Lyphira natalensis, 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 : 302

Lyphira natalensis n. sp

( Fig. 15 )

Philyra globulosa – Barnard 1947: 374, 1950: 383, fig. 72k-n. — Kensley 1981: 39.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: South Africa. Off Natal, between Durban and St. Lucia, 3-20 m, V.1948, id. K. H. Barnard as P. globulosa , 1 ♂ cl 13.7 mm ( SAM A39543). Paratypes: same data, 1 ♂ cl 13.2 mm, 1 ♀ cl 12.2 mm ( SAM A39543). — Off Natal, 1 ♂ cl 16.7 mm ( SAM A15284). — Off Natal, II.1989, coll. T. Forbes, id. W. Emmerson as P. globosa , 1 ♂ cl 14.8 mm ( SAM A45404).

ETYMOLOGY. — After the type location, Natal province, South Africa.

DISTRIBUTION. — Known only from the type locality, Natal, South Africa.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace bearing closely-spaced minute granules; hepatic, branchial and intestinal regions bear slightly larger, perliform granules; intestinal region slightly tumescent. Frontal margin minutely granulate. Circumference of carapace behind front irregularly beaded, granules variable in size. Anterior margin of epistome medially notched, emargination bound by prominent inner angles of afferent branchial canals. External maxillipeds minutely granulate, exopod narrowly oval. Pterygostomian region prominently granulate. Anterolateral margin sinuous, posterolateral margin arcuate. Thoracic sternites granulate. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus in both male and female specimens prominently granulate. Fused male abdominal segments 2-6 in male bearing granulate basal knobs separated by concavity; subterminal denticle bent posteriorly. Margins of fused abdominal segments in female granulate, prominently granulate areas laterobasally. Cheliped merus longer than carapace in adult male; granulate, granules decreasing in size distally. Carpus with row of granules on inner margin; patch of minute granules distally on upper margin. Propodus lenticular, minutely granulate. Fingers fluted, minutely granulate; inner margin of pollex bearing large triangular dentiform tubercle proximally. Granulation in female specimens less prominent. Merus of first pereiopod bearing line of granules ventrally; meri of pereiopods 2-4 bear stripe of minute granules along ventral margin; carpi and propodi smooth. Male first pleopod with apical process flattened, squat, distally rounded.

REMARKS

Barnard (1950: 383, 384, fig. 72 l) noted the narrower shape of the external maxilliped exopod in the South African specimens, as well as the lesser granulation of carapace and chelipeds.Indeed, both characters, and the proportionally longer chelipeds in adult males, easily separate L. natalensis n. sp. from its congeners.

Figures

FIG. 15.— Lyphira natalensis n.sp., ♂ holotype cl 13.7 mm,South Africa (SAM A39543), dorsal view.