Caridina kutchi, Pandya & Richard, 2019

Pandya, Pranav J. & Richard, Jasmine, 2019, Report of Caridina babaulti Bouvier, 1918 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae) and description of a new species Caridina kutchi sp. nov. from Gujarat, India, Zootaxa 4568 (3), pp. 470-482 : 477-480

Caridina kutchi sp. nov.

( Figs. 4 , 5 )

Material examined. Gujarat, India. Types: Caridina kutchi sp. nov. Holotype. Jagadiya Dam , Khari River, Kutch, coll. Pandya, 7.9.2014, det. Pandya & Richard, 2015, RRLC/BIO-SH/02, ♂; Paratypes. Jagadiya Dam , Khari River, Kutch, coll. Pandya, 7.9.2014, det. Pandya & Richard, 2015, RRLC /BIO-SH/02, ♂ ; Bhadra , Khari River, Kutch, coll. Pandya, 7.9.2014, det. Pandya & Richard, 2015, RRLC /BIO-SH/01, 2♀ ; Ker-vandh , Khari River, coll. Pandya, 7.9.2014, det. Pandya & Richard, 2015, RRLC /BIO-SH/03, 4♂, 2juv. ; Khari river catchment, Bhojraj vandh, Gadhshisha, Kutch. coll. Pandya, 7.9.2014, det. Pandya & Richard, 2015, RRLC / Bio-Gadh /07, 2♂, 2♀ .

Other material examined. Sri Lanka ( Ceylon). Types: Caridina simoni Bouvier, 1904 , coll. E. Simon, 1904, Lectotype, designated by Richard & Clark 2014, MNHN Na 856, ♂; Paralectotype MNHN Na 856 ♂ ; coll. E. Simon, 1904, exch. Paris Museum, 117-97, NHM reg. 1907.1.7.33, 1♀.

Nontypes: Sri Lanka. Caridina simoni Bouvier, 1904 , irrigation streams, Peradeniya, pres. R. Gurney, NHM reg.1920.2.5.11-13, 4♀; stream running in to Mahawallagunga River , Peradeniya, pres. R. Gurney, NHM reg. 1920.2.5.14-16, 1♂, 1♀ ovig., 1♀, 1 damaged specimen; Keani River , Kekirawa, Colombo, pres. D. R. R. Burt, NHM reg. 1935.5.30.26-27, 4♂, 3♀ ; Kalaweva , April 1932, pres. D. R. R. Burt, Department of Zoology, University College, NHM reg. 1935.5.30.15-19, 1♂ (abnormal) , 4♀ ovig., 2♀; from streams running into Mahawallagunga River , pres. Dr. R. Gurney, det. W.T. Calman, NHM reg. 1947.3.18, 1♀ ovig; pres. Dr. R. Gurney, NHM reg. 1950.1.2.148, dissected parts; irrigation streams, Peradeniya, pres. Dr. R. Gurney, NHM reg. 1951.2. 17.1792/3, 1♂, 1♀; fresh water pond, Botanical Gardens , Perademiya, 17.6.1954, coll. & pres. E.S. Brown, NHM reg. 1954.10.27.1-10, 20♂, 5♀ ovig., 7♀; Ambanganga Anoiont , nr. Polonarraw, 1962, coll. & pres. C. H. Fernandes, NHM reg. 1962.8.24.104, 3♀ ovig., 1♀. India. Hindupur, S. India. coll. P. K. Sartory, pres. Mr. Scourfield , det. J. Richard & P. Cark 2009, NHM reg. 1945.vii.27.5-12, 3♂, 4♀ ; Madras (Chennai) area , coll. and pres. Dr. Sanjeevaraj, det. I. Gordon, 0 5. 1965. NHM reg. 1965.5.7.1-10, 31♀ ovig.

Description. Adult size 15–28 mm. Carapace length 2.2–3.5 mm.

