Automate isabelae, Ramos-Tafur, 2018

Ramos-Tafur, Gabriel E., 2018, Description of a new alpheid shrimp, Automate isabelae sp. nov. (Decapoda, Caridea, Alpheidae) found in fish stomach contents of the lane snapper Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus, 1758), from the west coast of Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Zootaxa 4446 (2), pp. 233-246 : 235-243

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4446.2.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CD34D311-058E-448B-9952-563D86F8E49B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5953128
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FCC228-2079-FFF2-FF38-FDFDFAD3FE73
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Automate isabelae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Automate isabelae View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs. 1‒4 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 )

Holotype. 1 specimen, CL ~ 5.1 mm; TL unknown, with part of the antennae, antennulae, third maxillipeds, abdomen, pleopods, and distal part of telson, missing or partially digested, R/ V Tommy Munro, station SMP171602075 View Materials , 24°47’21’’N, 82°09’40’’W, about 7 Km S of Marquesas Keys , Florida, Gulf of Mexico, (type locality), 25 June 2016, 21.5 m, bottom trawl (found in stomach contents of Lutjanus synagris ( Linnaeus, 1758) , MTB1602231, male, SL 124 mm) GoogleMaps , USNM (1492802).

Paratypes. 1 specimen, abdomen and chelipeds missing, CL ~ 3.9 mm, R/ V Tommy Munro, station SMP171402083 View Materials , 24°29’51’’N, 82°31’25’’W, ~55 Km SE of Key West, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, 16 Jun 2014, 42.0 m, bottom trawl (found in stomach contents of L. synagris , SMP1400380 View Materials , male, SL 161 mm, ( FSBCI 136057 ) GoogleMaps .—1 specimen in good condition, CL 4.6 mm. TL 15.8 mm; 1 female with chelipeds in poor condition, CL 6.5 mm. TL 16.1 mm, R/ V Tommy Munro, station SMP1 View Materials 71402086, 24°28’06’’N, 82°10’44’’W, ~41 Km SE Key West, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, 16 Jun 2014, 25.0 m, bottom trawl (found in stomach contents of L. synagris , SMP1400417 View Materials , male, SL 155 mm, ( FSBCI 136058 ) GoogleMaps .—1 specimen, body partially digested, with chelipeds in good condition. Same data as holotype (found in stomach contents of L. synagris , MTB1602232, female, SL 123 mm), USNM (1492803).— 1 specimen, CL 2.6 mm, TL 9.4 mm; chelipeds missing, R/ V Tommy Munro, station SMP171505080 View Materials , 26°16’30’’N, 82°37’48’’W, ~65 Km E of Naples, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, 22 October 2015, 28.0 m, bottom trawl (found in stomach contents of L. synagris , MTB1504848, female, SL 163 mm) GoogleMaps , USNM (1492804).

Comparative material examined. Automate dolichognatha De Man, 1888: 1 specimen, CL 3.8 mm (chelipeds and abdomen missing) 61 Km SW off Egmont Key, west coast of Florida (27°37’00’’N, 83°28’,00’’W), R/ V Hernán Cortéz, net-trawl, depth 37 m, 25 Jan 1967, coll. Robert F. Presley ( FSBCI 047025 ) .— Pacific coast of Colombia, Bahía Málaga: 2 specimens *, mud flat, intertidal, 27 Nov 1981, (CRBMUV 81071). —1 specimen*, 2 Apr 1981, Isla Curichiche, (CRBMUV 81072).—2 specimens, CL 3.7‒4.1mm, CL 11.3‒12.5 mm, mud flat, intertidal, 7 Dec 1985, Isla El Aguante, coll. G.E.Ramos-Tafur, (CRBMUV 85022).— 1 specimen, 1 ovigerous female, CL 3.6‒3.9mm, TL 12.0‒ 12.9 mm, 27 Dec 1985, same locality and coll. as previous, ( USNM 244263 View Materials ) .— 2 ovigerous females, CL 4.1‒4.9mm, TL 14.7‒16.7 mm, intertidal, mud and sand, 5 Jul 1986, Bahía Solano , Chocó Department, coll. G.E.Ramos-Tafur (CRBMUV 86007).— Isla Gorgona: 1 specimen *, intertidal, coralline sand, 18 Mar 1987, El Tractor, coll. Rebeca Franke, (MIG).—1 ovigerous female*, intertidal, coralline sand, 11 Aug 1987, Playa Pizarro, same coll. as previous, (MIG).—1 ovigerous female*, intertidal, coralline sand, 28 Sep 1987, El Muelle, same coll. as previous, (MIG).

