudinaria morph ( Zardus and Hadfield 2004; Collareta 2020).

Worldwide distribution.

Chelonibia testudinaria has been recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea ( Pasternak et al. 2002; Rawson et al. 2003) including Greece ( Kitsos et al. 2003, 2005), Israel ( Pasternak et al. 2002), Italy (Relini 1980; Frazier and Margaritoulis 1990), and Turkey ( Bakir et al. 2010). Further records included Australia ( Jones and Hosie 2016), Pakistan ( Javed and Mustaquim 1994), and India ( Krishnamoorthy 2007).

Distribution in India.

This species has been reported from Gujarat (Frazier 1990; present study), Maharashtra ( Wagh and Bal 1974), Kerala (Pillai 1958), Lakshadweep Islands ( Hayashi 2013), Tamil Nadu ( Daniel 1956; Krishnamoorthy 2007), Andhra Pradesh ( Nilsson-Cantell 1938), Pulicat lake ( Daniel 1981), Odisha (formerly Orissa) ( Nilsson-Cantell 1938), west Bengal ( Daniel 1981), and Andaman and Nicobar Islands ( Nilsson-Cantell 1938).