Description Of A New Porcellanid, Petrolisthes Gertrudae From The Southeastern Caribbean Sea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Porcellanidae)

5 Pages·1996·1.9 MB·

by  B Werding

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
109(2):306-310. 1996.
Description of a new porcellanid, Petrolisthes gertrudae from the
southeastern Caribbean Sea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Porcellanidae)
Bernd Werding
Institut fiir Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie der Justus-Liebig-Universitat,
Stephanstr. 24 D-35390 Giessen, Germany
—
Abstract. A new species ofthe genus Petrolisthes Stimpson, 1858, P. ger-
trudae, from the West Indies is described. The new species belongs to a group
of Petrolisthes species characterized by the complete lack of spines on the
carapace and pereopods 1-5. The new species can be easily distinguishedfrom
other species of that group by the convex shape of the carpal lobe of the
chelipeds, and by the pubescence which covers the outer margins ofthe chelae.
The porcellanid fauna of the Caribbean Rat Islands, exposed reef, submerged
Sea can be considered fairly well known, weedy rock, Smithsonian Bredin CariWbbean
and has been documented in a series of Expedition, 30 Mar 1956, leg. L.
USNM
publications treating species from the Schmitt 275965. Paratypes: 1 ovi-
southern Caribbean (Gore 1970, 1974, gerous female, same data as holotype
& USNM
1982; Gore Abele 1973, 1976; Werding 275966; 1 ovigerous female, Bo-
1977, 1978a, 1978b, 1982, 1986). Werding naire, West Indies, Kralandijk, in colonies
(1986) considered the species inventory of of Zoanthus sociatus, 31 Oct 1930, leg. P.
the western Atlantic as almost complete. A Hummelinck USN—M 275967.
total of 43 species is now known from the Measurements. Holotype: CL 3.38 mm,
CW
western Atlantic, including three endemics 3.51 mm. Paratype from Guadeloupe:
from the coast of Brazil. CL 4.29 mm, CW 4.35 mm; paratype from
The study of collections in the National Bonaire: CL 3.45 mm, CW 3.64 mm.
Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Range of length/width of carpus of che-
Institution, revealed the presence of an un- liped: 1.35-1.44; range of egg diameter:
described species from the southeastern Ca- 0.65-0.72 mm.—
ribbean. The specimens were collected by Description. Carapace subquadrate and
P. Hummelinck in 19W31, at Bonaire (Dutch about as long as broad; lateral margins
West Indies), and by L. Schmitt in 1956, nearly parallel behind epibranchial angle.
at Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Surface almost smooth, without setae, cov-
All type specimens are deposited in the ered anteriorly with fine granules and be-
National Museum of Natural History, hind epibranchial angle with fine plicae;
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. grooves marking regions distinct. Frontal
(USNM). The measurements given refer to region strongly deflexed, produced, slightly
carapace length (CL) and carapace width trilobate, median lobe broad, triangularwith
(CW) respectively. shallow median groove. Flanks between
side walls and legs with fringe of plumose
Family Porcellanidae
setae. Orbits shallow, outer orbital angle
Petrolisthes gertrudae, new species slightly produced. No epibranchial spine.
— Figs. 1, 2 Inner part of ocular peduncle expanded
Material. Holotype: ovigerous female, to a longitudinal crest.
Guadeloupe, West Indies, Pointe a Pitre, First movable segment of antennae an-
VOLUME NUMBER
109, 2 307
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308 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Fig. 2. Petrolisthesgertrudae, new species. Femaleparatype fromGuadeloupe, WestIndiesUSNM275966.
a, left cheliped ventral view; b, right third maxilliped, external view; c, propodus and dactylus of first right
walking leg, ventral view; d, basal segment ofright antennula, ventral view.
teriorly extended to form low, granular groove marking broad rounded crest on
crest; second irregularly granulate; third dorsal surface near the posterior margin,
nearly smooth. Flagellum thick, setose. crest composed of large transversally ori-
Outer surface ofischium ofthirdmaxilliped ented granules; outer distal angle rounded.
slightly rugose. Surface of manus with similar granulation,
Chelipeds subequal; merus and carpus upper side with large longitudinal elevation
without setae, dorsal surface with large flat- extending to gape of fingers; outer border
tened granules. Merus with broad granular with longitudinal depression, forming