Automate evermanni Rathbun, 1901: 1 View in CoL female, CL 3.1 mm, TL 9.7 mm, (pereopods 3‒5 missing), Big Pine Key, Florida Keys, (24°32’51’’N, 81 24’23’’W), R/V P. argus , dredging, depth 2.5 m, 22 May 1990, coll. Dan C. Marelli (FSBCI 040565).—1 juvenile, CL 2.2 mm, (abdomen missing), depth 2.0 m, same collection data as previous (FSBCI 040566).—1 female, CL 1.5 mm, TL 3.6 mm (chelipeds missing), Hutchinson Island, east coast of Florida (27°20’23’’N, 80°13’04’’W), dredging, depth 12.1 m, 15 Sep 1971, colls. R. Gallagher et al. (FSBCI 016884).—1 female, CL 2.0 mm, TL 6.8 mm (chelipeds and pereopods missing), same collection data as previous (FSBCI 016885).—1 ovigerous female, CL 2.0 mm, TL 6.7 mm, 1 juvenile, CL 1.0 mm, TL 2.9 mm, (chelipeds and pereopods missing), 7 Sep 1972, dredging, depth 10.3 m, same locality and colls. as previous (FSBCI 016886).—1 female, CL 1.5 mm, TL 3.3 mm. (major cheliped missing), 15 May 1973, dredging, depth 10 m, same locality and colls. as previous (FSBCI 016888).—1 juvenile, CL 1.0 mm, TL 3.1 mm. (all pereopods and chelipeds missing), 14 May 1973, dredging, depth 11.2 m, Hutchinson Island, east coast of Florida (27°21’22’’N, 80°13’23’’W), same colls. as previous (FSBCI 016887).—1 female, CL 7.9, TL 21.7 mm (without chelipeds), Tampa Bay, west coast of Florida (27°54’59’’N, 82°30;00W), Nov 1973, depth 9.1 m, coll. Joseph L. Simon, (FSBCI 010119).—1 specimen CL 2.3 mm, TL 6.5 mm (pereopods 3‒5 missing) Tampa Bay, west coast of Florida (27°00’00’’N, 82°00;00’’W), Nov 1973, depth 5 m, colls. Hillsborough County Staff (FSBCI 059591).

