Raylilia gracilipes (Bell, 1855)

Galil, Bella S., 2001, A new genus and species of leucosiid crab (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Zoosystema 23 (1), pp. 65-75 : 68-72

Raylilia gracilipes (Bell, 1855)

( Figs 3 ; 4 )

Arcania Adams & White, 1848: 53 (part).

Arcania gracilipes Bell, 1855a: 367 ; 1855b: 310, pl. 34, fig. 9; 1855c: 21. — Haswell 1880: 58. — Ihle 1918: 262. — Serène 1968: 45 (Not Calman 1900: 28 [= R. mirabilis ]. – Not Alcock 1896: 270).

Zarenkovia mirabilis – Chen 1996: 283, fig. 12.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Designated here as lectotype, Indonesia, off Borneo, H.M.S. Samarang, 44 m, coll. A. Adams, pres. Capt. E. Belcher, 1 7.1 mm, dry mounted ( NHM 1847.21).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Gulf of Carpentaria. Australia, 10°27.6’S, 137°42’E, 49 m, 13.XII.1991, 1 ovi damaged ( QM w17394). — Holothuria reef, Penguin , 97 m, 1 10.3 mm ( NHM 92.3.26.19).

Batjulmati Reef. Java, Indonesia, Siboga , stn 7, 7°55.5’S, 114°26’E, 15 m, 11.III.1899, 1 6.8 mm ( ZMA).

Galewo Strait. Off Salawatti Island, Siboga , stn 164, 1°42.5’S, 130°47.5’E, 32 m, 20.VIII.1899, 2 6.7, 5.1 mm, 1 ovi 10.5 mm (ZMA).

Nuhu Jaan. Kei Island, Siboga , stn 260, 5°36.5’S, 132°55.2’E, 90 m, 1 9.5 mm, 1 10.9 mm (ZMA). DISTRIBUTION. — South China Sea, Indonesia, Australia, 15- 97 m.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace set with fungiform granules. Frontal lobes tumid, anterior margin shallow arch, sinuous. Margin of carapace bearing 11 subequal, granulate denticles: three close- set denticles on midlateral, posterior margin; single denticle on subhepatic. Dorsal surface of carapace bearing 17 conical, prominently granulate tubercles. Hepatic tubercle dorsoventrally flattened, pointing distad. Anterior intestinal tubercle smaller than posterior one.

Anterior margin of efferent branchial channel unisutured, interior lobe medially notched. Third maxilliped bearing fungiform granules.

Chelipeds merus in adult male nearly as long as carapace, thickly set with rounded granules; carpus, propodus minutely granulate. Pereiopods granulate. Sternites closely set with rounded granules. Abdominal segments granulate. Male first pleopod with basal stalk stout, internal flange triangular, disto-external appendix slender; anterior margin of flared tip sinuous, obliquely-cut.

REMARKS

Raylilia gracilipes differs from its congeners in having the carapace covered in fungiform granules, and the distal margin of first male pleopod obliquely cut.

During the voyage of the Samarang, Adams collected several specimens “on the coast of Borneo in twenty-four fathoms”, identified only as Arcaniae ( Adams & White 1848: 53). The label of the specimen of Arcania gracilipes , preserved in the Natural History Museum, London (NHM 1847.21), identifies it as collected by A. Adams, off Borneo. Bell’s descriptions of Arcania gracilipes ( Bell 1855a: 367, 1855b: 310, pl. 34, fig. 9, 1855c: 21) are too brief and his figure inaccurate. However, examination of the type specimen shows the characteristic fungiform granules and tridenticulate posterior margin. Calman (1900: 28) referred his specimen “with some doubt to this species [ A. gracilipes ]” and listed the characters that distinguish it from “Bell’s type specimen”. Examination of Calman’s specimen showed it to be R. mirabilis (see below). Alcock (1896: 270) described his A. gracilipes with carapace “closely covered with flat discoidal granules” – a description fitting all three species of Raylilia n. gen. but R. gracilipes . Chen’s (1996: fig. 12) illustration clearly depicts the specimen

1°42.5’S, 130°47.5’E (ZMA), dorsal view.

as possessing three, rather than the two midlateral marginal denticles characteristic of R. mirabilis . Though misidentifying the species, Chen (1996: 283) recognized it as differing from Randallia , named it Zarenkovia mirabilis , and attributed the authorship of the new genus to “Chen & Türkay, 1995”. This paper was never published (M. Türkay pers. comm.), therefore Zarenkovia is a nomen nudum.

Raylilia mirabilis ( Zarenkov, 1969) ( Figs 5 ; 6 )

Arcania gracilipes – Calman 1900: 28.