Rostrum ( Fig. 4a, b, c ): Slender, 1.4–1.7×long as carapace, distinctly longer than antennal scale; 12–22 teeth proximally leaving 0.5–0.65 of dorsal margin unarmed distally which is interrupted by a single tooth at distal end; tip pointed and setose dorsally. 1–3 post orbital teeth present. 9–15 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.2 of ventral margin unarmed distally. Formula (1–3) 12–22+1/9–15.

Carapace ( Fig. 4a, c ): Antennal spine well developed. Pterygostomian angle rounded without a spine.

Mouth parts: Mandibles asymmetrical without palp. Incisor process of mandibles ending in irregular teeth, molar process truncated. Maxillula with broadly truncated lower lacinia and elongated upper lacinia bearing distinct teeth on inner margin; palp slender. Upper endites of maxilla subdivided, palp elongated, scaphognathite with long narrow posterior lobe bearing tuft of setae at truncated tip. Palp of first maxilliped rounded ending in a finger like projection. Endopod of second maxilliped with ultimate segment fused to penultimate segment; exopod longer than endopod. Third maxilliped reaching the end of second segment of antennular peduncle. Exopod reaching 2 nd segment of endopod. Epipod present.

Antennular peduncle ( Fig. 4a, b, c ): 0.8–0.9×carapace. Stylocerite 0.6–0.75×length of basal segment. Anterolateral teeth of basal segment 0.19–0.23×second segment. 10–25 segments bearing aesthetascs.

First pereiopod ( Fig. 5a ): Dactylus 1.3–1.4×palm of propodus. Chela 3.2–3.7×long as broad. Carpus 1.7– 2.3×long as broad, with anterior excavation.

Second pereiopod ( Fig. 5b ): Dactylus 1.5–1.9×long as palm of propodus. Chela 2.7–3.7×long as broad. Carpus 4.9–6.4×long as broad.

Third pereiopod ( Fig. 5c, d ): Dactylus 3.0–3.7×long as broad. 7–12 marginal spines on dactylus. Propodus 4.1–5.0×long as dactylus and 10.0–12.5×long as broad with 10–14 spines along inner margin. Carpus 0.45– 0.55×long as propodus, with 1 large spine and 3–5minute spines on inner margin. Merus 1.6–2.0×carpus length. Merus with 3 large spines on posterior margin. Ischium with a spine.

Fifth pereiopod ( Fig. 5e, f ): Dactylus3.9–5.0×long as broad with 40–50 marginal spines. Propodus 12–16×long as broad and 3.7–4.2×long as dactylus and with 10–15 spines along posterior margin. Carpus 0.4 5–0.6×propodus length and with 4–5 minute spines along inner margin. Merus 1.5–1.9×carpus length, with 2 large spines at posterior margin. Ischium with a spine.

Epipod: present on 1–4 pereiopods; absent on fifth pereiopod.

Setobranchs: 1 seta on all pereiopods.

First male pleopod ( Fig. 5g, h ): Endopod 0.25–0.35×exopod, appendix interna absent.

First female pleopod: Endopod 0.5–65×exopod.

Second male pleopod ( Fig. 5i, j ): Appendix masculina 1.4–1.7×appendix interna and 0.25–0.3×endopod.

6th abdominal somite ( Fig. 4a ): 0.57–0.86×long as carapace.

Telson ( Fig. 4a , 5k, l ): Narrow and tapering, 1.0–1.1×long as 6th abdominal somite. Dorsal spines 4–6 pairs (including subterminal spine). Posterior margin narrow and triangular, with a median projection, bearing 1 pair of long lateral spines and 2–3 pairs of sparsely plumose spines of equal length and shorter than laterals.

Uropod ( Fig. 5m ): 8–12 diaeresis spinules.

Preanal carina ( Fig. 5n ): armed with a spine.

Colouration. Freshly collected specimens were light greenish transparent in colour.

Type locality. Jagadiya Dam , River Khari, Kutch District (also spelt as Kachchh) Gujarat, India .

Etymology. The species is named for Kutch District, Gujarat, from where the specimens were collected.