Diagnosis. Carapace with antennal and pterygostomial regions rounded, slightly projected, without teeth or spines. Rostrum minute, triangular. Eyestalks exposed dorsally and laterally, with distomesial projection; cornea moderately developed. First antennular segment without ventromesial carina, ventrolateral margin projected, with small acute tooth; mesial margin slightly inflated, adults with small articulate spine, absent in juveniles. Stylocerite with acute distolateral tooth, shorter than distal margin of first antennular segment. Basicerite with distolateral acute tooth. Scaphocerite reaching beyond middle of second antennular peduncle, with distolateral tooth overreaching anterior margin of lamella. Carpocerite overreaching antennular peduncle. Third maxilliped elongated; exopod short, distal end not reaching middle length of antepenultimate segment; antepenultimate segment about 5.5 times as long as broad; penultimate segment about 0.4 as long as antepenultimate segment; ultimate segment slightly longer than antepenultimate segment, but slender, dorsal margin irregular with a row of six pair of spines, tip furnished with three distal spines, mesial margin with two subdistal spines. First pair of pereopods asymmetrical. Major cheliped ischium setose, without spines; merus ovoid, about 1.4 times as long as broad; carpus about 0.7 times along as broad; ventral margin with subtriangular projection, and strong spiniform seta. Major chela strongly compressed, subrectangular in lateral view, about 1.6 times as long as wide, with fingers occupying about distal third; palm dorsal margin with conspicuous rounded protuberances, spreaded in both lateral and mesial faces; ventral margin with six to ten conspicuous protuberances; mesial palm with irregular semi-ovoid area near distoventral margin, demarcated by nine rounded protuberances (holotype) or semi-linear set of eight to ten small protuberances (paratypes). Pollex cutting edge with strong, prominent, subquadrangular tooth. Dactylus with proximo-dorsal rounded tooth; mesial margin with five (holotype) to seven (paratypes) strong elongated setae, about of 1.5 as long as chela. Minor cheliped with ventral margin of carpus furnished with spiniform seta. Second pereopod ratio of carpal articles: 1: 5: 2: 1: 1.5. Third pereopod ischium armed with ventrolateral spine; propodus ventral margin with three (paratype) to eight (holotype) elongated spiniform setae, and single distal spine at junction with dactylus, flanked by one pair of long spiniform setae; dactylus conical. Fourth pereopod similar to third pereopod, with dactylus subspatulate. Fifth pereopod much more slender than third and fourth, without spine on ischium, with all segment setose; dactylus conical. Telson with two pairs of dorsolateral spines, situated at 0.4 and 0.7 of telson length; distal margin straight, with two pairs of distal spines, and one pair of mesial elongated plumose setae. Uropodal endopod slightly longer than uropodal exopod; diaresis of exopod sinusoidal, formed by two rounded lobes.

Description. Carapace glabrous. Antennal and pterygostomian regions broadly rounded, slightly projected, but not reaching to eyes distal margin ( Figs. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 4A, C View FIGURE 4 ), lacking of teeth or spines. Dorsal margin slightly convex. Ventral margin, in lateral view, broadly inflated proximally, tapering distally near junction with abdomen. Posterolateral margin with conspicuous cardiac notch.

Rostrum minute, triangular, tip barely reaching (holotype) or not reaching posterior margin of cornea (paratypes), nor anterior margin of carapace. Frontal margin in both sides of rostrum broadly concave; ocular hoods, orbital concavities, rostral carina and orbital teeth absent. Eyestalks exposed dorsally and laterally ( Figs. 1A‒B View FIGURE 1 , 4A‒C View FIGURE 4 ), with distomesial projection; mesial margins slightly sinuous; cornea moderately developed.

Antennular peduncle elongate; first segment visible part about 0.7 times of second segment length, without ventromesial carina; ventrolateral margin projected ending distally as small acute tooth ( Figs. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 4B‒C View FIGURE 4 ); central part of mesial margin swollen, with small articulate spine ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ), absent in small paratype ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ); second segment about 2.8 times as long as broad; third segment about 0.2 of second segment length. Stylocerite broad, elongated, tapering distally, ending as acute distolateral tooth, tip not reaching distal margin of first antennular segment ( Figs. 1A View FIGURE 1 , 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Antenna elongated; basicerite armed with small distolateral acute tooth ( Figs. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 4C View FIGURE 4 ). Scaphocerite well developed, overreaching midlength of second antennular segment; lateral margin slightly sinuous, distolateral tooth acute, well developed, overreaching anterior margin of lamella. Carpocerite slender, reaching far beyond antennular peduncle, exceeding it by 1.2 of antennular peduncle third segment length.

Mouthparts in poor condition, not dissected.

