Munidopsis agassizii Faxon, 1893

Guzman, Guillermo L. & Sellanes, Javier, 2015, A review of the Munidopsidae Ortmann, 1898 (Decapoda, Galatheoidea) in Chilean waters, including new records for the Southeastern Pacific, Zootaxa 4021 (2), pp. 282-306 : 289

Munidopsis agassizii Faxon, 1893

( Fig. 4 )

Restricted synonymy:

Munidopsis agassizii Faxon, 1893: 88 –89, pl. XVIII figs. 4-4a, and list.— Khodkina, 1975: 261, fig. 2-1.— Wicksten, 1989: 315 (list).

Type locality. Gulf of Panama (07°16’N, 79°56’W) ( Faxon 1893).

Distributional range. Gulf of Panama ( Faxon 1893); Peru, 560–580 m deep ( Khodkina 1975). Iquique (this report).

Bathymetric range. 384–1000 m

New record. MUAP (CD)-0309, 6 specimens collected off the coast of Iquique (~21°S) in August 1997, during exploratory King Crab fishing in northern Chile ( IFOP) from about 1000 m.

Description. Rostrum styliform, directed slightly upward, with 2 divergent spines at the midlength of rostrum. Carapace oval to quadrangular, densely covered with setae and acute spines; antennal spine acute and submarginal; anterolateral spines short, not reaching the tip of the antennal spine ( Fig. 4 a); dorsal surface of carapace not elevated, cervical groove smooth; posterior margin armed with row of acute spines projecting anteriorly ( Fig. 4 b). Second and third abdominal segments armed with 2 transverse rows of spines, fourth with only 1 transverse row ( Fig. 4 c). Telson with eight plates ( Fig. 4 d). Chelipeds short, densely covered with setae and 3 or 4 rows of spines; palm almost as long as fixed fingers; surface of dactyl unarmed; carpus and merus with 4 or 5 rows of spines ( Fig. 4 e–g). Pereiopods short, as long as total carapace length, densely covered with setae and 3 and 4 rows of spines ( Fig. 4 h). Base of antennule with long distal spines and minor mesial spines ( Fig. 4 i).

Remarks. Munidopsis agassizi resembles M. barrerai Bahamonde, 1964 , because of the spines at the midlength of the rostrum, but differs from in being more spinose and setose. Other species with one pair of spines on the rostrum are M. erinacea (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880) reported from Caribbean waters and the West Atlantic ( Navas et al. 2003; Tavares & Campinho 1998) and M. spinifer (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880) from the Caribbean. Comparing our specimens with material of M. erinacea deposited in the Museum of Zoology, University of São Paulo (MZUSP 16435) and figures and original description of M. spinifer , many differences are noted in the number of spines on the dorsal surface of the carapace and legs of M. agassizii , compared to the other species. Another species that resembles M. agassizi is M. sericea Faxon, 1893 from the Gulf of Panama and Gulf of California; our specimens differ from M. sericea in having more spines in the mid-dorsum of the second and third abdominal segments.

Khodkina (1975) reported this species from off the Peru coast near the border with Chile (about 18°S) at 560– 580 m deep. Here we extend its range to Iquique about 500 km south.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Munidopsis agassizii Faxon, 1893, female cl 12.71 mm, MUAP (CD) - 0309 (setae partially removed): a, dorsal view of anterior region of carapace; b, lateral view of carapace; c, lateral view of abdomen; d, telson; e, right cheliped; f, carpus of third pereiopod; g, merus and basis of cheliped; h, third pereiopod; i, lateral view of antennule. Scale = 1 mm.