Atlantophila, Galil, 2009

Galil, Bella S., 2009, An examination of the genus Philyra Leach, 1817 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Leucosiidae) with descriptions of seven new genera and six new species, Zoosystema 31 (2), pp. 279-320 : 290

Genus Atlantophila n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Philyra cristata Miers, 1881 .

ETYMOLOGY. — Atlantophila – referring to the type species’ distribution along the Atlantic coast of Africa. Gender feminine.

DIAGNOSIS. — Carapace suborbicular, regions of carapace indistinct, margins cristate, lamellate. Dorsal surface of carapace glabrous. Frontal region squat, upcurved, laterally concave. Antennular fossa transversely ovoid, antennules fold obliquely within fossa. Antennae short, inserted between antennular fossa and orbit. Orbits small, rounded, outer orbital margin unisutured. Eyes retractable. Anterior margin of efferent branchial channel forms part of lower orbital margin, visible in dorsal view. External maxilliped exopod laciniate/lingulate, slightly wider than endopod; endopodal ischium slightly shorter than subtriangular merus, lacking in female setose fringe lengthwise. Epimeral margin minutely beaded, continuous with cristate posterior margin; deflexed posterior surface granulate. Chelipeds subequal, robust, longer in adult male than in female specimens. Cheliped merus triquetral in cross-section, margins granulate. Carpus, propodus carinate; fingers shorter than upper margin of palm. Pereiopods slender, short; dactyli longer than propodi, lanceolate, terminating in cornute tips. Male abdominal sulcus deep, nearly reaching buccal cavity. First abdominal segment of male transversely narrow. Second to sixth abdominal segments fused; bearing a minute denticle subdistally; telson triangular. Female abdomen with first segment transversely narrow, yoke-like; second to six segments fused, greatly enlarged, shield-like; telson triangular. First male pleopod elongate, shaft stout, sinuous, coiled on itself, apical process digitate, cornute, enclosed in setose muff. Second male pleopod short, curved, apex acuminate.

REMARKS

Miers (1881: 264) doubted the placement of the species when he commented “I refer the species to the genus Philyra ; but it may not improbably be found to constitute the type of a distinct genus intermediate between Philyra and Onychomorpha . It differs from all other species of the genus […] in the marginal crest or rim of the carapace, and in the form of the male postabdomen.” Although superficially resembling Onychomorpha Stimpson, 1858 , in general body shape, with its lamellate carapacial margins and highly carinate palms, Atlantophila n. gen. is distinguished by the expanded anterior margins of efferent branchial channels,visible in dorsal view; the expanded, shelf-like posterior margin; the segmentation of male and female abdomen; and the form of the male pleopods. The coiled shaft and the distally setose muff enveloping the apical process of the male pleopod of Atlantophila n. gen. is somewhat similar to that of Leucosia Weber, 1795 , and Soceulia Galil, 2006 ( Galil 2003, 2006).