Paralomis mendagnai Macpherson, 2003

Hall, Sally & Thatje, Sven, 2010, King crabs up-close: ontogenetic changes in ornamentation in the family Lithodidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura), with a focus on the genus Paralomis, Zoosystema 32 (3), pp. 495-524 : 504

Paralomis mendagnai Macpherson, 2003 ( Fig. 6 )

Paralomis mendagnai Macpherson, 2003: 414 , figs 1-3.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Solomon Islands, 9°06.9’S, 159°53.2’E, 869-912 m

DISTRIBUTION. — Solomon Islands, 400-1200 m.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 6 ♀♀ (CL 7-49.9 mm), 6 šš (CL 11-59 mm).

SPECIMENS FIGURED. — Solomon Islands, 896-1012 m, 25-26.IX.2001, 3 šš CL 11, 36, 58.8 mm ( MNHN Pg-6408).

REMARKS

From an ovigerous female found 700-800 m in the Solomon Islands, this species is known to be reproductively mature by at least CL 50 mm. Paralomis mendagnai appears to be different from other South Pacific groups studied ( Fig. 14 ) in the smoothly rounded tubercles of the adults, which have pits (possibly minute setae) on the apex (not in a circular pattern). Specimens in the CL 10-25 mm size class had conical, or spiniform tubercles, unlike anything found on specimens above CL 30 mm. The small paratype of P. mendagnai , ( Fig. 6A, B ) has a spiniform enlargement ( Fig. 6B ) of one of the conical tubercles of the mid-branchial region, whereas the surrounding tubercles are much smaller. In positions on the carapace where juveniles have such enlarged conical tubercles, specimens larger than CL 30 mm have only wide (> 3 mm diameter), flat or rounded tubercles ( Fig. 4D, F).

Figures

FIG. 6. — Paralomis mendagnai Macpherson,2003: A, B, š CL 11 mm (MNHN Pg-6408), Solomon Islands, 1001-1012 m, 26.IX.2001, SALOMON 1, stn CP 1753; C, D, š CL 36 mm (MNHN Pg-6408), Solomon Islands, 896-912 m, 25.IX.2001, SALOMON 1, stn CP 1752;E, F, holotype š 58.8 mm (MNHN Pg-6408),Solomon Islands, 896-912 m, 25.IX.2001, SALOMON 1, stn CP 1752;A, carapace, dorsal view; B, mid-branchial region, dorsal view; C, carapace, dorsal view; D, mid-branchial region, dorsal view; E, carapace, dorsal view; F, mid-branchial flattened tubercle. Scale bars: A, C, E, 5 mm; B, D, F, 1 mm.

FIG. 14. — Central Pacific Paralomis White,1856 species:A, P.seagranti Eldredge,1976,š CL 74.7 mm (MNHN Pg-4265);B, P.dawsoni Macpherson, 2001, ♀ CL 57.3 mm (MNHN Pg-4279); C, P. haigae Eldredge, 1976, š CL 49.9 mm (MNHN Pg-4276); D, P. hirtella de Saint-Laurent & Macpherson, 1997, š CL 47 mm (MNHN Pg-4662); A-D mid-branchial tubercles, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.