Latreillopsis trispinosa, Forges & Ng, 2008

Forges, Bertrand Richer De & Ng, Peter K. L., 2008, New western Pacific records of Homolidae De Haan, 1839, with descriptions of new species of Homolochunia Doflein, 1904, and Latreillopsis Henderson, 1888 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), Zootaxa 1967, pp. 1-35 : 31-32

Latreillopsis trispinosa n. sp.

( Figs. 24A–C, 25A–C)

Latreillopsis bispinosa forme trispinosa — Guinot & Richer de Forges 1995: 398, fig. 35f–g, 41A, 43A.

Latreillopsis trispinosa — Ng et al. 2008: 40.

Material examined. Philippines: eastern coast of Luzon : stn. DW 2759, 15°55.30’N 121°49.46’E, 122–139 m, 4 June 2007: 1 male holotype (7.2 x 4.9 mm) (NMCR). – AURORA 2007, CP 2654, 16°04.74’N 121°57.50’E, 98–107 m, 20 May 2007: 1 ovigerous female broken paratype (12.8 x 7.8 mm) (MNHN- B31306).— Stn. CP 2747, 15°54.51’N 121°42.03’E, 120–124 m, 2 June 2007: 1 damaged male paratype (7.6 x 5.8 mm) ( ZRC 2008.1001 ) .

Diagnosis. Small-size species (ovigerous female 12.8 mm carapace length, adult male holotype 7.2 mm carapace length). Carapace quadrangular, with several swellings, spines. Rostrum single, tip sharp, with 2 curved pseudorostral spines slightly longer than rostrum. Mesogastric region with median granule; cardiac region forming swelling smaller than gastric region. Subhepatic region inflated at anterolateral angle, with 3 spines, anterior longest, 2 others shorter, less sharp. Ocular peduncles long, thin. Antennae basal article with strong distal spine. Third maxilliped pediform. Cheliped long, slender: propodus long, longer than other articles; merus with 3 tubercles on internal border. Ambulatory legs long, slender; sharp spine on distal end of merus of P2-P4.

Remarks. This species was first recognised in the Philippines material collected by MUSORSTOM 1 (1976) but the authors intentionally did not describe it because of the poor quality of the specimens ( Guinot & Richer de Forges 1995: 398). They nevertheless provided a detailed discussion on the main differences with L. bispinosa and L. tetraspinosa as well as good figures of the taxon ( Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995: figs. 35f–g, 43A, 41A). In their discussion they used the name “ Latreillopsis bispinosa Henderson, 1888 , forme trispinosa ” ( Guinot & Richer de Forges 1995: 398) only as a point of reference but realized that according to International Code of Zoological Nomenclature the name was not available (ICZN, Art. 10.2, 15.2) even as a subspecies name. The name was also listed by Ng et al. (2008: 40) but it is a nomen nudum as it was not accompanied by any description or indication. The material originally listed in Guinot & Richer de Forges (1995: 398) from the Philippines as “ Latreillopsis bispinosa Henderson, 1888 , forme trispinosa ” should also be regarded as paratypes.

We have again collected this species and the additional material on hand now gives us the confidence that we are in fact dealing with a distinct taxon and we now formally name it Latreillopsis trispinosa n. sp. The differences between L. trispinosa n. sp. and congeners have already been highlighted in some detail by Guinot & Richer de Forges (1995). All their comments also apply for the fresh material on hand. This species is found in relatively shallow depths ranging from only 96 to 139 m.