Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Gulf of California, Mexico, and a Proposal for the Use of the Family Pseudorhombilidae Alcock, 1900
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18 September 1998 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 111(3):634-644. 1998. A new genus and species of "goneplacid-like" brachyuran crab (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Gulf of California, Mexico, and a proposal for the use of the family Pseudorhombilidae Alcock, 1900 Michel E. Hendrickx Institute de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologfa, Estacion Mazatlan, UNAM. P.O. Box 811, Mazatlan, Sinaloa 82000, Mexico Abstract.—A new genus and species of crab, Bathyrhombila furcata, are described from localities in the Gulf of California, western coast of Mexico. The new genus is close to Pseudorhombila H. Milne Edwards and belongs to a group of three genera tentatively assigned to the subfamily Pseudorhombi- linae Alcock, 1900 by Guinot in 1969. The affinity of Bathyrhombila, new genus, with other genera of "Goneplacidae" {Euphrosynoplax Guinot, Pseu dorhombila H. Milne Edwards, Nanoplax Guinot, Oediplax Rathbun, and Cha- cellus Guinot) is discussed, noting that they all represent primitive transitional forms between the cyclometopous and the catometopous abdomen-sternum or ganization, and a similar "xanthoid-goneplacid" facies. On the basis of these affinities, it is proposed that these six genera be included into the family Pseu dorhombilidae Alcock, within the Heterotremata Guinot, 1977. Resumen.—Se describe un nuevo genero y una nueva especie de cangrejo, Bathyrhombila furcata, recolectado en localidades de el golfo de California, costa oeste de Mexico. El nuevo genero se parece a Pseudorhombila H. Milne Edwards y pertenece a un grupo de tres generos tentativamente asignados a la subfamilia Pseudorhombilidae Alcock, 1900 por Guinot en 1969. Se discute la afinidad de Bathyrhombila, nuevo genero, con otros genero de "Goneplacidae" (Euphrosynoplax Guinot, Pseudorhombila H. Milne-Edwards, Nanoplax Guin ot, Oediplax Rathbun, y Chacellus Guinot), senalando que todos ellos repre- sentan formas primitivas de transicion entre la organizacion abdomen-estemon cyclometopes y catametopes, y una apariencia similar de tipo "xanthoideo- goneplacideo". En base a estas afinidades, se propone que estos seis generos sean incluidos en la familia Pseudorhombilidae Alcock, dentro del grupo de los Heterotremata Guinot, 1977. Two common and widely distributed Xanthoidea proposed by Guinot (1978) em- families of brachyuran crabs, the Xanthidae phasized the sternal position of female and Goneplacidae (sensu Balss 1957) have openings ("sternitremes") coupled with the long been recognized as containing hetero- coxal or coxo-stemal position of male gen- geneous groups of genera (see Guinot 1970, ital openings, thus relating the Xanthoidea 1977, 1978; Serene 1984; Williams 1984; with the heterotremateous arrangement Martin & Abele 1986). In the last twenty (Heterotremata, as defined by Guinot 1977). years, the organization of the Xanthidae Guinot (1978) insisted on the fact that sensu Balss has been subject to many among the Xanthoidea, two groups of fam- changes. The concept of a superfamily ilies should be considered: one with male VOLUME 111, NUMBER 3 635 opening coxal, and another in which the entre Cyclometopes et Catometopes [an or male opening progressively migrates to a ganization close to the cyclometopous or coxo-stemal position. In the later group, the ganization and probably belonging to the evolutionary process is associated with a crabs linking the cyclometopous to the ca- modification of the facies, which becomes tametopous]." A second species of Chacel goneplacid-like (Guinot 1978:266). Guinot lus was added by Hendrickx (1989a) who, (1978) also suggested that when all genera despite of a "rather xanthoid facies," in of Goneplacidae sensu Balss will have been cluded it in the Goneplacidae with a "prim reviewed, new families might be added to itive catometopous organization." Another the second, goneplacid-like group of Xan- genus, Euphrosynoplax Guinot, 1969b was thoidea (i.e., those genera with a coxo-ster- also described by Guinot (1969b:720), to nal male openings). accommodate an undescribed species of A group of goneplacid-like brachyuran crab from Florida: E. clausa Guinot, 1969b. crabs presently included in the Goneplaci Again, Guinot (1969b) emphasized the dae has long been recognized as represent primitive catometopous stage