Hiplyra michellinae, 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 : 294-295

Hiplyra michellinae n. sp.

( Fig. 9 )

Philyra platychira – Barnard 1947: 374; 1950: 382, fig. 72j. — Kensley 1981: 39.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: South Africa. Off Natal , Ulmars River, 29°56.8’S, 31°02.1’E, 35 m, 10.VII.1985, id. M. Van der Merwe as P. globosa , 1 ♂ cl 13.5 mm ( SAM A44501 ).

Paratypes: same data, 1 ♂ cl 13.4 mm ( SAM A44501 ). — Off Natal, 29°50.5’S, 31°04’E, 20 m, 13. VII.1959, id. K. H. Barnard as P. globosa , 2 ♂♂ cl 14.3, 12.4 mm ( SAM A43213 ). — Id. K. H. Barnard as P. platychira , 2 ♂♂ cl 15.5, 13.4 mm, 5 ovig. ♀♀ cl 11.8-12.2 mm ( SAM A477). — Off Natal, 29°53.6’S, 31°04.6’E, 38 m, 16. V.1958, id. K. H. Barnard as P. platychira , 2 ♂♂ cl 13.6, 13.2 mm ( SAM A39544).

ETYMOLOGY. — Named in honour of Michelle Van der Merwe, of the South African Museum.

DISTRIBUTION. — Known only from Natal, South Africa.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace anteriorly punctuate, minutely granulate, closely granulate on branchial, and intestinal regions. Frontal region only slightly produced.Hepatic region slightly tumescent. Branchio-cardiac grooves shallow. Front produced, slightly cleaved. Anterior margin of efferent channel slightly concave, separated from minutely beaded lateral margin by tear-shaped incision, lateral margin nearly reaching as far forward as anterior margin. Upper, lower margins of subhepatic facet granulate, granules on lower margin larger. Lateral margin of carapace posterior to subhepatic facet closely beaded, granules smaller posteriorly.Epimeral surface minutely granulate; epimeral margin minutely beaded.Sternal plates raised laterally. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus prominently granulate. Abdomen in male granulate basally, distal margin raised,medially lobate. First abdominal segment in female distinctly trilobate, lobes separated by deep fissures; margins of fused abdominal segments in female minutely granulate. Cheliped merus 0.8 as long as carapace in male; its surface granulate, largest granules on anterior margin. Upper surface of propodus minutely granulate, lower margin bearing line of granules interiorly. Dactyl as long as upper margin of propodus, sickle-shaped, its inner margin carinate, smooth. Pollex bearing two triangular denticles distally. Male first pleopod with short apical process.

REMARKS

Hiplyra michellinae n. sp. differs from its congeners in having a rounded lobe distally on the male abdomen.

Figures

FIG. 9. — Hiplyra michellinae n. sp., ♂ holotype cl 13.5 mm, South Africa, off Natal, Ulmars River, 29°56.8’S, 31°02.1’E (SAM A44501); dorsal view.