Munidopsis zarazagai, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, Species of the genus Munidopsis Whiteaves, 1784 from the Indian and Pacific Oceans and reestablishment of the genus Galacantha A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae), Zootaxa 1417, pp. 1-135 : 118-121

Munidopsis zarazagai n. sp.

( Fig. 54)

Material examined. Solomon Islands, SALOMON 2, Stn 2176, 600– 875 m: 7 M 5.8–8.4 mm, 8 ovig. F 6.4– 8.7 mm, 1 F 6.1 mm (MNHN-Ga5582). Vanuatu, MUSORSTOM 8, Stn 993, 780– 783 m: 1 ovig. F 6.4 mm (MNHN-Ga5581).

Types. The ovigerous female of 6.4 mm from MUSORSTOM 8, Stn 993 is the holotype (MNHN- Ga5581). The other specimens are paratypes.

Etymology. The name is dedicated to M. A. Alonso Zarazaga, for his support to taxonomy and friendship.

Description. Carapace 1.2 times longer than wide, dorsal surface unarmed, finely granulated, with numerous short striae having small setae, bifurcated cervical groove weakly distinct. Gastric region convex, distinctly circumscribed. Cardiac region depressed in front of slightly elevated transverse ridge. Posterior transverse ridge slightly elevated, uninterrupted and unarmed. Rostrum small, broadly triangular, 0.3 times as long as remaining carapace, maximum width less than one-quarter carapace breadth, convex dorsally, slightly deflexed, lateral margins cristate, finely serrated. Front margin different in level in mesial and lateral parts of width, mesial two-thirds of margin oblique, lateral third transverse, depressed below level of mesial half; anterolateral angle with small spine, lateral margin sometimes with notch at end of anterior branch of cervical groove, slightly convex, not cristate.

Sternum as long as wide, maximum width at sternite 7. Sternite 3 with 2 anterior lobes, separated by notch, 2.7 times as wide as long, lateral margins distally produced; sternite 4 wide anteriorly, maximum width nearly 2.5 times wider than sternite 3.

Abdominal segments unarmed, segments 2–3 each with slightly elevated anterior ridge and narrow median groove; posterolateral lobes of segment 6 distinct but not overreaching transverse posteromedian margin. Telson divided into 12 plates, posterior plates combined 1.5 times as wide as long.

Eye small, reaching midlength of rostrum; ocular peduncle movable; cornea moderately small, subglobular, as long as remaining eyestalk; distinct spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles.

Basal antennule with denticulated distomesial process, strong distolateral and distodorsal spines.

Antennal peduncle having basal article with blunt distomesial and distolateral processes; article 2 with small distolateral and distomesial spines; article 3 unarmed.

Mxp 3 merus having 2 strong spines and 1 or 2 small ones on flexor margin, extensor distal margin with well-developed spine.

P1 granulated, with numerous long setae more dense on mesial and lateral margins, about 1.7 times carapace; merus twice length of carpus, with small distomesial and distolateral spines; carpus 1.7 times as long as wide, and slightly shorter than palm, with small distomesial and distolateral spines; palm slightly shorter than fingers, fixed finger without denticulate carina on distolateral margin.

P2–4 barely setose, relatively slender, slightly compressed, 3 distal articles subcylindrical; meri subtriangular in cross section, slightly depressed, dorsal margin feebly carinate with small distal spine, ventral margin granulated, often with small distal spine; carpi weakly carinated along lateral side; P4 merus 0.5 times length of P2 merus. P2 barely reaching midlength of P1 palm, 1.4 times carapace length; merus more than 3 times as long as high, about 2.5 times length of carpus and nearly 1.5 times length of propodus; propodus 4.5 times as long as high and 1.5 times length of dactylus; dactylus ending in curved claw preceded by 6 or 7 proximally diminishing teeth on nearly straight ventral margin, each tooth bearing short seta, ultimate tooth closer to penultimate one than to end of terminal claw.

Epipods absent from P1–4.

Remarks. Munidopsis zarazagai is closely related with M. debilis Henderson, 1885 (see above). Both species have the rostrum triangular, dorsal surface of carapace and abdomen smooth, lateral margins not carinate, frontal margin unarmed, corneae subglobular and unarmed and P2 clearly not reaching end of P1. The new species is distinguished from M. debilis by the following characters:

—The dorsal surface of rostrum bears a longitudinal groove in midline in M. debilis , whereas the groove is absent in the new species.

—The rostrum length is half as long as the remaining carapace in M. debilis , but 0.3 times as long in M. zarazagai .

—The gastric region is more convex in the new species than in M. debilis .

—The carapace bears a distinct anterolateral spine in M. zarazagai , but unarmed in M. debilis .

Distribution. Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, between 600 and 875 m.