Alox liklik, Galil, Bella S. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2015

Galil, Bella S. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2015, Leucosiid crabs from Papua New Guinea, with descriptions of eight new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), Zootaxa 4027 (4), pp. 451-486 : 456

Alox liklik sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 E, 6F–J, 8C)

Material examined. Holotype: ovigerous female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU-2013-8855), inner slope, stn PR152, Tab I., 05°10.1'S 145°50.2'E, 3–25 m, 1.12.2012.

Description. Carapace laterally expanded ( Fig. 6 F–I), 1.4 times as wide as long. Dorsal surface of carapace prominently sculpted, pitted, irregularly covered with coalesced flattened granules, resembling coral rubble. Front narrow, produced, upcurved, bilobed, horizontally grooved. Anterior margin of carapace vertical. Antennule well developed, basal antenular article operculiform, rugose, entirely sealing triangular antennular fossa. Antennae folded in orbital hiatus without gap. Orbits small, rounded, visible in dorsal view; when retracted, ocular peduncle nearly seals orbit. Third maxillipeds concealing buccal cavity, rugose; merus with pointed apex, outer margin convex; ischium 1.5 as long as merus along inner margin ( Fig. 8 C).

Obtuse angle medially on hepatic margin with shallow oval depression at apex. Subhepatic region with narrow groove parallel to anterior margin of carapace, fungiform granules inserted in groove; margin with prominent, granular, triangular facet medially, visible in dorsal view. Lateral margins of carapace extended, irregular. Posterolateral margins nearly horizontal in dorsal view. Posterior margin slightly produced, obsoletely bilobate. Postfrontal median longitudinal ridge widening posteriorly, merging into cardiac region. Postorbital prominence planar. Bottom of meandering depression between marginal rims, swollen branchial regions lined with fungiform granules. Branchial regions swollen, extending to posterolateral angle, irregularly pitted distally. Three pairs of irregularly shaped pits separate cardiac from branchial regions. Intestinal region raised, rimmed with fungiform granules. Branchiostegal region covered with small flattened granules separated externally by narrow cleft from larger granules interiorly.

Chelipeds subequal, robust, rugose. Cheliped merus with large proximal tubercle on anterior margin, 2 distally on posterior margin; palm inflated, granular crests on dorsal, ventral margins; fingers 1.5 as long as palm; dactylus with longitudinal rows of closely spaced granules dorsally; pollex, wider than dactylus, with carinate ventral margin; cutting edges with minute teeth ( Fig. 6 J). Ambulatory legs stout, short, closely granular, diminishing in size posteriorly; meri with single granular row dorsally, 2 rows ventrally; propodi with conic granules; dactyli slender, longer than propodi, studded with conic granules, terminating in incurved cornute claw.

Thoracic sternites rugose. Male abdominal cavity deep, reaching buccal cavity. Female abdominal somites 1, 2 narrow, horizontal, distinctly granular; somites 3–6 fused, shield-like, with 2 shallow submedian furrows; telson elongate, laciniate. Vulvae large, oval-shaped, on sternal vulvar cover.

Colour in life. Carapace and legs bone-coloured with pale orange blotches and spots ( Fig. 2 E).

Remarks. Alox liklik sp. nov. closely resembles A. rugosum (Stimpson, 1858) in the general appearance of the carapace, with its dorsal surface prominently sculpted, pitted, and irregularly covered with coalesced flattened granules. It is distinguished from the latter, however, in possessing posterolaterally extended swollen branchial regions ( Tan & Ng 1995: pl. 6D), relatively more elongated third maxilliped merus and laciniate telson, and vulvae which are large, oval-shaped, rather than ‘comma’ shaped.

Etymology. From liklik for “small” in Tok Pisin, the Pidgin language spoken in Papua New Guinea. Used as a noun in apposition.

Geographical distribution. This species is known only from the type location, Papua New Guinea.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Colours in life. A, Alox naispela sp. nov., holotype ovigerous female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 1352), stn PD 31; B, Alox naispela sp. nov., paratype female (6.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 1193), stn PD 66; C, Alox rugosum, male (7.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 8854), stn PR 69; D, Alox rugosum, female (5.9 mm) (ZRC 2015.268), stn PD 19; E, Alox liklik sp. nov., holotype ovigerous female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013.8855), stn PR 152.

FIGURE 6. A – E, Alox naispela sp. nov., holotype ovigerous female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013.1352), stn PD 31; F – J, Alox liklik sp. nov., holotype female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013.8855), stn PR 152. A, F, overall habitus; C, H, frontal view of cephalothorax; D, I, right lateral view of cephalothorax; E, J, outer view of right chela; F, G, ventral surfaces, thoracic sternum and abdomen.

FIGURE 8. A, Alox naispela sp. nov., paratype female (6.6 mm) (ZRC 2015.269), stn PD 73; B, D, E – H, Alox rugosum, male (5.8 mm) (ZRC 2015.267), stn PB 12; C, Alox liklik sp. nov., holotype ovigerous female (8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 8855), stn PR 152; I, J, K, Alox rugosum, male (7.3 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013 - 8854), stn PR 69. A – C, left third maxilliped; D, right last ambulatory leg; E, male abdomen; F, G, I, J, left G 1; H, K, right G 2. Scales: A – E = 1.0 mm; F – K = 0.5 mm.