Yuebeipotamon calciatile, Huang, Chao, Shih, Hsi-Te & Mao, Si Ying, 2016

Huang, Chao, Shih, Hsi-Te & Mao, Si Ying, 2016, Yuebeipotamoncalciatile, a new genus and new species of freshwater crab from southern China (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae), ZooKeys 615, pp. 61-72 : 63-67

Taxon classification Plantae Decapoda Potamidae

Yuebeipotamon calciatile sp. n. Figs 1, 2, 3, 4

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂ (32.4 × 27.0 mm) (SYSBM 001294), Yingde, Guangdong, China, karstic hillstream, coll. C. Huang, Jun. 2014. Paratypes: 1 ♀ (allotype) (33.0 × 27.9 mm) (SYSBM 001295), same data as holotype; 2 ♂♂ (40.6 × 32.5 mm, 41.0 × 32.9 mm) (SYSBM 001296, 001297), same data as holotype; 1 ♂ (37.9 × 31.8 mm) (IZCAS), same data as holotype. Others: 3 ♂♂ (38.3 × 31.7 mm, 36.5 × 29.9 mm, 20.7 × 17.4 mm) (SYSBM 001298, 001299, 001300), Yingde, Guangdong, China, karstic hill stream, coll. G.-H. Yuan, May 2014; 2 ♀♀ (17.1 × 14.2 mm, 18.2 × 14.8 mm) (SYSBM 001301, 001302), same data as above.

Diagnosis.

As for genus.

Description.

Carapace subquadrate; dorsal surface slightly convex transversely, longitudinally; surface with rugose on anterolateral region (Fig. 2A). Front slightly deflexed, margin almost straight on dorsal view (Fig. 2A). Epigastric cristae low, separated by narrow gap (Fig. 2A, B). Postorbital cristae blunt, laterally expanded, not fused with epigastric cristae or reach the anterolateral margin (Fig. 2A, B). Branchial regions slightly convex (Fig. 2A). Cervical groove shallow, inconspicuous (Fig. 2A). Mesogastric region slightly convex (Fig. 2A). External orbital angle sharply triangular (Fig. 2A). Epibranchial tooth pointed, distinct (Fig. 2A, B). Anterolateral margin distinctly cristate, lined with approximately 17-19 granules; lateral part bent inwards (Fig. 2A). Posterolateral margin comparatively smooth, lined with multiple oblique striae, converging towards posterior carapace margin (Fig. 2A). Orbits large; supraorbital and infraorbital margins cristate, lined with numerous inconspicuous granules (Fig. 2B). Suborbital, subhepatic and upper parts of pterygostomial regions covered with rounded granules (Fig. 2B). Third maxilliped with merus about 1.1 times as broad as long; ischium about 1.5 times as long as broad; merus trapezoidal, with median depression; ischium trapezoidal, with distinct median sulcus; exopod reaching to proximal third of merus, with short flagellum reaching proximal three-fifths width of merus; upper-inner margin of ischium forming subauriculiform structure (Figs 2B, 3D). Posterior margin of epistome narrow; median lobe sharply triangular, lateral margins almost straight (Fig. 2B).

Chelipeds unequal (Fig. 2A). Merus cross-section trigonal; margins crenulated, dorsal-outer surface granulated (Fig. 2B). Carpus with sharp spine at inner-distal angle, spinule at base, dorsal surface with curved striae (Fig. 2A). Palm of larger chela about 1.6 times as long as high. Movable finger equal to fixed finger (Fig. 2A). Inner margin of fingers with rounded, blunt teeth; with small gap when fingers closed.

Ambulatory legs relatively slender, surfaces generally smooth (Fig. 2A). Last leg with propodus about 2.5 times as long as board, approximately same length as dactylus (Fig. 2A).

Male thoracic sternum generally smooth, weakly pitted; sternites 1, 2 completely fused to form triangular structure; sternites 2, 3 separated by continuous suture; sternites 3, 4 fused without obvious median suture; male sterno-abdominal cavity reaching to imaginary line joining median part of coxae of cheliped; median longitudinal groove between sternites 7, 8 deep (Figs 2C, 4C).

Male abdomen narrowly triangular; somites 3-6 progressively broader longitudinally; somite 6 about 1.9 times as board as long; telson about 1.5 times as board as long with a rounded tip, lateral margins of telson slightly concave (Fig. 2C).

G 1 generally slender; terminal segment large, elongated, inner margin with subbasal flap; tip of terminal segment reaches beyond tubercle of abdominal lock in situ; distal part of subterminal segment relatively narrow; subterminal segment about 1.3 times as long as terminal segment (Fig. 2D, 3B, C). G2 basal segment about 2.8 times length of flagelliform distal segment (Fig. 3A).

Variation.

Adult specimens are usually much more brightly colored than juveniles. The terminal segment of the G1 may vary in proportionate length, while the angle at which it points varies from around 45-60 degrees.

Etymology.

The species name, “calciatile”, means living on limestone, relating to its natural habitat.

Color.

Carapace is usually maroon to dark brown, while chelipeds and ambulatory legs are reddish to purplish in life (Fig. 1A).

Ecology.

This primarily aquatic species is found in the pools of limestone hill streams where they hide in crevices. Almost each pool was occupied by at least one crab at the type locality, which is a relatively high density of distribution. Its slender legs indicate that this species has good climbing abilities and mobility on land. These abilities are assumed to be advantageous in the volatile and short-lived nature of limestone hill streams, which may force them to intermittently find new water sources. No other potamids were observed at the type locality.