Rochinia despereaux, Lee & Forges & Ng, 2019

Lee, Bee Yan, Forges, Bertrand Richer De & Ng, Peter K. L., 2019, Deep-sea spider crabs of the family Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838, from Papua New Guinea, with a redefinition of Tunepugettia Ng, Komai & Sato, 2017, and descriptions of two new genera (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea), Zootaxa 4619 (1), pp. 1-44 : 15-16

Rochinia despereaux n. sp.

( Figs. 6D, E , 8 A–C, 9E–H)

Material examined. Holotype: male (15.2 × 10.1 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-3878) [photographed], stn CP3653, west of New Hanover Island , New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, 2°13’S 150°23’E, 680–700 m, coll. BIOPAPUA , 28 August 2010. Paratypes: 1 ovigerous female (17.2 × 11.5 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-18616), stn CP4483, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, 02°42’S 150°02’E, 827–966 m, coll. KAVIENG 2014, 5 September 2014 .— 1 ovigerous female (16.0 × 10.4 mm) ( ZRC 2018.1490 , ex. MNHN-IU- 2013-2277) [photographed], stn CP4250, southeast of Admiralty Islands , Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea, 03°31’S 148°04’E, 780–855 m, coll . MADEEP Expedition , 23 April 2014 .

Diagnosis. Carapace pyriform. Pseudorostral spines straight, diverging, V-shaped. Supraorbital eave fused to carapace pre-orbital angle sharp; postorbital lobe cup-like, fused with hepatic spine forming L-shape lobe flattened at side ( Fig. 8C ). Carapace covered with small granules and 4 distinct spines; 1 cardiac spine, 2 long lateral branchial spines; 1 posterior spine medially, row of granules along posterior margin of carapace ( Figs. 6D, E , 8A ). Antennal flagellum longer than pseudorostral spines. Basal antennal article longer than broad, stout, distal angle rounded. Buccal frame covered by third maxilliped. Pterygostomial region with 3 or 4 distinct granules on outer margin ( Fig. 8B ). Chelipeds slender, propodus carinate on margin; carpus with carina on outer margin; merus triangular in cross-section, carinate on outer margin. Ambulatory legs slender, edges with long bulbous setae; P2 longest. Male thoracic sternum with sternites 3 and 4 depressed medially; sternites 3 and 4 with margin slightly constricted. Male pleon triangular, with telson and all 6 somites free ( Fig. 8B ). Adult female pleon rounded, with all 6 somites and telson free. G1 straight, slightly constricted near distal third, distal tip sharp ( Fig. 9 E–H).

Coloration. Carapace and chelipeds whitish-pink to pink ( Fig. 6D, E )

Etymology. The species is named after the fictional mouse character, Despereaux Tilling (The Tale of Despereaux), of whose big ears the new species’ ear-like hepatic lobes reminded the present authors. The name is used as a noun.

Remarks. Rochinia despereaux n. sp. is morphologically similar to the species that were identified as “ R. sibogae Griffin & Tranter, 1986 ” and “ R. strangeri Seréne & Lohavanijaya, 1973 ”, by Richer de Forges & Poore (2008: fig. 2c) from Western Australia. The present authors have examined this Western Australian material and found that it comprises one species, with the differences observed by Richer de Forges & Poore (2008) being sizerelated. Furthermore, this Western Australian species is distinct from both R. sibogae and R. strangeri , and will be described as a new species separately. Rochinia sibogae sensu stricto was described from the Ceram Sea ( Griffin & Tranter 1986b: 363–366, fig. 12) while R. strangeri sensu stricto was described from the South China Sea ( Seréne & Lohavanijaya 1973: 57–58, figs. 123–128, pl. 11 fig. B–C; Lee et al. 2017: 17–19, figs. 7B, 9A–F, 11A–D).

Compared to this undescribed Western Australian species, R. despereaux n. sp. has a distinctly more granulated carapace ( Figs. 6D, E , 8A ) (versus lack of carapace granulation; cf. Richer de Forges & Poore 2008: fig. 2c, d); the hepatic spine is slender, sharp and directed upwards ( Fig. 8C ) (versus hepatic spine laterally slightly flattened and slightly curving upwards; cf. Richer de Forges & Poore 2008: fig. 2c, d).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Color in life. A, Rochinia ahyongi McLay, 2009, ovigerous female (12.3 × 9.0 mm) (MNHN-IU-2015-83), Papua New Guinea; B, R. boucheti Richer de Forges & Ng, 2013, male (19.5 × 14.1 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-8130), Papua New Guinea; C, R. fultoni (Grant, 1905), ovigerous female (18.6 × 11.8 mm) (MNHN-IU-2013-2343), Papua New Guinea; D, R. despereaux n. sp., ovigerous female (16.0 × 10.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2013-2277); E, R. despereaux n. sp., holotype, male (15.2 × 10.1 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-3878), Papua New Guinea.

FIGURE 8. Rochinia despereaux n. sp., holotype, male (15.2 × 10.1 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-3878), Papua New Guinea. A, overall dorsal view; B, overall ventral view; C, lateral view of carapace.

FIGURE 9. A–D, Rochinia cidaris n. sp., holotype, male (19.0 × 11.5 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-19044), Papua New Guinea, left G1. A, ventral view; B, ventral view of distal portion; C, dorsal view; D, dorsal view of distal portion. E–H, R. despereaux n. sp., holotype, male (15.2 × 10.1 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-3878), Papua New Guinea, left G1. E, ventral view; F, ventral view of distal portion; G, dorsal view; H, dorsal view of distal portion..