Hiplyra variegata ( Rüppell, 1830 ) 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 : 297-299

Hiplyra variegata ( Rüppell, 1830) n. comb. ( Fig. 13 )

Myra variegata Rüppell, 1830: 17 , pl. 4.4.

Philyra platycheira – Paulson 1875: 83, pl. 10, fig. 3. — Alcock 1896: 242 (the specimens from the Persian Gulf).

Philyra variegata – Nobili 1906: 169. — Laurie 1915: 410.— Balss 1915: 14. — Stephensen 1945: 89, figs 15f-k, 16. — Serène 1968: 46.

Philyra platychira – Balss 1915: 14.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Syntypes: Egypt. Tor, Sinai Peninsula, among corals, id. E. Rüppell as Myra variegata ( SMF 11121).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Red Sea. Gulf of Suez, pres. R. McAndrew, 3 ovig. ♀♀ cl 6.4-6.6 mm (NHM 1869.49). — 1847, coll. Comte de Paris , labelled Philyra regalis , 1 ♂ cl 10.7 mm, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 10.0 mm ( MNHN 205 ). — Dry collection ; 23.XI.1997, 1 ♂ cl 9.6 mm ( NMW 19054). — Ghuleifaka, 20.XII.1897, “Pola”, 1 ovig. ♀ ( NMW 19055). — Perim, 3. XII.1897, “Pola”, 2 ovig. ♀♀ ( NMW 19056) .

Israel. Eilat, V.1955, coll. H. Steinitz, 1 ♂ cl 8.9 mm ( RMNH D14973).

Egypt. Sharem el Naga, 33 km S of Hurghada, coll. J. Goud & W. Van Dongen, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 8.8 mm ( RMNH D38548). — Sinai, Shurat el Mankata, 15.IX.1967, coll. L. Fishelson, 3 ♂♂ cl 6.2-8.3 mm ( RMNH D24866). — Sinai, Ras Muhamad, 17.IX.1967, coll. L. Fishelson, 11 ♂♂ cl 9.0- 10.6 mm, 11 ovig. ♀♀ cl 8.0- 9.4 mm ( RMNH D24861).

Eritrea. Cundabilu I., Dahlak Archipelago, on sand, 0-1 m, 14.III.1962, coll. ISRSE, 5 ♂♂ cl 7.3-9.7 mm, 7 ♀♀ cl 7.7-8.6 mm ( RMNH D24863). — Museri I., Dahlak Archipelago, on sand, 26.X.1965, coll. ISRSE, 1 ♂ cl 8.7 mm ( RMNH D24865). — Enteraia I., Dahlak Archipelago, among Cystoseira , 0-1 m depth, 26.III.1962, coll. ISRSE, 1 ♂ cl 6.9 mm, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 7.9 mm ( RMNH D24867).

Aden. 1897, coll. F. P. Jousseaume, id. G. Nobili, 1 ♂ cl 8.8 mm, 6 ♀♀ cl 6.1-6.6 mm ( MNHN 17046).

Djibouti. 1897, coll. H. Coutière, id. G. Nobili, 6 ♂♂ cl 6.6-12.0 mm, 3 ♀♀ cl 7.9-10 mm ( MNHN 17044). — Obock, 1897, coll. F. P. Jousseaume, id. G. Nobili, 6 ♂♂ cl 6.1-8.3 mm, 22 ♀♀ cl 5.5-8.4 mm ( MNHN 17043). — 1904, coll. C. Gravier, id. G. Nobili, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 10.9 mm ( MNHN 17045).

Kenya. Mombasa, coll. H. Copley, 1 ♂ cl 8.8 mm (NHM 1955.6.22.49).

DISTRIBUTION. — Known from the Red Sea, the East African coast to Mombasa, Kenya, and the Persian Gulf.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace minutely granulate anteriorly, somewhat larger granules along posterolateral margins. Hepatic region distinctly tumescent. Branchio-cardiac grooves shallow.Front squat, with median cleavage. Anterior margin of epistome medially notched. Anterior margin of efferent channel sinuous, separated from minutely beaded lateral margin by U-shaped incision, lateral margin nearly reaching as far forward as anterior margin. Upper margin of subhepatic facet medially with granulate tubercle, lower margin beaded. Lateral margin of carapace posteriorly to subhepatic facet closely beaded,granules smaller posteriorly.Epimeral surface smooth; epimeral margin minutely beaded. Sternal plates minutely granulate anteriorly, swollen laterally. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus prominently granulate. Fused male abdominal segments 2-6 bearing nearly smooth basal knobs; telson not proximally swollen.First abdominal segments in female trilobate, lobes separated by indentations; fused abdominal segments in female smooth. Cheliped merus nearly as long as carapace in male; its surface minutely granulate, with perliform granules anteriorly.Lower margin of propodus minutely granulate,upper margin minutely granulate.Dactyl longer than upper margin of propodus, sickle-shaped, its inner margin smooth. Pollex bearing two triangular denticles distally. Male first pleopod with minute apical process.

REMARKS

Neither Rüppell’s description, nor his drawing are accurate, but Nobili (1906: 169) who examined the specimens, agreed with Alcock’s (1896: 243) observations that “The Persian Gulf specimens [have] the immobile finger denticulate beyond the line of hair.” Indeed, H. variegata n. comb. differs from its congeners in its smaller size, marbelized colour pattern dorsally on the carapace, and in having two triangular denticles distally on the pollex.

Colour

“Blassgelblich, auf dem Rückenschild […] labyrinthartigen braunen Linien marmoriert” [carapace pale yellowish […] marbled with reticulate brown lines] ( Rüppell 1830: 18). “The cephalothorax is light in colour; on some of the specimens there are irregular brown lines, which form a reticulate pattern on the cephalothorax and on the chelipeds.” ( Paulson 1875: 83); “the dorsal surface much mottled with green and brown” ( Alcock 1896: 243).

Figures

FIG. 13. — Hiplyra variegata (Rüppell, 1830) n. comb., ♂ cl 9.6 mm, Red Sea (NMW 19054): A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.