Munidopsis africana Balss, 1913

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 : 32-34

Munidopsis africana Balss, 1913

( Fig. 18)

Munidopsis africana Balss, 1913: 223 .— Baba, 2005: 284.

Munidopsis (Elasmonotus) africana .— Doflein & Balss, 1913: 159.

Material examined. Zanzibar, Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition , Stn 245, 463 m: 1 ovig. F 14.0 mm (holotype, ZMB 17508) .

Description. Carapace, excusive of rostrum, nearly 1.3 times longer than broad; dorsal surface moderately convex from side to side, setose, with short striae and minute granules; regions well delineated by furrows including distinct anterior and posterior cervical grooves. Median branchial region well marked. Posterior cardiac region bluntly triangular, preceded by deep transverse depression. Posterior margin preceded by weakly elevated ridge. Rostrum triangular, compressed, directed weakly downward in lateral view, about 0.5 length of remaining carapace, maximum width about one-quarter carapace breadth, terminating subacutely; dorsal surface slightly convex, with some small striae but without longitudinal ridge or groove; lateral margins straight and carinated. Frontal margin slightly oblique behind ocular peduncle, leading to slightly produced region, then nearly transverse toward anterolateral corner of carapace. Lateral margins slightly convex and subparallel, left anterior corner rounded, right corner with minute tooth, end of anterior cervical groove with distinct notch, posterior cervical groove without notch at lateral end.

Pterygostomian flap smooth, with small short striae and granules, anteriorly unarmed.

Sternum with numerous small granules and setae, about 1.5 times longer than wide, maximum width at sternites 4 and 7. Sternite moderately narrow, nearly twice wider than long, anterior margin divided into 2 lobes by deep median notch; lateral margin of each lobe convex. Sternite 4 narrowly elongate anteriorly; surface depressed in midline; greatest width 3 times that of third sternite.

Abdomen smooth, setose, without spines; segments 2ñ4 each with anterior ridge slightly elevated, followed by transverse groove, segments 4–6 smooth; segment 6 with weakly produced posterolateral lobes and nearly transverse posteromedian margin. Telson composed of 12 plates; posterior plates combined 1.7 times as wide as long.

Ocular peduncle movable; cornea unarmed, much longer than remaining eyestalk, feebly curving outward; small spine between eye and antennal peduncle.

Basal article of antennular peduncle with strong dorsolateral and distolateral spines; distomesial margin with small granules but no dorsal spine.

Antennal peduncle overreaching tip of eye; article 1with strong distomesial process, clearly not reaching midlength of article 2; articles 2–3 armed with blunt distolateral spine, distomesial angles rounded; article 4 unarmed.

Mxp 3 ischium as long as than merus measured on extensor margin; flexor and extensor margins terminating in blunt spine; 21 or 22 corneous denticles on crista dentata; flexor margin of merus with 2 strong spines, proximal spine much larger than distal spine, extensor margin with distal spine.

Right P1 (left P1 missing) 2.4 times longer than carapace, covered with dense soft plumose setae and small granules on merus to dactylus. Ischium with strong distal spine on dorsal crest. Merus with 3 distal spines (lateral, mesial, and dorsal), and several small spines along mesial margin and dorsal side. Carpus nearly twice longer than high, with 2 small distal spines (mesial and lateral), and one mesial spine at midlength. Palm slender, 1.5 times length of carpus, 1.3 times as long as fingers. Fingers not gaping, distally spooned; prehensile edges each with row of subtriangular teeth, proximal teeth obsolete; fixed finger longer than movable finger, with 3 large distal teeth.

P2–P4 moderately stout, with small granules and short striae on lateral sides of articles, somewhat compressed laterally, decreasing in size posteriorly; second longest, P2 merus 1.5 times P4 merus; ischium to dactylus with numerous soft plumose and simple setae, more numerous along dorsal and ventral margins. P2 clearly not reaching end of merus of P1; merus elongate, 0.5 times carapace length, 3 times longer than high, more than 2.5 times length of carpus and twice length of propodus, dorsal margin with row of well-developed spines, also present on P3 and P4, distal spine slightly longer than others, ventral margin with acute striae, without spines; carpus with 2 spines on dorsal margin, lateral side with longitudinal crest; propodus 2.5 times as long as high, unarmed except for one corneous distal spine on ventral margin; dactylus 0.7 length of propodus; distal claw short, moderately curved; flexor margin nearly straight, with 6 teeth decreasing in size proximally, each with single long seta.

Epipods absent from pereiopods.

Remarks. The species is only known from the holotype and it is closely related to M. calvata , from Madagascar. Both species have the carapace and abdomen unarmed and smooth, the rostrum triangular, P1 longer than P2, eye with ocular peduncle movable, cornea unarmed and much longer than remaining eyestalk, and pereiopods without epipods (see below under the Remarks of M. calvata ).

Distribution. Only known from the type locality, Zanzibar Channel at 463 m.