Munidopsis columbae, Macpherson & Rodríguez-Flores & Machordom, 2017

Macpherson, Enrique, Rodríguez-Flores, Paula C. & Machordom, Annie, 2017, New sibling species and new occurrences of squat lobsters (Crustacea, Decapoda) from the western Indian Ocean, European Journal of Taxonomy 343, pp. 1-61 : 34-37

Munidopsis columbae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:29710D65-C189-483B-A245-5F4700EF9DAA

Fig. 10

Etymology

Columba (the Dove) is one of the southern constellations.

Type material

Holotype

MADAGASCAR: ♂, 8.7 mm, ATIMO VATAE, Stn CP 3585, 25°33.10′ S, 44°16.40′ E, 549–576 m, 10 May 2010 ( MNHN-IU-2014-13472 ).

Paratype

MADAGASCAR: 1 ov. ♀, 12.2 mm, ATIMO VATAE, Stn CP3592, 25°02.60′ S, 43°57.89′ E, 450– 455 m, 11 May 2010 (MNHN-IU-2014-13524).

Description

CARAPACE. Slightly longer than broad; dorsal surface moderately convex from side to side, smooth, with some short striae, more numerous on branchial regions, numerous scattered short uniramous setae. Gastric region with two well-developed epigastric spines, and longitudinal row of 3 median spines; two pairs of cardiac spines. Regions well delineated by furrows including distinct anterior and posterior cervical grooves. Posterior cardiac region weakly triangular, preceded by deep transverse depression. Posterior margin preceded by elevated ridge, with 6 spines. Rostrum broad, 0.4 carapace length; trifid distally; apex slightly upwards directed; carinate dorsally; lateral margin slightly convex. Frontal margin transverse behind ocular peduncle, leading to small antennal (outer orbital) spine, then convex toward anterolateral corner of carapace. Antennal spine small, directed straight forward; distinct spine ventral to front margin between ocular and antennal peduncles. Lateral margins weakly convex and subparallel; anterolateral spine well developed, larger than antennal spine; anterior end of anterior branch of cervical groove with distinct notch followed by two distinct spines; posterior end of cervical groove with notch, followed by distinct spine (same as other lateral spines) posterior to it. Pterygostomian flap smooth, with small striae, anteriorly unarmed.

STERNUM. Longer than broad, maximum width at sternites 6 and 7. Sternite 3 moderately broad, 3 times as wide as long, anterior margin with shallow median notch flanked by 2 low lobes, lateral margin somewhat angular. Sternite 4 narrowly elongate anteriorly; surface depressed in midline, smooth; greatest width twice that of sternite 3, and twice as wide as long.

ABDOMEN.Anterior ridge of somite 2 with 2 median spines, and 1 or 2 spines on each side; anterior ridge of tergite 3 with 4 spines; tergites 2–3 each with one additional elevated transverse ridge, but tergites 4–6 lacking such ridges; tergite 6 with weakly produced posterolateral lobes and nearly transverse posteromedian margin. Telson composed of 10 plates; posterior plates combined, 1.8 times as wide as long.

EYE. Ocular peduncle mobile; cornea subglobular, unarmed, as wide as eyestalk.

ANTENNULE. Basal article of antennular peduncle with strong distolateral and distodorsal spines, distomesial angle unarmed, minutely serrated; lateral margin swollen, unarmed.

ANTENNA. Antennal peduncle not reaching end of rostrum; article 1 with strong distomesial spine, clearly reaching end of article 2; articles 2–4 unarmed.

MXP3. Ischium as long as merus measured on eXtensor margin; eXtensor and fleXor margins terminating in well-developed spine; crista dentata finely denticulate; merus having fleXor margin with 2 distinct spines, proximal spine larger than distal, extensor margin with distal spine; carpus, propodus and dactylus unarmed.

P1. 2.3 times as long as carapace, covered with short striae and some small granules, and uniramous setae scattered on merus to dactylus. Merus with 3 distal spines (ventral, lateral and dorsal), and 3–4 dorsomesial spines. Carpus 2.3 times as long as wide, with 2 distal spines (mesial and dorsal). Palm slender, nearly twice as long as carpus, 3.5 times as long as wide, and 0.7 times as long as fingers. Fingers not gaping; prehensile edges each with row of subtriangular teeth, proXimal teeth obsolete; fiXed finger without denticulate carina on distolateral margin.

P2–4. Moderately slender, with few small granules and short striae on dorsal surface, somewhat compressed laterally, dense plumose setae along extensor margin of articles. P2 longer than P3 and P4, not exceeding end of P1. P2 merus elongate, 0.6 times carapace length, 3.7 times length of P2 carpus and 1.3 times length of P2 propodus. P2–3 meri with distal spine on eXtensor and fleXor margin; carpi with prominent distal spine, lateral side smooth or with minute granules; P2–3 propodi 5 times as long as high, unarmed eXcept for 1–2 distal spinules on fleXor margin; dactyli 0.6–0.7 length of propodi; distal claw short, moderately curved; fleXor margin nearly straight, with 8 small teeth decreasing in size proximally, each with slender corneous spine, ultimate tooth closer to penultimate tooth than to dactylar tip. Epipods absent from pereopods.

GENETIC DATA. Not available.

Remarks

Munidopsis columbae sp. nov. resembles M. plumasetigera Baba, 1988 , from NE of Kayoa Island, off the SW coast of Halmahera, and the Kei Islands ( Baba 1988, 2005).

The new species can easily be distinguished from M. plumasetigera by the following features:

– The gastric region has one median mesogastric spine in M. plumasetigera , whereas there is a longitudinal row of 3 spines in M. columbae sp. nov.

– The cardiac region has one median spine in M. plumasetigera , whereas this region has two pairs of spines in the new species.

Distribution

Madagascar, between 450 and 576 m.

Figures

Fig. 10. Munidopsis columbae sp. nov., holotype, ♂, 8.7 mm (MNHN-IU-2014-13472), Madagascar. A. Carapace and abdomen, dorsal view. B. Carapace and abdomen, lateral view. C. Sternal plastron, sternites 3 and 4. D. Cephalic region, showing antennular and antennal peduncles, ventral view. E. Right Mxp3, lateral view. F. Right P1, dorsal view. G. Right P2, lateral view. H. Right P3, lateral view. I. Right P4, lateral view. Scale bar: A–B, F–I = 2.0 mm; C–E = 1.0 mm.