Henicoplax nitida ( Miers, 1879 ) CASTRO, PETER & NG, PETER K. L., 2010

CASTRO, PETER & NG, PETER K. L., 2010, Revision of the family Euryplacidae Stimpson, 1871 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Goneplacoidea), Zootaxa 2375 (1), pp. 1-130 : 63-65

Henicoplax nitida ( Miers, 1879) , new combination

( Figs. 23A–D ; 24G, H )

“ Heteroplax ? nitidus ” Miers, 1879: 39, pl. 2, figs. 2, 2 a [Straits of Korea].

Heteroplax nitida — Balss 1922a: 137 [in list]. — Ng et al. 2008: 78 [in list].

Heteroplax nitidus — Sakai 1935: 184, pl. 54, fig. 2 [colour]; 1939: 560 [in key], 560, 722, pl. 67, fig. 3 [colour]; 1940: 57 [in list]; 1956: 46 [in list]; 1976: 531 [in key], 532, pl. 191, fig. 2 [colour] [ Japan]. — Kim 1973: 410, 637, fig. 164, pl. 85; 1977: 206 [in list] [ Korea]. — Yamaguchi et al. 1987: 22 [ Japan]. — Miyake 1991: 220 [in list; Japan]. — Karasawa & Kato 2003b: 130 [in list].

“ Heteroplax ? nitida ” — Guinot 1969b: 511 [discussion]; 1971: 1080 [in list].

not Heteroplax nitidus — Serène & Lohavanijaya 1973: 74, 98, pl. 18, figs. B–D. — Serène & Soh 1976: 23 (as H. nitidas [sic]): 23, fig. 22, pl. 6, Fig. D. [Andaman Sea coast of Thailand] (= Henicoplax pilimeles n. sp., part)

not Heteroplax nitida — Naiyanetr 1998: 78; 2007: 90 [Andaman Sea coast of Thailand]. — Ng & Davie 2002: 378 [Andaman Sea coast of Thailand]. (= Henicoplax pilimeles n. sp.)

Type material. Female holotype, 6.1 mm × 9.3 mm ( NHM 78.11 ) ( Fig. 23 ) .

Type locality. Straits of Korea, 33°40’N , 182°55’E.

Material examined. Japan. Manazuru, I. Gordon & T. Sakai coll., 1961: 1 female, 5.1 mm × 8.0 mm ( NHM 1961.11.13.53) .

Straits of Korea. 33°40’N, 182°55’E: female holotype, 6.1 mm × 9.3mm ( NHM 78.11 ) .

Hong Kong. 1 male, 2.8 mm × 4.2 mm, 1 ovigerous female, 3.6 mm × 5.5 mm (ex. SWIMS CRU-XX- 064 ; ZRC 2008 . 1358) .

Diagnosis. Chelipeds with short setae along anterior margin of carpi. G1 apex transversely cut ( Fig. 24G, H ) (see also Table 3).

Remarks. Of its congeners, Henicoplax nitida is closest to H. maldivensis ( Table 3), but both are treated here as separate species (see Remarks for H. maldivensis above).

The G1 of H. nitida is illustrated for the first time herein ( Fig. 24G, H ). It belonged to a very small male where the G2 was apparently not fully developed. It is nevertheless very similar to that of its congeners. The G1 shown by Serène & Soh (1973: fig. 22 B, Bʹ, as Heteroplax nitidus ) belongs to Henicoplax pilimeles n. sp. (see below).

Serène & Lohavanijaya (1973: 75) inexplicably commented that Henicoplax nitida (as Heteroplax nitida ) and Heteroplax nagaskiensis may be conspecific, although on the basis of the original descriptions, they are clearly different. In the present study, the two species are placed in separate genera.

Colour pattern. The female holotype was described as “whitish; brownish pink on front of carapace” ( Miers 1879: 39). A colour plate in Sakai (1976: pl. 191, fig. 1) shows scattered, purplish spots on the dorsal surface of the carapace, larger purple spots on the chelipeds, and ambulatory legs banded with purple spots.

Distribution. Western Pacific: Japan and Hong Kong. Depth: shallow subtidal.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Henicoplax nitida (Miers, 1879); female holotype of Heteroplax? nitidus Miers, 1879 (6.1 mm × 9.3mm) (NHM 78.11), Straits of Korea. A, overall view; B, third maxillipeds; C, frontal view showing orbits and antennae; D, female thoracic sternum and vulvae. Abbreviations: mg = median groove; s4–s7 = thoracic sternites 4 to 7, respectively; v = vulva.

FIGURE 24. Gonopods of Henicoplax species. A–C, Henicoplax eriochir n. sp., male holotype (5.2 mm × 8.8 mm) (MNHN-B12511), Persian Gulf; D–F, Henicoplax maldivensis (Rathbun, 1902), male holotype of Goneplax maldivensis Rathbun, 1902 (4.8 mm × 7.4 mm) (MCZ 6695), Maldives, Addu Atoll; G, H, Henicoplax nitida (Miers, 1879), male (2.8 mm × 4.2 mm) (ZRC 2008.1358), Hong Kong; I–K, Henicoplax pilimeles n. sp., male holotype (4.2 mm × 6.8 mm) (ZRC 1984.7739–7740), Thailand, Andaman Sea, Phuket I. A, B, D, E, G, H, I, J, right G1, dorsal view; C, F, K, left G2, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, G, I, 0.5 mm; B, C, D, F, H, 0.2 mm; J, K, 0.1 mm; E, 0.05 mm.