Randallia mirabilis Zarenkov, 1969: 24 , fig. 8. — Serène & Soh 1976: 13. — Richer de Forges 1983: 634.

Arcania mirabilis – Ovaere 1989: 100.

not Zarenkovia mirabilis – Chen 1996: 283, fig. 12 [= R. gracilipes ].

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype, SW Hainan Island, South China Sea, Shirshov Institute, Moscow, 1 12.5 mm. Paratypes, 1 7.1 mm, 1 5.0 mm.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Wallis Island. MUSORSTOM 7, 13°18’S, 176°08’W, 46 m, 15.V.1992, 1 6.6 mm ( MNHN).

North Lagoon. New Caledonia, stn DW 1094, 19°54.4’S, 163°41.2’E, 26 m, 24.X.1989, 1 7.3 mm, 1 7.3 mm, 1 ovi 10.0 mm ( MNHN). — Stn DW 1097, 19°51.7’S, 163°42.5’E, 34 m, 24.X.1989, 1 juv. ( MNHN). — Stn DW 1134, 19°31.3’S, 163°34.6’E, 40 m, 26.X.1989, 1 ovi 10.5 mm ( MNHN). — Stn DW 1205, 19°41.6’S, 163°25.6’E, 38 m, 2.XI.1989, 1 7.3 mm ( MNHN).

Noumea. New Caledonia, CHALCAL 1, stn D 15, 19°23.30’S, 158°38.60’E, 65 m, 16.VII.1984, 1 7.8 mm, 1 ovi 9.7 mm (MNHN B21254). — Stn D 52, 21°13.40’S, 158°49.20’E, 69 m, 24.VII.1984, 1 6.8 mm, 1 ovi 10.4 mm (MNHN B21253).

Chesterfield Island. CHALCAL 1, stn DC 53, 21°19.50’S, 158°55.30’E, 60 m, 24.VII.1984, 4 6.7-8.3 mm, 2 10.0 mm, 10.2 mm, 4 ovi 8.8- 11.5 mm (MNHN Na27539). — CORAIL 2, stn DW 9, 20°53’S, 161°35.32’E, 62 m, 28.VII.1988, 1 ovi 9.5 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 19, 20°41.72’S, 161°00.17’E, 77 m, 21.VII.1988, 3 6.7-6.9 mm, 3 7.2-9.8 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 21, 20°36.14’S, 161°01.75’E, 86- 66 m. 22.VII.1988, 1 7.2 mm, 2 6.6, 8.9 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 34, 19°21.62’S, 158°55.77’E, 47 m, 23.VII.1988, 1 6.6 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 39, 19°21.55’S, 158°38.83’E, 63 m, 23.VII.1988, 1 7.8 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 43, 19°21.49’S, 158°25.98’E, 52 m, 23.VII.1988, 2 6.5, 6.7 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 63, 19°15.15’S, 158°47.73’E, 71 m, 24.VIII.1988, 1 6.7 mm, 2 6.7, 9.1 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 67, 19°14.92’S, 158°36.94’E, 66 m, 24.VIII.1988, 1 6.2 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 71, 19°15.37’S, 158°24.37’E, 55 m, 25.VIII.1988, 1 ovi 9.7 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 80, 19°11.98’S, 158°47.1’E, 66 m, 25.VIII.1988, 1 9.0 mm (MHNH). — Stn DW 93, 19°85.92’S, 158°53’E, 58-60 m, 27.VIII.1988, 1 6.8 mm, 1 6.2 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 96, 19°06’S, 158°41.92’E, 41 m, 27.VIII.1988, 1 ovi 9.1 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 108, 19°09.08’S, 158°49.10’E, 68 m, 27.VIII.1988, 2 6.7 mm, 9.0 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 109, 19°08.97’S, 158°52.50’E, 47-64 m, 28.VIII.1988, 2 6.6 mm, 6.9 mm, 1 6.4 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 120, 19°24.97’S, 158°21.59’E, 56 m, 29.VIII.1988, 1 6.4 mm, 1 ovi 9.3 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 123, 19°28.31’S, 158°19.27’E, 56 m, 29.VIII.1988, 1 ovi 9.5 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 125, 19°28.05’S, 158°24.39’E, 54 m, 29.VIII.1988, 2 6.7 mm, 7.0 mm (MNHN). — Stn DW 164, 19°41.48’S, 150°18.79’E, 58 m, 2.IX.1988, 1 6.5 mm (MNHN).

Landsdowne-Cairway reef. CHALCAL 1, stn D 10, 20°36.09’S, 161°05.82’E, 87 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 2 7.8, 6.8 mm, 1 6.7 mm, 1 ovi 9.8 mm (MNHN).