Third maxilliped robust and exceptionally elongated, ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ) distal margin of antepenultimate segment overreaching distal end of carpocerite when fully extended. Coxa with hook-shaped epipod; exopod distal end not reaching middle length of antepenultimate segment, ornate distally with several long setae. Antepenultimate segment about of 5.5 times as long as broad, dorsal margin convex, with a few subdistal setae, ventral margin furnished with short marginal setae. Penultimate segment about 0.4 of antepenultimate segment length, with long dorsal and ventrodistal setae. Ultimate segment slightly longer than antepenultimate segment, but slender, tapering distally, ventral margin slightly sinuous, ornate with short setae, dorsal margin irregular with a row of six pairs of spines; tip furnished with three distal spines; there is also an additional row of two subdistal spines clearly visible in mesial view ( Fig. 4E View FIGURE 4 ).

First pair of pereopods strongly asymmetrical ( Figs. 2A‒D View FIGURE 2 ). Right (major) cheliped in holotype ( Figs. 2A‒B View FIGURE 2 ), left cheliped in paratypes ( Figs. 3A‒B View FIGURE 3 ), overreaching distal margin of scaphocerite by entire chela when fully extended; ischium cup shaped, unarmed, approximately 0.2 times of merus length, furnished with three short setae on both, dorsal and ventral margins. Merus robust, ovoid in lateral view, about 1.4 times as long as broad; dorsal margin strongly convex, with proximal and subdistal shallow notch, furnished proximally with short setae, ending distally as rounded knob; ventral margin convex in external view, and slightly sinuous in mesial view, disto-ventral margin ending as an acute tooth, subdistally ornate with set of tiny setae, visible under high magnification. Carpus broadly rectangular, about 0.7 times as long as broad; in lateral view with distodorsal ear-shaped projection ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ), furnished with dorso-marginal setae, and subrectangular projection, with distal margin touching proximal portion of chela; ventral margin with subtriangular projection, distal tip rounded, furnished with strong spiniform seta, visible on both faces; ventro-proximal margin in mesial view, furnished with double series of short setae ( Figs. 2B View FIGURE 2 , 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Chela strongly compressed, subrectangular in lateral view, elongated ovoid in cross section; about 1.6 times as long as wide, with fingers occupying about distal third; palm dorsal margin proximally smooth, distal half with conspicuous rounded protuberances, distributed over both lateral and mesial faces; bilobed distal protuberance, touching partially proximo-dorsal tooth of dactylus, upper lobe rounded, furnished with several setae, lower lobe projecting as non acute tooth. Palm external ventral margin slightly concave, furnished with setae and six to ten (paratypes, Figs. 3A‒B View FIGURE 3 ) or eight (holotype, Figs. 2A‒B View FIGURE 2 ) conspicuous protuberances, distributed along margin, but absent in proximal third; triangular tooth on dactycular articulation; mesial palm with small irregular semi-ovoid area, near of distoventral margin demarcated clearly by a series of nine rounded protuberances (holotype) or semi-linear set of eight to ten protuberances (paratypes). Fixed finger cutting edge in lateral view with strong, subquadrangular tooth, cusp concave, basal and upper margins covered by several setae, followed by small concave depression, and two subdistal small and unequal rounded teeth; tip of pollex acute. pollex in mesial view with proximal subtriangular tooth, followed by irregular elongated concave depression and subdistally rounded irregular elevation, with couple of poorly developed teeth; cutting edge slightly excavated, forming shallow groove. Dactylus compressed, slender, with conspicuous proximo-dorsal rounded tooth, and small dorsal subtriangular flat area, clearly delimited for shallow ridge; dorsal margin widely convex, slightly irregular, furnished with setae; in mesial view close to lower middle, small shallow mark is furnished with five (holotype) to seven (paratype, Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ) strong elongated setae, about of 1.5 times of chela length (in holotype were cut short during extraction of specimen from fish stomach), these setae are naked, but plumose only in distal end; cutting edge armed with proximal subtriangular tooth, and small rounded tooth near of tip; fingers gapping when closed, tips crossing.