Remarks. Caridina kutchi sp. nov. is distinguished by long, slender rostrum that is distinctly longer than antennal scale, the unarmed dorsal margin interrupted by a single tooth distally; pointed tip of rostrum with fine setae on the dorsal margin; telson posterior margin narrow and triangular with a median projection bearing intermediate spines of equal length that are distinctly shorter than the laterals.

Caridina kutchi sp. nov. is similar to Caridina simoni Bouvier, 1904 which was described from Sri Lanka and now reported from South India ( Richard and Clark 2014) in the structure of rostrum with pointed tip and the distal unarmed rostral margin interrupted by a single tooth distally. However, C. kutchi sp. nov. distinctly differs from C. simoni in telson structure. C. kutchi sp. nov. could be distinguished from C. simoni in having rostrum that is distinctly longer than antennal scale (vs. equal to or slightly longer than antennal scale in C. simoni ); unarmed dorsal rostral margin interrupted by a single tooth distally (vs. unarmed dorsal rostral margin interrupted by 0–4 teeth in C. simoni ); posterior margin of telson narrow and triangular with a median projection (vs. posterior margin of telson broad and rounded without a median projection in C. simoni ); telson posterior margin bearing 2–3pairs of sparsely plumose intermediate spines of equal length and distinctly shorter than laterals spine (vs. 3–4 pairs of sparsely plumose intermediate spines either equal in length and slightly shorter than the laterals or the median pair longer and equal to laterals in C. simoni ); preanal carina armed with a spine (vs. preanal carina unarmed in C. simoni ).

Caridina kutchi sp. nov. differs from C. babaulti , which is now reported from Gujarat, in possessing rostrum that is distinctly longer than antennal scale (vs. rostrum equal to antennular peduncle or shorter reaching middle of 3 rd antennular peduncle segment in C. babaulti ); 12–22 teeth proximally leaving 0.5–0.65 of dorsal margin unarmed distally which is interrupted by a single tooth at distal end (vs. 14–25teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.23 of dorsal margin unarmed distally in C. babaulti ); 1–3 post orbital teeth present (vs. 3–7 postorbital teeth present in C. babaulti ); 9–15 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.2 of ventral margin unarmed distally (vs. 3–8 teeth proximally leaving 0.1–0.45 of ventral margin unarmed distally in C. babaulti ); carpus of first pereiopod with anterior excavation (vs. carpus of first pereiopod with deep anterior excavation in C. babaulti ); telson posterior margin narrow and triangular, with a median projection (vs. telson posterior margin broad and rounded, with or without median protrusion in C. babaulti ); 2–3 pairs of sparsely plumose intermediate spines of equal length and distinctly shorter than laterals (vs. 2–4 pairs or 5 sparsely plumose intermediate spines of varying length; fractionally longer or shorter than the lateral spines in C. babaulti ); 8–12 uropod diaeresis spinules (vs. 12–21 uropod diaeresis spinules in C. babaulti ); preanal carina armed with a spine (vs. preanal carina unarmed in C. babaulti ).

Caridina kutchi sp. nov. is the first Caridna species to be described from Kutch district, Gujarat state, which is known for its complex geological set up.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Caridina kutchi sp. nov., RRLC/BIO-SH/02, ♂: a) Entire; b) Rostrum anterior region; c) Anterior region of cephalothorax. Scale bar a 17 mm = 1 mm; b 38 mm = 0.25 mm; c 51 mm = 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Caridina kutchi sp. nov., RRLC/BIO-SH/02, Ƌ: a) First pereiopod; b) Second pereiopod; c). Third pereiopod; d) Dactylus of third pereiopod; e) Fifth pereiopod; f) Dactylus of fifth pereiopod; g) First male pleopod; h) Endopod of first male pleopod; i) Second male pleopod; j) Appendix masculina; k) Telson; l) Posterior margin of telson; m) Uropod diaeresis spinules; n) Preanal carina. Scale bar a, b, c, e, g, j, k 51 mm = 1 mm; d, f, h, j, l, m 38 mm = 0.25 mm; n 51 mm = 0.5 mm.