Chesterfield-Bellona Plateau. CHALCAL 1, stn CP 15, 21°24.90’S, 159°09.30’E, 60 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 1 ovi 8.8 mm (MNHN B21125). — Stn D 28, 19°24.18’S, 158°31.40’E, 51 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 1 6.4 mm (MNHN B19234). — Stn D 40 20°31.70’S, 158°50.90’E, 65 m, 23.VII.1984, 2 7.0 mm, 9.5 mm (MNHN B21252). — Stn D 43, 20°41.50’S, 158°38.40’E, 78 m, 1984, 1 7.3 mm, 2

6.9 mm, 10.4 mm (MNHN Na27538). — Stn D 47, 20°50.85’S, 158°36.03’E, 70 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 1 6.5 mm (MNHN B21294). — Stn D 49, 20°58.20’S, 158°35’E, 48 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 1 6.7 mm, 1 ovi 9.4 mm (MNHN B18427). — Stn D 54, 21°25.90’S, 158°59.50’E, 36-42 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 1 11.0 mm (MNHN B19165). — Stn D 56, 21°24.40’S, 159°08.80’E, 60 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 1 8.6 mm, 1 11.7 mm, 1 ovi 9.7 mm (MNHN B21140). — Stn D 57, 21°29.50’S, 159°16.40’E, 62 m, 12-31.VII.1984, 2 7.7 mm, 6.6 mm (MNHN B18424).

Macclesfield Bank. South China Sea, Egeria , 84 m, coll. Bassett-Smith, 1 6.9 mm (NHM 93.11.3.210).

Flinders Entrance. Torres Straits, 36-55 m, coll. A. C. Haddon, id. W.T. Calman as Arcania gracilipes , 1 6.4 mm (NHM 1954.9.14.102).

Anima Sola Island. Philippines, Albatross, stn 5218, 13°11.15’N, 123°02.45’E, 37 m, 22.IV.1908, 1 9.1 mm (USNM).

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia, Chesterfield Island, South China Sea, Torres Straits, New Guinea, Phillipines, 26- 87 m.

(MNHN), dorsal view.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace paved with flat-topped granules. Frontal lobes tumid, anterior margin U-shaped. Margin of carapace bearing nine small, obtuse, granulate denticles: three denticles on posterior margin, two on midlateral margin, single denticle on subhepatic margin, subhepatic denticle largest. Dorsal surface of carapace bearing 14 obtuse tubercles, some indistinct in adult females. Hepatic tubercle somewhat dorsoventrally flattened, pointing distad. Branchial tubercles as prominent as intestinal tubercle. Single intestinal tubercle massive, rounded, anteriorly tumescent.

Anterior margin of efferent branchial channel unisutured, margin of interior lobe entire. Third maxilliped bearing flat-topped granules.

Chelipeds merus in adult male longer than carapace, thickly set with rounded granules; carpus, propodus minutely granulate. Pereiopods minutely granulate.

Plastron with shallow rounded projections laterally. Sternites closely set with rounded granules. Abdominal segments granulate.

Male first pleopod with basal stalk stout, internal flange rounded, disto-external appendix short; distally trilobate, distal margin of proximal lobe minutely denticulate.

REMARKS

R. mirabilis differs from R. gracilipes and R. coniculifera n. gen. n. sp. in having two, rather than three, midlateral marginal spines, and from R. uenoi in having obtuse dorsal tubercles, and distal lobe of first male pleopod trilobate rather than petaloid.

The specimen from Torres Straits that Calman (1900: 28) “referred with some doubt” to Arcania gracilipes , proved to belong to R. mirabilis . Zarenkov’s description and figure (1969: 24, fig. 8) leave no doubt as to the identity of the species. However his suggestion that it is most closely related to Randallia lanata Alcock, 1896 , is incorrect. Serène & Soh (1976: 13) wrote that Randallia mirabilis Zarenkov, 1969 “Obviously […] belongs to another genus” but refrained from assigning it elsewhere.

Figures

FIG. 3. — Raylilia gracilipes (Bell, 1855), 1 6.7 mm, Galewo Strait, off Salawatti Island, Siboga, stn 164,

FIG. 4. — Raylilia gracilipes (Bell, 1855), 1 6.7 mm, Galewo Strait, off Salawatti I., Siboga, stn 164, 1°42.5’S, 130°47.5’E (ZMA), first male pleopod. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIG. 5. — Raylilia mirabilis (Zarenkov, 1969), 1 ovi 9.1 mm, Chesterfield Island, 19°06’S, 158°41.92’E

FIG. 6. — Raylilia mirabilis (Zarenkov, 1969), 1 7.8 mm, Chesterfield Island, 19°21.55’S, 158°38.83’E (MNHN), first male pleopod. Scale bar: 1 mm.