Caridina kaombeflutilis, Richard & Clark, 2010

Richard, Jasmine & Clark, Paul F., 2010, Caridina H. Milne Edwards, 1837 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyoidea: Atyidae) - freshwater shrimps from eastern and southern Africa *, Zootaxa 2372 (1), pp. 305-337 : 331-334

Caridina kaombeflutilis sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–15 )

Material Examined. Type: holotype male, Malawi Kaombe River , pres. Harrison, May 1951, SAM A 10667 ; paratypes SAM A 10667, 5 males , 3 ov. females, 12 females; site 15, pool in stream bed above Lake Chikukutu , 12°58'15"S, 34°13'00"E, coll. D. Tweddle, 25.7.1995, AM CAW 158 A, 9 males , 2 ov. females, 10 females; site 16, Kaombe River, Lakeshore Road at Nkhotakota, 12°54'S, 34°13'E, coll. D. Tweddle, 23.7.1995, AM CAW 159 B, 5 males , 10 ov. females, 6 females.

Description. Total length: 14–30 mm. Carapace length: 3–4.5 mm.

Rostrum ( Figs. 14a–d ): Straight, mostly reaching end of antennal scale or slightly longer. Length 3–5 mm 1.0–1.1 of carapace. 20–30 teeth on dorsal proximal margin of rostrum leaving 0.2–0.5 of dorsal margin unarmed distally, which is interrupted by 0–6 teeth of which 1–3 present at tip. 2 or 3 post-orbital teeth; 8–15 teeth on ventral margin from proximal end leaving short distal part unarmed. Tip pointed. Formula (1–3) 20– 30 + 0–6/8–15.

Antennular peduncle ( Fig. 14d ): 0.7–0.8 of carapace length. Stylocerite 0.6–0.7 of length of basal segment, anterolateral tooth of basal segment 0.20–0.25 of second segment. 7–15 segments bearing aesthetascs.

First pereiopod ( Fig. 15a ): dactylus 1.0–1.1 of palm of propodus. Chela 2.0–2.2 as long as wide. Carpus 2.1–2.2 as long as wide, anterior excavation shallow.

Second pereiopod ( Fig. 15b ): dactylus 1.1–1.3 as long as palm of propodus. Chela 2.8–3 as long as wide. Carpus 5–5.4 as long as wide. Brush-like setae at tip of chelae on first and second pereiopods.

Third pereiopod ( Figs. 15c–d ): dactylus 4–4.5 as long as wide with 6–10 spines including terminal spine. Propodus 4.5–5 as long as dactylus and 15.5–17 as long as wide with 9–14 spines along posterior margin. Carpus 0.55–0.6 as long as propodus with 4–5 spines on inner margin. Merus 1.5–1.7 of carpus length with 2 large spines on posterior margin.

Fifth pereiopod ( Figs. 15e–f ): dactylus 4.3–4.8 as long as wide with 40–55 spines in comb-like arrangement on inner margin. Propodus 14–16 as long as wide and 3–3.5 as long as dactylus with 9–16 spines arranged along inner margin. Carpus 0.49–0.6 of propodus length with 3–5 spines along inner margin. Merus 1.6–1.8 of carpus length, with 2 large spines along posterior margin.

Setobranch: 2 setae on each pereiopod.

First male pleopod ( Figs. 15g –h ): endopod 0.20–0.25 of exopod length. No appendix interna present.

First female pleopod ( Fig. 15i ): endopod 0.3–0.4 as long as exopod.

Eggs (Fig. j) 45– 85 eggs of 0.65–0.7 × 0.35–0.4 mm in size.

Second male pleopod ( Figs. 15k, l ): appendix masculina 1.3–1.6 as lomg as appendix interna, 0.23–0.26 as long as endopod.

Sixth abdominal somite: 0.6–0.7 as long as carapace.

Telson ( Figs. 15m –n ): 1.0–1.1 as long as 6 th abdominal somite with 4–6 pairs dorsal spines including subterminal spines. Posterior margin of telson triangular with or without medial process bearing 1 pair of long lateral spines and 1–3 pairs or 5 inner spines of equal length and shorter than lateral spines.

Uropod ( Fig. 15o ): 7–10 diaeresis spinules.

Preanal carina ( Fig. 15p ): unarmed.

Etymology. An arbitrary combination of words, named for the Kaombe River; fluviatilis from the Latin meaning of a river.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Malawi.

Remarks. Caridina kaombeflutilis sp. nov. is distinguished from all African congeners by the straight rostrum with its proximal arrangement of 20–30 teeth on the dorsal margin and the short unarmed distal margin being interrupted by 0–6 teeth; 45– 85 eggs of 0.65–0.7 × 0.35–0.4 mm and in having 7–10 uropodal diaeresis spinules. It is close to C. moeri , in having an increased number of teeth on the dorsal margin of rostrum, a lesser number of uropod diaeresis spinules and smaller eggs. However, it differs from C. moeri in the proximal arrangement of 20–30 teeth on the dorsal rostral margin leaving a short distal margin unarmed which is interrupted by 0–6 teeth, having two or three pairs or five longer spines of equal length that are shorter than the lateral spines on the posterior margin of the telson and in possessing 45– 85 eggs. Caridina moeri is distinct from C. kaombeflutilis sp. nov. in having 25–48 teeth always extending up to the tip on the dorsal margin of the rostrum, four or five pairs or seven or nine short spines of equal length that are equal in length to the lateral spines at the posterior margin of the telson and in possessing 135– 150 eggs.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Caridina kaombeflutilis sp. nov., SAM A 10667: a, habitus, male; b, anterior region of cephalothorax; ov. female; c, anterior region of cephalothorax, male; d, Anterior region of cephalothorax, male; e, antennular peduncle, male.

FIGURE 15. Caridina kaombeflutilis sp. nov., SAM A 10667: 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, egg; j, first female pleopod; k, second male pleopod; l, appendix masculina; m, telson; n, posterior margin of telson; o, uropod diaeresis spinules; p, preanal carina. All from male, except i–j.