Pontoniopsis comanthi Borradaile, 1915

Prakash, S. & Marimuthu, N., 2020, Notes on some crinoid associated decapod crustaceans (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 4766 (1), pp. 86-100 : 92-93

Pontoniopsis comanthi Borradaile, 1915

Restricted synonymy:

Pontoniopsis comanthi Borradaile, 1915 , 213. Holthuis, 1952: 153, figs. 70, 71. Bruce, 1980: 396–398, figs. 3D. 4, 5. Chace and Bruce, 1993: 543, 130. De Grave, 2000: 70, 143.

Material examined. Single female (cl 1.8 mm, tl 5.7 mm), India, Lakshadweep, Agatti Island, 10 o 49.901’N 72 o 08.875’E, depth 20m, on Phanogenia distincta , 06 February 2018 (ZSI/ Crustacea /C8030/2).

Short Description. Rostrum less acute, compressed and lanceolate, antennal scale with distolateral tooth not extending distal margin of the blade, orbit well developed. Proximal segment of antennular peduncle armed with a large acute tooth and the distolateral angle with large acute lateral tooth. First pereiopod normal but compressed. Fingers subequal to the palm, slender and straight tapering with feebly hooked tips without cutting edges. Major second pereiopod similar to first but dactyl bears a well-developed medial flange and has two large acute teeth on the cutting edge. The fixed finger has two large acute teeth on the cutting edge with two large teeth proximally and rounded tooth distally. Tips of the fingers strongly hooked. Carpus unarmed, merus with large distoventral tooth. The last three pereiopods are slender. Dactyl slender and strongly curved with unguis distinct, ventral border sinuous with small accessory tooth along with long filamentous setae. The merus, coxa and ischium are normal.

Coloration. Coloration not known.

Distribution. Indo-Pacific: Torres Strait, East Africa, Indonesia, Great Barrier Reef, Mariana, Gilbert and Fiji Islands ( Borradaile 1915, Holthuis 1952, Bruce 1980, Chace & Bruce 1993), Papua New Guinea ( De Grave 2000) and in the Red Sea. Now from India ( Lakshadweep).

Host. Commonly associated with different species of crinoids ( Chace & Bruce 1993). Our specimen was collected from Phanogenia distincta from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep.

Remarks. Pontoniopsis comanthi can be easily distinguished by rostrum without teeth on both the dorsal and ventral regions, and well-developed orbital region. In our study, a single individual was found, cohabiting with Synalpheus comatularum in the crinoid host Phanogenia distincta . This species is reported for the first time from India.