Munidopsis strigula, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, Species of the genus Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1784 from the Indian and Pacific Oceans and reestablishment of the genus Galacantha A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae), Zootaxa 1417, pp. 1-135 : 106-108

Munidopsis strigula n. sp.

( Fig. 49)

Material examined. Solomon Islands, SALOMON 1, Stn 1753, 1001– 1012 m: 1 M 8.5 mm (MNHN- Ga5569).—Stn 1807, 1077– 1135 m: 1 M 8.0 mm, 2 ovig. F 8.1–11.4 mm (MNHN-Ga5570). SALOMON 2, Stn 2182, 762– 1060 m: 1 M 8.1 mm (MNHN-Ga5571). —Stn 2197, 897– 1057 m: 1 M 7.5 mm, 1 ovig. F 8.2 mm, 1 F 4.3 mm (MNHN-Ga5568), 1 F 11.9 mm (MNHN-5567). —Stn 2216, 930– 977 m: 1 M 8.6 mm (MNHN-Ga5572).—Stn 2230, 837– 945 m: 1 M 7.4 mm, 3 ovig. F 6.8–9.6 mm (MNHN-Ga5573).—Stn 2243, 518– 527 m: 1 M 8.8 mm (MNHN-Ga5574).—Stn 2251, 1000–1050 m: 2 ovig. F 9.8–11.4 mm (MNHN-Ga5575).—Stn 2252, 1059– 1109 m: 1 ovig. F 10.6 mm (MNHN-Ga5576).

Types. The female of 11.9 mm from SOLOMON 2, Stn 2197 is the holotype (MNHN-Ga5567). The other specimens are paratypes.

Etymology. From the Latin strigula , dim, in reference to the ridges in the abdominal segments. As a substantive, in apposition.

Description. Carapace longer than wide, dorsal surface unarmed, nearly devoid of setae, regions well defined, bifurcated cervical groove slightly distinct. Gastric region convex, distinctly circumscribed, having some weak transverse ridges in anterior half. Cardiac region depressed in front of elevated transverse ridge. Posterior transverse ridge slightly elevated, uninterrupted and unarmed. Rostrum broadly triangular, about half as long as remaining carapace, maximum width one-quarter carapace breadth, flattish dorsally, slightly upturned distally, lateral margins cristate, finely serrated, subparallel in proximal half, convergent distally. Front margin slightly oblique, different in level in mesial and lateral halves of width. Lateral margins convex, cristate, overhanging pterygostomian flap, weakly notched at end of anterior branch of cervical groove.

Sternum 1.3 times longer than wide, maximum width at sternites 6 and 7. Sternites feebly granulated. Sternite 3 with 2 anterior lobes, separated by notch, about 2.5 times as wide as long; sternite 4 narrow anteriorly, maximum width 2.5 times that of sternite 3, lateral margins concave.

Abdominal segments unarmed, segments 2–4 each with sharply elevated anterior ridge and narrow median groove; posterolateral lobes of segment 6 distinct but not overreaching transverse posteromedian margin. Telson divided into 11 or 12 plates, posterior plates combined 1.7 times as wide as long.

Eye small, falling short of midlength of rostrum; ocular peduncle movable; cornea moderately cylindrical, as long as remaining eyestalk; distinct spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles.

Basal article of antennular peduncle with denticulated distomesial process, strong distodorsal and distolateral spines, distodorsal spine sometimes bifurcated.

Antennal peduncle having basal article with blunt distomesial and distolateral processes; articles 2–4 distolaterally and distomesially produced.

Mxp 3 merus having 2 strong spines and a few small ones on flexor margin, extensor distal margin with small spine.

P1 granulated, spineless, with numerous setae more dense on mesial and lateral margins, about 1.5–2.0 times carapace length; merus nearly twice length of carpus; carpus 1.5–1.8 times as long as wide, and shorter than palm; palm 1.5–2.0 times longer than high, as long as or slightly longer than fingers, fixed finger without denticulate carina on distolateral margin.

P2–4 barely setose, relatively slender; meri decreasing in length posteriorly, dorsal margin carinate, ven- tral border rounded; carpi with lateral carina; propodi with two longitudinal ridges along dorsal border, ventral margin rounded, with distal minute spinules. P2 reaching end of P1 carpus, 1.3 times carapace length, 3 times as long as high, 2.5 times length of carpus and about 1.5 times length of propodus; propodus nearly 4 times as long as high and 1.5 times length of dactylus; dactylus ending in curved claw preceded by 5–7 proximally diminishing teeth on nearly straight flexor margin, each tooth bearing short seta, ultimate tooth closer to penultimate one than to end of terminal claw.

Epipods absent from P1–4.

Remarks. Munidopsis strigula is closely related to M. carinimarginata Baba, 1988 (see above). The following characters can distinguish the two species:

— The rostrum is slightly deflexed in M. carinimarginata , instead of being distally upcurved in M. strigula .

— The anterior ridges of abdominal segments 2–4 are clearly more produced in M. strigula than in M. carinimarginata .

— The epigastric region is more convex in M. strigula than in M. carinimarginata .

— The P1 fingers are shorter than palm in M. carinimarginata , being subequal to or longer in the new species; the palm is 1.5–2.0 times longer than high in M. strigula , being 2.5–3.5 times longer in M. carinimarginata .

— The P2 reaches the end of the P1 carpus in M. strigula , whereas it does not in M. carinimarginata .

Distribution. Solomon Islands, between 518 and 1109 m.