A new species of freshwater crayfish (Crustacea: Decapoda: Parastacidae) from the Fly River drainage, Western Province, Papua New Guinea

2008·2.2 MB·English

by  Christian Lukhaup

ANEW SPECIES OF FRESHWATER CRAYFISH (CRUSTACEA:
DECAPODA: PARASTACIDAE) FROM THE FLY RIVER DRAINAGE,
WESTERN PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
CHRISTIAN LUKHAUP AND BRETT HERBERT
Lukhaup, C. & Herbert, B. 2008 04 30. A new species of crayfish (Crustacea: Decapoda:
Parastacidae) fix)m tlie Fly River Drainage, Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Memoirs of
the Queensland Museum 52(2); 213-219. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835.
A new species of crayfish Cherax {Cherax) peknyi is described from the Fly River
drainage, in the western province region of Papua New Guinea. This species differs from
all others in its subgenus by the shape of the rostrum, and chelae, and in colouration.
(cid:9633) Cherax, new species, freshwater, crayfish. Fly River, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia.
Christian Lukhaup, Gotemtrasse 16, 71336 Bittenfeld, Germany (email: Chris@crustaI0.
de). Brett Herbert, Animal Biosecurity (Aquatics); Biosecurity’ Australia, GPO Box 858,
ACT2601, Australia (email: [email protected] ); 19 December 2007.
Crayfish were collected at various locations in can be transported, makes it of particular interest
the Fly River catchment in 2005-2006, as part to the aquarium trade. Crayfish collected from
of a project aimed at developing techniques for wild populations are supplied by wholesalers to
aquaculture of indigenous species of Cherax. the European, Japanese and USA pet markets.
Techniques for sustainable aquaculture of Red- We here describe this distinctive crayfish as a
claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) were new species, Cherax peknyi.
developed in Queensland in the 1990s, and it
The project is an ACIAR and Ok Tedi Mining
was hoped to adapt such techniques for similar
Limited funded QDPI&F, Ok Tedi Mining Limited,
species in Papua New Guinea. Crayfish are know'n
Western Province Government and National
to be present in the Fly River floodplain, and in
Fisheries Authority project.
the foothills of the mountains near the provincial
capital of Kiunga. They are collected and eaten in Abbreviations, cl. = carapace length; OCL = orbital
all regions, particularly when the water level has carapace length. QM = Queensland Museum,
receded during the dry season. The people knew Brisbane; RMNH = Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke
of a crayfish with a soft red patch on the claws Historic, Leiden, Netlierlands; lot. 1. = total length
of the males (as has Cherax qtiadricarinatusf but of carapace and abdomen.
when we went collecting with them, they caught
several species including the undescribed Cherax TAXONOMY
peknyi. Specimens were forwarded to Queensland
Museum to ensure their presence was documented PARASTACIDAE Huxley, 1879
— particularly important as some species are
disappearing from the Fly River iloodplain
Cherax (Cherax) peknyi sp. nov.
following the introduction of exotic predators such
(Figs 1-3, Table 1)
as the fish Anabas testudineus and Charma sp.
MATERIAL EXAMINED. HOLOTYPE, QMW28267,
Specimens collected in Tamu Creek (a tributary
S (cl. 44mm), Tamu Creek, Fly River Drainage, Western
of the Fly River in the Western Province of PNG)
Province. PNG, 7°34’ S, 141°03’ E, altitude 200m,
in 2006, were tentatively assigned as Cherax
12.10.2006, Brett Herbert.
sp. papuana'^ by BH. We realised that these
specimens perfectly matched the species from PARATYPES: RMNH-D51760, Ic? (CL. 42mm) same
the Merauke region introduced onto the German data as hololype. QMW28384, allotype $ (cl. 35mm),
High School Creek, Fly River Drainage, Western
pet market as Cherax sp. ‘Tiger" and Cherax
Province, PNG, Oct. 2006, Brett Herbert. QMW28385,
sp."zcbra" in the year 2000, and which the senior
4 SS (tot. I 48-87mm), 6 5$ (lot. 1. 56-79mm),
author believed to be a new species. New Guinea
same data as holotype.