Left (minor) cheliped (holotype Figs. 2C‒D View FIGURE 2 ), right cheliped in paratype ( Figs. 3E‒F View FIGURE 3 ) overreaching distal end of carpocerite by length of fingers, when fully extended. Ischium unarmed, ventral margin slightly projecting. Merus elongated, about 3.3 times as long as broad, dorsal margin somewhat convex, with small proximal depression, ventral margin broadly convex, unarmed. Carpus cup shape, elongated, dorsal margin convex, furnished with several setae; ventral margin with subtriangular projection, tip furnished with strong spiniform seta. Chela about 2.8 times as long as broad, elongated, compressed, ovoid in lateral view, dorsal and ventral margins setose; subtriangular tooth present on dactylar articulation. Fingers less than half of palm length, ornate with abundant setae; cutting edge of dactylus and pollex irregular, furnished with short setae, not gaps between fingers, but tips crossing when closed.

Second pereopod ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ), slender, elongated, overreaching distal end of carpocerite by entire length of carpus, when fully extended; ischium about of 3.3 times merus length; carpus five segmented, second segment longer than others, ratio of carpal articles: 1: 5: 2: 1: 1.5; chela elongated, as long as sum of second and third carpal segments. Pollex with two long ventral setae, tip of fingers furnished with tufts of short setae.

Third pereopod ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ) laterally compressed; ischium about 0.3 times merus length, armed ventrolaterally with small spine; merus unarmed about of 3.5 times as long as broad, with few short setae along ventral and dorsodistal margins; carpus unarmed, about 0.6 times merus length, dorsodistal margin projecting, with few setae on dorsal margin and elongated spiniform seta on ventrodistal margin, which is surrounded by few short setae; propodus about 0.7 times merus length, dorsal and ventral margins with several setae, ventral margin with three (paratype) to eight (holotype) elongated strong spiniform setae, and single distal spine just at junction with dactylus, flanked by pair of elongated strong spiniform setae, almost as long as dactylus ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ); dactylus about 0.4‒0.5 times carpus length, conical, tip subacute, with three small subdistal setae. Fourth pereopod similar to third pereopod; distal strong spiniform setae flanking single distal spine of propodus, longer than dactylus, dactylus subspatulate ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ). Fifth pereopod much more slender than third and fourth, without spine on ischium, all segment setose; dactylus conical ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ).

Abdomen ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ), with all pleura rounded ventrally, sixth abdominal segment entire, without posterolateral articulated plate, and posterodorsal margin rounded. Second pleopod without appendix masculina.

Telson ( Figs. 1F View FIGURE 1 , 4H View FIGURE 4 ) with distal part missing and small piece folded underneath (holotype), broad at base, with constriction at level of protopodite distal margin, tapering distally, with two pairs of dorsolateral spines, situated at 0.4 and 0.7 of telson length; distal margin straight, bearing two pair of distal spines, and two mesial elongated and plumose setae, with distal end overreaching the tip of mesial spines; external pair of spines shorter than mesial or internal pair.

Uropodal endopod broadly rounded and slightly longer than uropodal exopod, margins of both furnished with long and short setae; diaresis of exopod sinusoidal, formed by two broad rounded lobes. Right exopod of holotype ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ) with distal part separated from entire blade at level of diaresis junction; postero-lateral corner ending as subacute tooth, movable spine present, well developed.

Color in life. Unknown.

Habitat. Subtidal, benthic shallow waters to 42 m, on silicaceous sand, calcareous sediment, and mud. Other prey items found in the same stomachs of the lane snapper Lutjanus synagris are: the pistol shrimp, Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878 sensu lato, the long eye shrimp Ogyrides alphaerostris ( Kingsley, 1880) , the dwarf humpback shrimp Solenocera atlantidis Burkenroad, 1939 , the rock shrimp Sicyonia typica ( Boeck, 1864) , the frog crab Ranilia muricata H. Milne Edwards, 1837 , and unidentified fishes of the family Gobiidae .

