Gonodactylellus choprai (Manning, 1967)

Brokensha, Rouane, Landschoff, Jannes & Griffiths, Charles, 2023, New and notable stomatopods (Crustacea, Stomatopoda) from Mozambique, European Journal of Taxonomy 900 (1), pp. 148-179 : 161-162

Gonodactylellus choprai (Manning, 1967) new record

Fig. 7

Gonodactylus choprai Manning, 1967a: 16–18 , fig. 6 [type locality off Somalia].

Gonodactylus demani espinosus – Chopra 1939: 176. — Ingle 1963: 28, figs 26, 56.

Gonodactylellus choprai – Manning 1995: 19, 56–57. — Ahyong 2001: 44–45.

Diagnosis

Ocular scales small, rounded, separate. Rostral plate anterolateral angles rounded, anterior margins transverse. Mandibular palp 2-segmented. 5 epipods present. TS6–7 lateral process subtruncate, width subequal with TS6 being slightly greater. AS 1–4 without posterolateral spine. AS 5 with swollen but unarmed carinae; armed posterolaterally. Telson broader than long with SM teeth well-developed with numerous (12–16) denticles present; IM teeth indistinctly formed with 2 or 3 denticles; LT teeth barely present as a faint indentation on lateral margin. Telson without spinules over surface of mid-dorsal carinae. Telson MD carina strongly inflated, tapering posteriorly, and flanked by accessory MD carina that fuse posteriorly with MD carina, accessory MD carina separated from MD carina by a groove in large specimens. SM carina and IM carina present. Uropodal exopod proximal segment without fixed distal spine ventrally; distal segment and the inner margin of proximal segment fringed with setae. Uropodal endopod with inner margin completely fringed with setae, margin serrate for insertion of setae.

Material examined

MOZAMBIQUE • 1 ♁ (TL 17 mm); Inhambane Province, south of Tofo ; 24°19′57.4″ S, 35°26′53.2″ E; 68–91 m depth; 20 Oct. 2017; RV Agulhas II; dredge, stn IIOE2 TD2 INV78; SAMC 110 E2MOZ475 • 1 ♁ (TL 14 mm); Sofala Province; 20°48′35.3″ S, 35°45′23.8″ E; 61–93 m depth; 21 Oct. 2017; RV Agulhas II; dredge; stn IIOE2 M106 INV165; SAMC 110 E2MOZ467 • 1 ♁ (TL 12.6 mm); same collection data as for preceding; stn IIOE2 M106 INV191; SAMC 110 E2MOZ460 .

Measurements

Male (n = 3) TL 12.6–17.0 mm. A2 scale 0.41–0.55CL. AWCLI 750–880. The largest specimen recorded by Chopra (1939) at TL 22 mm.

Distribution and habitat

Known only from the north-western Indian Ocean; Red Sea, South Arabian coast ( Chopra 1939), Somalia ( Manning 1967a), and now from Mozambique [Inhambane and Sofala]. Recorded at depths 70– 82 m. Chopra (1939) recorded much shallower depths of 29–38 m for the species associated with thalloid red algae.

Remarks

This is the first record of G. choprai from Mozambique, as well as southern Africa. The most recent report on this species is Manning’s (1967a) description from Somalia, which suggests that this species is inconspicuous or possibly quite rare. However, three specimens from three separate locations were collected on a cruise along the coast of Mozambique and northward into Tanzania in 2017–2018. This species is relatively small, the largest specimen was recorded by Chopra (1939) at 22 mm total length, while the largest specimen documented herein was only 17 mm.

The three specimens examined in the present series agree well with the holotype presented by Manning (1967a). Some variation in telson carinae form was observed for the present specimens compared to the holotypic illustration. All examined specimens had accessory median carinae that were fused posteriorly with the median carina and flanked by small inner bumps posteriorly ( Fig. 7F–G ). This variation has yet to be described for the species. Gonodactyellus choprai and Gonodactylellus kandi Ahyong & Erdmann, 2007 can be distinguished from all other species of Gonodactylellus by the absence of the fixed distal spine on the proximal segment of the uropodal exopod. Gonodactylellus choprai is readily distinguished from G. kandi by the absence of spinules on the primary teeth of the telson and the telson median carina posterior.

Figures

Fig. 7. Gonodactylellus choprai (Manning, 1967), ♂, TL 14 mm (110E2MOZ467). A. Right raptorial claw, lateral. B. Anterior cephalothorax, dorsal. C. AS6–8, left dorsal. D. Telson, right lateral. E. AS6, telson and right uropod, dorsal. F. Right uropod, ventral. Scale bar = 1 mm.