Caridina umtatensis, Richard & Clark, 2009

Jasmine Richard & Paul F. Clark, 2009, African Caridina (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae): redescriptions of C. africana Kingsley, 1882, C. togoensis Hilgendorf, 1893, C. natalensis Bouvier, 1925 and C. roubaudi Bouvier, 1925 with descriptions of 14 new species, Zootaxa 1995, pp. 1-75 : 63-66

Caridina umtatensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 34 , 35 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♀ South Africa Kraal Dam, Umtata, coll. A. Pretorius, 16.2.1995, SAM A 45518. Paratypes: Kraal Dam, Umtata, coll. A. Pretorius, 16.2.1995, coll. W. Emmerson, SAM A 45518, 24♂, 19♀ ovig. 5♀, 1 juv.; Mquanduli 31°54'40"S, 28°51'14"E from a slow stream, SAM A 13391, 8♂, 1♀ ovig., 2♀; Lateba, Crocodile River, SAM A 10669, 2♀.

Description. Total length: 24–34 mm. Carapace length: 4–5 mm.

Rostrum ( Fig. 34a, b, c, d ): upturned or straight mostly equal to antennal scale or shorter equal to antennular peduncle, or fractionally longer than antennal scale. 3.8–5 mm in length. 0.9–1 × long as carapace. 7–18 teeth on dorsal margin arranged leaving 0.5–0.75 of length unarmed, rarely 1-2 teeth on unarmed margin. 1–4 post-orbital teeth. 4–16 teeth on ventral margin arranged from proximal end to tip or with unarmed distal margin. Tip bifid or acute. Formula (1–4) 7–18/4–16.

Antennular peduncle ( Fig. 34e ): 0.75–0.85 × carapace. Stylocerite 0.7–0.9 × length of basal segment. Anterolateral teeth of basal segment 0.25–0.3 × second segment. 10–18 segments bearing aesthetascs.

First pereiopod ( Fig. 35a ): dactylus 1.1–1.3 × palm of propodus. Chela 2.5–2.7 × long as broad. Carpus 2–2.3 × long as broad, with excavation anteriorly.

Second pereiopod ( Fig. 35b ): dactylus 1.2–1.4 × long as palm of propodus. Chela 2.4–2.7 × long as broad. Carpus 4.2–4.7 × long as broad.

Third pereiopod ( Fig. 35c, d ): dactylus 3–3.2 × long as broad. Spines on dactylus varying from 10–13 (including terminal spines). Propodus 4.1–4.5 × long as dactylus and 10–11 × long as broad with 12–17 spines along inner margin. Carpus 0.6–0.7 × long as propodus, with 1 large spine and 4–5 small spines on inner margin. Merus 1.6–1.8 × carpus length. Merus with 3 large spines along posterior margin.

Fifth pereiopod ( Fig. 35e, f ): dactylus 3.5–3.8 × long as broad with 60–75 spines arranged in comb-like fashion on inner margin. Propodus 13–14 × long as broad and 4–4.5 × long as dactylus with 11–17 spines along posterior margin. Carpus 0.5–0.7 × propodus length and with 1 large spine and 4–6 minute spines along inner margin. Merus 1.5–1.7 × carpus length, with 2 large spines along posterior margin.

Setobranchs: 5 on all pereiopods.

First male pleopod ( Fig. 35g, h ): endopod 0.25–0.35 × exopod length. Appendix interna present. Long setae present on anterior margin of endopod bend across appendix interna thus folding tip of endopod. Series of stalked processes present around entire margin.

First female pleopod ( Fig. 35i ): endopod 0.55–0.7 × long as exopod.

Eggs ( Fig. 35j ) 55–70, 1.07–1.1 × 0.64–0.7mm in size.

Second pleopod of male ( Fig. 35k, l ): appendix masculine 1.5–1.7 × appendix interna.and 0.3–0.4 × endopod. Several stalked spines present along tip and posterior margin.

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

Telso n ( Fig. 35m, n ): 1–1.1 × long as sixth abdominal somite. 5–8 pairs of dorsal spines (mostly 5–7) present (including subterminal spines). Pair of extra subterminal spines or only 1 extra subterminal spine on one side, present or not. Posterior margin triangular mostly ending in medial pointed process, rarely plain without median pointed process, with 1 pair of lateral spines and 1–3 pairs, mostly 2 or 3 pairs of inner spines of equal length.

Uropod ( Fig. 35o ): 10–15 diaeresis spinules.

Preanal carina ( Fig. 35p ): unarmed.

Remarks. Caridina umtatensis sp. nov. is distinguished by 7–18 teeth on the dorsal margin of the rostrum arranged mostly restricted up to the point of curvature of the proximal end of the ventral margin. The unarmed section of the dorsal rostral margin is occasionally interrupted by one tooth. The 4–16 teeth on the ventral rostral margin are always arranged uniformly from the proximal end to tip ( Fig. 34c ) or leaving shorter ( Fig. 34b ) or longer ( Fig. 34 d ) ventral distal margin unarmed. The rostral formula is (1–4) 7–18/4–16. The posterior margin of the telson is usually triangular with a median pointed process rarely plain and 1–3 inner spines of equal length to the lateral spines. Caridina umtatensis sp. nov. is distinctly different from C. africana . and C. togoensis by in arrangement of teeth on the rostrum.

Etymology. Named umtatensis , after the river in which the species was found.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Caridina umtatensis sp. nov., SAM A 45518, ♂: a) Entire; b) Anterior region of cephalothorax. SAM 13391, ♀ ovig.: c) Anterior region of cephalothorax. ♀: d) Anterior region of cephalothorax; e) Antennular peduncle.

FIGURE 35. Caridina umtatensis sp. nov., SAM A 45518, ♂: a) First pereiopod; b) Second pereiopod; c) Third pereiopod; d) Dactylus of third pereiopod; e) Fifth pereiopod; f) Dactylus of fifth pereiopod; g) First pleopod; h) Endopod of first pleopod. ♀ ovig.: i) First pleopod; j) Egg. ♂: k) Second pleopod; l) Appendix masculina; m) Telson; n) Posterior margin of telson; o) Uropod diaeresis spinules; p) Preanal carina.