Remarkably, Automate isabelae sp. nov. also cohabit sympatrically with its congener Automate evermanni Rathbbun, 1901 , the former species being also another common prey item, found frequently in stomachs analysis contents of L. synagris .

Etymology. The new species is named in memory and as a genuine and humble homage to my beloved mother in law, Isabel Medina de Colonia , who passed away recently. Her amazing matriarchal figure, and her dedication and enormous love for our family is courteously acknowledged.

Remarks. The genus Automate contains, including the new species described herein, 12 valid species (see Anker & Komai 2004; De Grave & Fransen 2011; Wang & Sha 2017 —with a key for the species of the genus; WORMS, editorial board 2018). Four species of this genus have been reported with granules or tubercles on first pereopod major chela: Automate evermanni Rathbun (1901: 112, Fig. 22) , was described with a few granules on the ventral margin of major chela palm, but only visible in males. Automate anacanthopusoides Wang & Sha 2017 , from Beibu Gulf, South China Sea and Tulear Madagascar ( Ledoyer 1970, as Automate anacanthopus De Man 1910 ), have some rugosities, situated only on mesial side of pollex ventral margin (see Wang & Sha 2017: Figs. 1A, C‒D View FIGURE 1 , 2P‒Q View FIGURE 2 ), lacking of tubercles in great part of the palm ventral margin, and totally absent on palm dorsal margin. The other two species Automate rugosa Coutière, 1902 , and Automate isabelae sp. nov. both have the palm of major chela with dorsal and ventral margin tuberculate. The other eight species of the genus have the dorsal and ventral margins of major chela smooth, sometimes slightly sinuous or with a shallow notch, but without trace of large tubercles.

Automate rugosa View in CoL , is an endemic eastern Pacific species widely distributed, between Mexico and Panama ( Coutière 1900, 1902; De man 1911; Wicksten 1981; Wicksten & Hendrickx 1992, 2003; Hendrickx & Wicksten 2001, 2011; De Grave & Fransen 2011), and is considered in this study, as the sister species of Automate isabelae View in CoL sp. nov., from the western Atlantic. Although this assertion need molecular analysis confirmation, is clear that with the information available based on the external morphological characters, this theory can be supported.

Automate rugosa View in CoL , was initially barely mentioned by Coutière (1900: 357), without figures or a recognized full description. Nevertheless, a couple of years later he published the full description, including the type locality station, and its geographical coordinates—N of Isla Pedro Gonzalez, Archipiélago de Las Perlas, Gulf of Panama—but again he included no illustrations (see Coutière 1902: 341). Therefore, the first mention of A. rugosa View in CoL , in Coutière’s (1900) paper, is considerate a nomen nudum (Sammy De Grave, pers. comm.).

According with the description and figures provided by Wicksten (1981), the following set of characters could be used to discriminate Automate rugosa View in CoL from Automate isabelae View in CoL sp. nov.: the third maxilliped of A. rugosa View in CoL overreaches the antennal peduncle by the length of the ultimate segment, and the penultimate segment is more than half the length of distal segment; instead in Automate isabelae View in CoL sp. nov. the distal margin of antepenultimate segment overreaches the distal end of carpocerite, and the penultimate segment is less than 0.4 of the length of distal segment.