has been the source for a highly lucrative trade in
native fish from West Papua to Europe, in particular DESCRIPTION. (Based on hololype.) Body
a number of rainbowfish species. The pretty colour subovate, slightly compressed laterally. Pleon
patterns of this crayfish, and the ease with which it narrower than cephalothorax (c. 0.9). Cervical
214 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
FIG.2. Cherax {Cherax)peknyi sp. nov. male holotype. A, dorsal view left chela; B,ventral view left chela; C,
dorsal view of carapace; D, scaphocerite.
groove distinct. Carapace smooth anterior to cer¬
TABLE I. Measurements (mm) of holotype and vical groove; 3-4 anteriorly directed spines placed
paratype specimens of Cherax (C.)peknyi sp. nov. together just behind cervical groove laterally at
about level of antenna; some short scattered
setae present in cervical groove adjacent to lateral
Total Chela Chela Chela
Carapace Pleon spines. Areola c. 2.4 times longer than breadth at
length height length width '
narrowest point; and occupying about one-third of
Holotype total carapace length. Rostrum slender, reaching
male 44 48 92 9 41 16 to about end of ultimate antennular peduncle, and
about twice as long as wide at base; upper surface
1
Male 2 42 45 87 8 38 14 I smooth; lateral margins almost straight basally,
_ _ _ _ distally tapering quickly near apex; margins
Male 3 55
elevated, ending in carapace rostral carinae;
_ _
_ _ _ lateral margins bearing 2 prominent teeth; distal
Male 4 48
half of outer margins bearing a few short setae.
_ _ _ _
Male 5 48 Rostral teeth point dorsally at about 45° angle.
Allotype Rostral carinae extending as slight elevation over
Female 35 39 74 6 28 11 ! anterior half of carapace, then feding posteriorly.
Postorbital ridges well developed, terminating
Female 2 34 38 72 6 27 11 1 in slightly upturned corneous spines anteriorly;
fading after 2/3 of OCL posteriorly. Scaphocerite
Female 3 32 36 67 6 23 10 ' broadest medially, convex over distal part, becom¬
_ _ _ _ ing narrower basally; thickened lateral margin
Female 4 79
terminating in large corneous spine; c. 3.7 times
_ _ _
longer than broad. Antennules and antennae
Female 5 72
_ _ _ of typical shape. Eyes relatively large; cornea
__
Female 6 61 globular, darkly pigmented, about as long as eye-
stalk; eyestalk slightly narrower than cornea.
Female 7 56 Epistome broadly triangular, becoming lance-
ANEW SPECIES OF FRESHWATER CRAYFISH 215
FIG. 2. Cherax (Cherax) peknyi sp. nov. male holotype. A, dorsal view; B, right first chela, dorsal view; C,
ventral view; D, lateral view of the carapace; E, dorsal view of cephalon and rostrum.
shaped anteriorly; lateral surface with many small ating in sharp, conieous, hooked tooth, standing
tubercles; central part smooth, excavate. almost perpendicular to axis. Upper surface of
palm smooth, slightly pitted, more densely pitted
Holotype male with chelipeds equal in form and
at margins. Ventral ly with dense setae present at
size. Chela c. 4.5 times longer than high; c. 2.6
base of moveable finger, covering anterior third
times longer than deep, strongly compressed.
of propodus and extending about half way along
Fingers longer than palm, slightly gaping. Dactylus
the gape becoming increasingly scattered and
broad at tlie base, tapering slightly towards tip; tip
with sharp, hooked tooth pointing outwards at shorter anteriorly. Carpus with mesiolateral part
45° angle; cutting edge with 11 relatively small slightly elevated to form slender serrated ridge
granular teeth, and one slightly bigger tooth with row of 16 small blunt spines; some small
medially; ventral and dorsal surface with scattered tubercles present along this ridge becoming
pits. Propodus triangular; fixed finger termin¬ increasingly scattered anteriorly; ventral surface
216 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
FIG. 3. Cheraxpeknyi sp. nov. A-E, specimens from aquarium shops; F, female with larvae; G, wild-caught
specimen from Fly River catchment; H, creek close to Kiunga showing typical habitat.
