Galilia narusei, Ng, Peter K. L. & Forges, Bertrand Richer De, 2007

Ng, Peter K. L. & Forges, Bertrand Richer De, 2007, A new genus and new species of leucosiid crab from New Caledonia, with a note on the validity of Tanaoa serenei (Richer de Forges, 1983) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), Zootaxa 1662, pp. 15-24 : 18-23

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.179982

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6248671

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C387D6-FA74-FFAD-FF37-BE6EFC66FC8E

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Galilia narusei
status

sp. nov.

Galilia narusei View in CoL , new species

( Figs. 2–3 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 , 4G View FIGURE 4. G 1 s. A – C –I, 5B)

Material examined. Holotype male (31.2 x 32.2 mm) ( MNHN), station 2050, Jumeau Bank East (Twin East Seamount), Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia, 23°42.2’S 168°15.7’E, 377 m, coll. B. Richer de Forges, 24 October 2003.

Diagnosis. Carapace rounded, slightly broader than long ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A); regions well demarcated, grooves between regions distinct, especially branchial ones; surface covered by large, rounded pustule-like tubercles, and numerous small pearliform or fungiform granules and numerous bumps ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B–D, F); large tubercles on gastric region relatively low, those on branchial regions large, more numerous (ca. 20 on each side) ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B, D); hepatic region with 2 large rounded tubercles ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B, C, E); cardiac region prominently swollen, highest point with large conical tubercle ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B, D); intestinal region with 2 large rounded tubercles, directed posteriorly ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F). Front bilobed, lobes low, separated by broad V-shaped cleft, each lobe triangular, tip rounded, surface covered with numerous small granules ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 B, C, E). Third maxilliped finely granular ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, E). Chelipeds less than 2 times carapace length ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A), completely covered with small granules on all articles, including fingers ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 A; 3D–F); merus gently curved ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 D); carpus relatively short, with 2 low ridges on external margin ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 D); palm slightly inflated ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E, F); fingers long, curved, cutting edges with numerous denticles ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E, F). Ambulatory legs relatively short, surfaces completely granular ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A); length decreasing gradually from first to fourth ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A). Thoracic sternum with sternites 5–7 medially depressed, appearing sunken ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 B, C); sternites 3 and 4 swollen, raised ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 B); sterno-abdominal cavity narrow, very deep ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 A, B). Male abdomen with 6 segments, 3–6 fused, sutures between 3, 4 and 5 shallow, just discernible but segments immovable ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 A, C), distal border of segment 6 with distinct laterally flattened tooth ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 A, B); telson slender, elongate, tongue-shaped ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 A, B), strongly curved as it fits into sterno-abdominal cavity of swollen sternites 4 and 5 ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 A, B). G1 slender, long, distal third very slen- der, pectinated, curving sharply towards sternum at approximately 90° angle ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4. G 1 s. A – C , H), tip rounded ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4. G 1 s. A – C I).

Coloration. The carapace of the freshly collected specimen was bright orange, with orange granules on the chelipeds and orange bands on the legs ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 B).

Etymology. The species is named after Tohru Naruse, who has helped us with many aspects of our studies of the Philippine crab material in the ZRC.

Remarks. See comments for genus.

General Comments. Some comments on various taxa originally in Randallia and revised by Galil (2003) are necessary. There is a small nomenclatural problem in the case of R. pustulilabris Alcock, 1896 , which has not been previously mentioned. In describing this as a species of Randallia, Alcock (1896: 194) commented that he “ … thought it justifiable to change the name of this species from granulosa to pustulilabris , as Miers, ‘Challenger’ Brachyura (1886) p. 317 has already used the very similar name granulata for a species belonging to this genus as here defined”. In the volume of “Investigator” plates, on the captions page facing plate 14, Alcock & Anderson (1896) wrote: “ Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 . – Randallia pustulilabris, Alcock. Journal, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. LXV. Pt. 2, 1896 (= Leucosilia granulosa, Alcock and Anderson. ” (see Clark & Crosnier 1992, for the dates of the various “Investigator” plates). However, on plate 24 itself, all the species figured are also named at the bottom of the page, and here, the name “ Leucosilia granulosa ” is used instead. It seems obvious that “ Leucosilia granulosa ” was the name originally used by Alcock but after he changed his mind, he altered the name in the description and captions page to Randallia pustulilabris but not the headings on the actual plate. Leucosilia granulosa Alcock & Anderson, 1896 , is an available name under the Articles 12.2.7 and 13.1.3 of the Code (ICZN 1999). It is nevertheless, clearly an objective synonym of Randallia pustulilabris Alcock, 1896 , according to Article 72.7 and therefore share the same type series.

Two other Randallia species require comment. In describing R. serenei, Richer de Forges (1983) compared it with R. granulata Miers, 1886 , and figured a syntype male from Fiji (Richer de Forges 1993: Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 , 6). While the two species are clearly different, they are nevertheless close, and we see no reason why Miers’ species should notr type species agreeing in all diagnostic characters. Galil (2003) had already included this species when describing Toru .

One of the characters cited by Galil (2003: 396) to distinguish Randallia sensu stricto was that members had “the antennular operculum entirely sealing the antennular aperture”. We are not sure of what Galil meant, but presumably, it is similar to the character first utilised by Tan & Ng (1995: 167, Fig. 29) in their revision of the leucosiid genus Oreophorus Rüppell, 1830 . In that revision, some genera (e.g. Oreophorus and Oreotlos Ihle, 1918 ) had a small basal antennular article which only covers half of the fossa even when it is completely retracted (Tan & Ng 1995: Fig. 29A). In genera like Alox Tan & Ng, 1995 , and Dolos Tan & Richer de Forges, 1993, the basal antennular article is large and completely seals the fossa when it is retracted (Tan & Ng 1995: Fig. 29B). In all the Indo-West Pacific genera allied to Randallia recognised by Galil (2003), the basal antennular article is relatively small and never occupies much of the fossa. With the rest of the antennule folding into the fossa, the space is filled up to differing degrees, from completely in Galilia narusei ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, E) to leaving a small gap (e.g. in Tanaoa distinctus and Urashima pustuloides ).

MNHN

Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Malacostraca

Order

Decapoda

Family

Leucosiidae

Genus

Galilia

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