The major cheliped carpus of A. rugosa is about half the length of the palm, and apparently lack a spiniform seta on the ventral margin. The merus is subequal in length to the palm, elongated, and the proportions of the figure presented by Wicksten (1981, Fig. 2a View FIGURE 2 ) is about 2.3 times as long as wide, the proximal third of the ventral margin is projected, and the distal two thirds looks somewhat concave. The dactylus of major chela is furnished with a tuft of long setae located on the external side, and the proximodorsal margin is smooth, without teeth or protuberances. The major chela is 1.8 times as long as broad, and ovoid in lateral view, the palm is almost square, with dorsoproximal area irregularly depressed, and the fingers occupying the distal 0.4. The pollex or fixed finger cutting edge of the major chela is smooth and unarmed, and the external palm have five slight ridges close to the ventral margin, near of base of fixed finger. In contrast in Automate isabelae sp. nov. the major cheliped carpus is only one third the length of the palm, and the ventral margin is armed with a strong spiniform seta. The merus is short, about 0.6 of the palm length, and 1.4 times as long as broad, with the ventral margin entirely convex, without projections or concavities. The tuft of long setae of the dactylus is situated on the mesial margin. These elongated setae are more than double the diameter of normal setae, and are naked in almost the entire length, but plumose in the distal end, they are probably of tactile or sensory function, and have not been reported in any other species of the genus, although one specimen of Automate cf. evermanni , recovery in poor condition, from a fish stomach contents, also exhibited the tuft of long setae on the mesial side. However, the specimens examined of A. evermanni with chelipeds intact from FSBCI, and others recovery from fish stomachs in good condition, do not exhibit this characteristic. The dactylus proximodorsal margin is armed with a conspicuous tooth. The major chela is 1.6 times as long as broad, and subrectangular in lateral view, the palm is rectangular, with dorsoproximal region not depressed, and the fingers occupying the distal third. The cutting edge of the pollex is armed with a strong subquadrangular tooth, and the external palm lower margin is smooth and without ridges, but in the holotype the lower part of mesial palm is ornate with a small semi-ovoid smooth area surrounded by nine rounded protuberances, and in the paratypes, lacks of this ornamentation, but instead exhibits an additional row of eight to ten protuberances. These different arrangements in the major chela of Automate isabelae sp. nov. could represent some kind of morphological intraspecific variations, sexual dimorphism or simple cheliped polymorphism, which could be resolved in the future with the examination of additional material. Something similar, but on the variable proportions of the major chela, was reported by Banner & Banner (1973: 299, Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) for Automate dolichognatha De Man, 1888 . The material examined of this species from Pacific Colombia and Gulf of Mexico do not show any perceptible differences, although Anker et al. (2015) considered A dolichognatha as a complex of species that need a thorough taxonomic revision, including molecular analyses of fresh material.

The carpus ventral margin of the small cheliped of A. rugosa is not projected and is unarmed. The ventral margin of the propodus of the third pereopod is setose, without spines (see Wicksten 1981, Fig. 2b View FIGURE 2 ), and the dorsal surface of the telson lack of spines (see, Wicksten 1981, Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ). Instead in Automate isabelae sp. nov. the ventral margin of the propodus of the third pereopod is furnished with long spiniform setae along of entire margin, plus a distoventral spine just at the articulation with dactylus, and the dorsal surface of the telson is furnished with two pairs of movable spines.

Automate isabelae sp. nov. in addition to the variability mentioned above, also shows in the material available, the following variation: the dorsomesial spine present in the first antennular segment of the holotype ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) and adult paratypes, is absent in the small paratype (Fig, 4C), maybe this represents ontogenetic variability with this spine only present in large or adult specimens.

Finally, Anker & Komai (2004) proposed three informal species groups for the species of Automate , pointing out the phylogenetic heterogeneity of this genus. They putatively included A. rugosa in the Automate evermanni species group, but with the new characteristics observed in Automate isabelae sp. nov. e.g. eyes with distomesial projection (characteristic previously reported only in Automate salomoni Coutiere 1908 , from Salomon Island, Chagos Archipelago), the presence of a ventrodistal spine on the propodus of third and fourth pereopods, the conical dactylus of third and fifth pereopod, and the tuberculate major chela palm, suggest the need for a redefinition of these groups or the creation of a new group to include A. rugosa and Automate isabelae sp. nov. Also, all species of Automate need more detailed study including molecular analysis ( Anker et al. 2015).