lobe on anterior margin. Carpus less than Vi rounded crest at outer margin; outer margin
as long as wide, anterior margin extended, distally straight or slightly curved outward,
forming rounded lobe, strongly convex at pollex bent upward; with thick tuft of long
proximal %; proximal portion sometimes feathered setae covering outer margin leav-
armed with fine, irregular denticulation ing free only proximal portion and distal
along edge; with shallow longitudinal half of pollex. Fingers curved at tips, cut-
A
——
VOLUME 109, NUMBER 2 309
ting edges without prominent teeth, fingers Stimpson, and P. tonsorius Haig. The new
meeting for entire length or slightly gaping, species is clearly distinguished from all oth-
gape lacking pubescence. er species of the group by the convex lobe
Walking legs with surface granulation of the anterior margin of the carpus of the
similar to that of chelipeds; unarmed, with chelipeds which, in some cases, is slightly
scattered plumose setae. Propodus with 3 dentate, and the dense pubescence on the
movable spines distally, and 2 or 3 addi- outer border of the manus absent in other
tional ones on inner margin variing incon- representatives of the group.
sistently among legs. Dactylus with 4 mov-
able spines on inner margin. Acknowledgments
Abdomen with dense fringe of plumose I am very grateful to Dr. Rafael Lemaitre
setae on entire outer margin; telson con- for his help and orientation during my visit
sisting of 7 pla—tes. to the National Museum ofNatural History,
Variations. The paratype specimen
Washington, D.C., and to him and Dr. Roy
from Bonaire exhibits a more accentuated
K. Kropp forthe revision ofthe manuscript.
granulation on the surface of the carapace,
To the Smithsonian Institution's Office of
and specially at the extremities, than the
Fellowships and Grants, I acknowledge
two specimens from Guadeloupe. The an-
support in the form of a short-term visitor
terior lobe of the carpus of the chelipeds is grant. I am grateful to Mrs. Helga Schmitt
somewhat depressed by a longitudinal
for kindly inking the drawing of the type
groove.
— specimen.
Habitat. The specimen collected by P.
Hummelinck was found in a colony of the
Literature Cited
zoanthid Zoanthus sociatus Ellis, a species
which settles on the wave surf zone of the Gore,R.H. 1970. Pachychelescristobalensissp.nov.,
rocky intertidal. The specimens by W. L. withnotesonthepor—cellanidcrabsofthesouth-
western Caribbean. Bulletin of Marine Sci-
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ence 20(4):957-970.
The species seems to be confined to the up- . 1974. Biological results ofthe University of
per littoral. — Miami Deep-Sea Expeditions, 102: on a small
Etymology. The species is named in collection ofporcellanid crabs from the Carib-
honor of my wife, Mrs. Gertrud Werding, bean Sea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura).
Bulletin ofMarine Science 24(3):700-721.
for her help and understanding during all . 1982. Porcellanid crabs from the coasts of
the years that I have been working on crus- Mexico and Central America (Crustacea: De-
—
taceans. capoda: Anomura). Smithsonian Contribu-
tions to Zoology 363:1-34.
, & L. G. Abele. 1973. Three new species of
Discussion porcellanid crabs (Crustacea, Anomura) from
Petrolisthes gertrudae, new species, be- ttehres.B—ayBuolflePtiannaomfaMaanrdinaedjaScceinetncCeari2b3b(e3a)n:5w5a9--
longs to a group of species which is mainly 573.
confined to the eastern Pacific, where it is . 1976. Shallowwaterporcelaincrabsfromthe
represented by 17 tropical and temperate Pacific coast ofPanama and adjacent Caribbean
waters (Crustacea: Anomura: Porcellanidae).
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terized by the complete lack of spines on
30.
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Stimpson, W. 1858. Prodromus descriptionis animal-
nules in some species. The group was rep-
ium evertebratoiTim, quae in expeditione ad
resented until now in the western Atlantic Oceanum Pacificum septentrionalem, a repub-
by P. quadratus Benedict, P. tridentatus lica Federata Missa, Cadwaladaro Ringgold et
— —
310 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Johanne Rodgers Ducibus, observavit et des- (Golfo de Uraba) con algiinos encuentros nue-
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lumbiens (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura). bung von Neopisosoma neglectum spec. nov.
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