ANEW SPECIES OF FRESHWATER CRAYFISH 217
smooth* pitted, with median portion elevated to pinkish white anteriorly; distal tip bluish grey.
to form low, broad ridge. Merus with dorsal Legs (except for first pair) greenish grey with
surface smooth, densly pitted, with a slight orange joints. Cephalic region greenish gray
excavation medially; small spine present fading to a yellowish green laterally; dorsal
1
mesiolaterally; acute corneous spine also thoracic region brown-orange fading to yellow
1
present dorsolaterally; ventral surface with two laterally and becoming cream ventrolateral ly.
large corneous spines; some small granules at Pleon green with broad yellow bands. Telson
ventrolateral margin. Ischium smooth with single green, becoming yellow to orange mesolaterally.
spine on dorsal surface; row of three spines on Distal margin of tail-fan pale orange.
ventral surface and row of small granules
10-12 Size. Largest males examined reached 92mm
on ventrolateral margin; base with single spine
total length; largest female 79mm total length.
on ventrolateral margin.
SYSTEMATIC POSITION
Second leg reaching to about end of scaphocerite;
fingers slightly longer than palm; carpus c. twice
The modem use of subgenera within Cherax,
length of palm; mems c. 1.4 times longer than
seems to have started with Holthuis (1996) who
carpus; ischium about half as long as merus. Third
used Cherax (Astaconephrops) for a new species
legs reaching farther than second; fingers shorter
from New Guinea. This Astaconephrops group
than palm. Fourth legs slightly shorter than second;
is used for all Cherax species that have a soft
dactylus ending in corneous tip; short setae on
decalcified section on the outer distal margin of
ventral side of propodus; propodus about twice
male claws. This is a distinctive morphological
length of dactylus and slightly longer than carpus,
apomorphy, and its usefulness as a character to
somewhat flattened, and carrying many bristles on
split the genus has been supported by a recent
lower margin; mems longer then propodus. Fifth
molecular study by Munasinghe el al. (2004),
legs similar to fourth; shorter and more slender. who found a very well supported monophletic
Dorsal surface of abdomen smooth medially; lineage for this group, that is sister to all other
pleura smooth, pitted. Telson with two spines at species of Cherax sensu stricto. We therefore
support the concept of two subgenera within
caudolateral comers. First uropod with two well
defined spines; distal spine on mesial lobe; with Cherax and use this here. The New Guinea
prominent median rib ending in spine; exopod species of Cherax {Cherax) so far number
ten, viz: Cherax boschmai (Holthuis, 1949);
divided horizontally by row of small spines
Cherax buitendijkae (Holthuis, 1949) ; Cherax
ending in distal spine on mesial lobe.
communis (Holthuis, 1949); Cherax longipes
Allotypic female with chelipeds equal (right (Holthuis, 1949) ; Cherax murido (Holthuis,
cheliped damaged), more than 2.5 times as long 1949); Cheraxpallidus (Holthuis, 1949); Cherax
as broad; mcsiolalcral part of carpus slightly panaiciis (Holthuis, 1949) ; Cherax papuanus
elevated to fonn slender serrated ridge with row (Holthuis, 1949); C/7emv 50///5 (Holthuis, 1949)
of 17 small spines; cutting edge of dactylus with ; Cherax holthuisi (Lukhaup & Pekny, 2006).
relatively small granular teeth in posterior part, Cherax peknyi sp. nov. can be separated from
and one slightly larger tooth at about middle of all other Papua New Guinea species within
cutting edge; cutting edge of fixed finger bearing the subgenus by the shape of the rostrum,
small granules, two being slightly larger; low and chelae, and in colouration (see Table 2).
short setae visible along ventral cutting edge of In particular, the patch of dense setae in the
fixed and moveable fingers, thicker posteriorly. proximal half of the gape of the chela, and the
Cervical groove distinct, non setose; carapace presence of 3-4 cervical spines are diagnostic
smooth anterior to groove; weakly developed, of this species. Also only two other species have
1
anteriorly directed spine present closely behind only two lateral rostral teeth, C pallidus and C.
groove laterally at level of antenna . Abdomen papttanus, and these are easily separated from
slightly narrower than cephalothorax. Chelipeds C. peknyi sp. nov. using the aforementioned
characters.
of young males resemble those of females, or
slighlly broader.
HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY. The crayfish
Colouration. Body colour variable (Fig. 3). The were usually found in slow flowing, still water, in
crayfish of the type series collected in Tamu creek parts of southern New Guinea with pronounced
(Fig. 3G) and High School creek are coloured wet and dry seasonality. The villagers traditionally
(in life) as follows: chelae red to orange fading collect these animals when the water levels are low
218 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
TABLE 2. Comparison of characters useful for separating Cherax (Cherax) peknyi sp. nov. from other related
species occurring in Papua New Guinea.
Rostral teeth Chelae Carapace Other
dense setae on posterior part
smooth, 3^ cervical spines yellow or pale stripes on the
C. peknyi 2 of cutting edges; fingers 3.3 x
present pleon
longer than broad
more slender; fingers c. 1.5 x
C. boschmai 5-7 covered with small tubercles small eyes; scaphocerite broad
longer than palm
more slender; fingers c. 1.4-1.5
C. buitendijkae 4-6 covered with tubercles large eyes; scaphocerite broad
X longer than palm
broader, few setae on ventral
1 C. communis 5-7 covered with small tubercles larger eyes; scaphocerite broad
cutting edge
small eyes; legs extremely long
C. longipes 3-5 4 X longer than broad numerous tubercles
and slender
il
i, C. murido 4-6 3 X longer than broad covered in tubercles large, globular eyes
6.5-8 X longer than broad;
eyes extremely large and
' C pallidus 2-4 (mostly 2-3) fingers 1.7 x longer than palm, densely covered in tubercles
globular
extremely slender, tips crossing
more slender (3.5-4 x longer
known only from Panai Lake,
: C. panaicus 5-8 than broad); fingers 1.5 x longer covered with small tubercles
West Papua
than palm
il
1 C papuanus 2 22..55 xX lloonnggeerr tthhaann bbrrooaadd; fingers sspminoeosth and pitted, no cervical e8n0d0emm eicle ivna tLioank;e Kutubu, at
endemic in Tigi Lake, West
! C. solus 3-4 slender covered with tubercles
Papua
2 indentations, no few short setae on cutting edges small eyes, described from
C. holthuisi smooth
spines of chelae Aitinjo Lake. West Papua
during the dry season, as in most places the water able to survive in moist conditions for a couple
flow is too fast in the wet season. Clarity of the of months, in burrows or moist logs.
water depends on the level of flooding and time.
We did not collect crayfish in the swamps, and
The Tamu River (near the West Papua border)
the villagers only fish for crayfish in rivers in
is muddy during the flood season, becoming
the forest behind the swamps. No crayfish have
clear after the initial floods, and then becoming
been collected in the main Fly River channel
stagnant, with dark (tannin stained) water full of
which is heavily populated by Macrobrachium
rotting leaves, and almost anaerobic (DO<lmg/L)
rosenbergii. In the streams Cherax peknyi was
in the dry season. The crayfish live under logs and
sympatric wath C. albetiisii and C. quadricarinatus,
in crevices and holes in submerged timber. They
which are also collected for food by the local
also live in burrows in the clay in the banks of the people during the dry season.
river. Even when the water is very low in dissolved
oxygen they live in all water depths and in their ETYMOLOGY. Named after Mr Reinhard Pekny, for
holes. No berried females were collected in the his untiring eflbrts in protecting freshwater crayfish,
dry season suggesting that breeding is in the wet and his contribution to our knowledge of the breeding
and behaviour of New Guinea crayfish.
season.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Generally the habitat is in monsoon gallery forest,
however they persist where habitat modification
We wish to thank Peter Davie, Senior Curator,
has been severe (clearing and siltation), and breed Crustacea, of the Queensland Museum, for his
and maintain populations in small creeks around support, and for reviewing this manuscript. Graham
Kiunga (e.g. near the Kiunga school). These Weston is acknowledged for his habitat picture and
modified creeks have moderate flow throughout useful comments. We would like to thank Prof P.B.
the year, and are highly turbid (secchi <50mm), Matlier for his support, and Aquarium Glaser who
and DO >4mg/L. Water temperature in small brought this crayfish to our attention. We also thank
streams around Kiunga gets as low as 18®C, and the local people of the Fly River catchment for their
up to 29°C. A few of the creeks in which they assistance in collecting crayfish and sharing their
occur dry out completely, so they probably are local knowledge.
ANEW SPECIES OF FRESHWATER CRAYFISH 219
LITERATURE CITED HUXLEY, TH. 1879. On the classification and the
distribution of the crayfishes. Proc. Zool. Soc.
BOESEM AN, M., 1963. Notes on the fishes of Western Lond. 1878:752-788.
New Guinea. Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden
LUKHAUP, C. & PERNY, R. 2004. Flusskrebse in
38(14); 221-242, tigs 1-8, pis 1-8.
der Aquaristik; Dahne Verlag GmbH Ettlingen-
CALM AN, W.T., 191L Note on a crayfish from New
Sonderheft Wirbellose-Garnelen, Krebse,
Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History
Krabben & Co.
(Ser. 8) 8(45): 366-368^.
2006a. Cherax (Cherax) holthuisi, a new species
HOLTHUIS, L.B., 1949. Decapoda Macrura with
of crayfish (Crustacea: Decapoda; Parastacidae)
a revision of the New Guinea Parastacidae.
from the centre of the Vogelkop Peninsula in Irian
Zoological results of the Dutch New Guinea
Jaya (West New Guinea), Indonesia. Zoologische
Expedition 1939. No. 3. Nova Guinea (n. ser.) 5:
Mededeelingcn. Leiden 80-1(7): figs 1-4.
289-330, pis 2-9.
2006b. Krebse wie aus dem Paradies - Bekannte
1956. Native fisheries of freshwater Crustacea in
Netherlands New Guinea. Contributions to New und unbekannle Formen der Gattung Cherax
Guinea Carcinology. I. Nova Guinea (n. ser.) 7(2): von Neuguinea; Dahne Verlag GmbH Ettlingen-
123-137, figs 1-3, pis 1-8. Sonderhell Wirbellose-Garnelen, Krebse, Krabben
&Co.
1958. Freshwater Crayfish in Netherlands New Guinea
Mountains. South Pacific Commission Quarterly MUNASINGHE, D.H.N., BURRIDGE, C.P. &
Bulletin 8(2): 36-39,7 figs. AUSTIN, C.M., 2004. The syslematics of
freshwater crayfish of the genus Cherax Erichson
1982. Freshwater Cmslacea Decapoda of New Guinea,
(Decapoda: Parastacidae) in eastern Australia
in, Gressitt, J.L. (Ed.), Biogeography and ecology
re-examined using nucleotide sequences from
of New Guinea, vol. 2. Monographiae Biologicae
42: 603-^19, figs 1-5. I2S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes. Invertebrate
Systematics 18: 215-225.
1986. The freshwater crayfish of New Guinea.
Freshwater Crayfish 6: 48-58, figs 1-8. ROUX, J., 1911. Nouvelles espdces de Decapodes
d’eau douce provenanl de Papouasie. Notes from
1996. Cherax (Astaconephrops) minor new species,
the Leyden Museum. Leyden 33: 81-106, 5 figs.
a parastacid from the mountains of Irian Jaya (W.
New Guinea) Indonesia (Crustacea; Decapoda: 1914. Uber das Vorkommen der Gattung Cheraps auf
Parastacidae). Zoologische Mededeelingcn. der Insel Misool. Zoologischer Anzeiger, Leiden
Leiden 70(24): 361-366, figs 1-2. 44; 97-9.