of this genus, ing an intermediate step towards the trans relatively close to the cyclometopous ar formation of the cyclometopous (heterotre- rangement. A second species of Euphrosy matous) abdomen-sternum arrangement noplax was recently described by Vazquez- (male genital opening coxal; abdominal so Bader & Gracia (1991) from the Gulf of mites 1-2 covering entirely the space be Mexico. Although these authors did not tween the coxa of P5; stemite plate 8 en clearly illustrate stemite eight, they refer to tirely covered by these abdominal somites a (what appears as a primitive) catometo and not visible ventrally) into a catometo pous organization of their species, E. cam- pous arrangement (male opening sternal; pechiensis, with a ". male opening coxal stemite plates 7 and 8 widened, ventrally [and] a small portion of stemite 8 not cov united and visible ventrally; abdominal seg ered by the second abdominal somite." ments 1-2 reduced, clearly separated from coxa of P5) (Guinot 1969a, 1978, 1979). The present paper deals with a new spe For Guinot (1969b, 1970) this group of cies of crab that present morphological sim genera represents an evolutionary step to ilarities with those in the above cited gen wards the more advanced catometopous era. It is herein considered that this new (thoracotrematous) organization in which species requires a new genus. Furthermore, the sternum occupies an increasingly wider the use of the family Pseudorhombilidae area between the basal abdominal somites Alcock, 1900, is proposed for a group of and the coxa of P5, and the male opening six genera with a "xanthoid-goneplacid" moves progressively towards a sternal po facies representing primitive transitional sition. Guinot (1970: 1076, 1080) suggested forms between the cyclometopous and the that several of these genera (i.e., Pseudo- catometopous abdomen-sternum organiza rhombila H. Milne Edwards, 1837, Oedi- tion. plax Rathbun, 1893, and possibly Nanoplax Abbreviations used in this paper are: CW, Guinot, 1967) could be integrated in the carapace width; CL, carapace length; P2 to subfamily Pseudorhombilidae Alcock, 1900 P5, pereiopods; Pll and P12, male first and pro parte. second pleopods (gonopods), respectively; Guinot (1969b: 721) also described the SEM, Scanning Electron Microscope; genus Chacellus Guinot, 1969b, monotypic EMU, Estacion Mazatlan UNAM, inverte at that time, which she considered "... [a brate reference collection; SIO, SCRIPPS genus with] une organisation tres proche de Institution of Oceanography, invertebrates r organisation cyclometopienne et fait sans collection. La Jolla, California, U.S.A.; doute partie des Crabes formant le passage LACM, Los Angeles County Museum of r 16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON atural History, Los Angeles, California, curved, gap between fingers reduced. A .S.A. very conspicuous, strong pterygostomian Drawings were made with a camera lu- ridge in front of cheliped articulation. Lda (Fig. 2). Holotype was photographed Walking legs slender, long, flattened. Ster sing a Kodak TMAX 100 ASA black and num moderately wide, narrowing in front of ^hite film (Fig. 1), and SEM microphoto- PI. Abdomen narrow in its base; segment raphs of male gonopods were obtained us- 2 not overlapping coxa of P5. Abdominal ig the classical technique of acetone de- segments 3-5 incompletely fused; suture 3- ydrated, gold-palladium coated gonopods 4 distinguishable, a remaining notch on xtracted from type material (Fig. 3). both extremities; suture 4-5 obsolete, a re maining notch on both extremities. A small portion of stemite 8 visible, close to artic Bathyrhombila, new genus ular condyle of P5, not in contact with ster- Diagnosis.—Carapace 1.4 to 1.5 broader nite plate 7. A shallow depresion in front lan long, anteriorly convex, slightly con- of the abdominal telson. Male genital open ex and narrower posteriorly; general shape ing coxal and gonopod 1 free. Pll long, xanthoid". Antero-lateral margin arched, slender, with slightly curved apex; stiff sub- /ith 4 teeth, excluding the outer orbital terminal spines, with stout and long lateral 5oth which is well-defined and slightly (apical) process and shorter, hook-like api rejecting; second and outer orbital teeth cal process. P12 short, sigmoid. used, forming an almost straight slightly Type species.—Bathyrhombila furcata, rejecting margin; length of this margin al- new species, by original designation and lost half the frontal width. Postero-lateral monotypy. order converging posteriorly. Regions rel- Ethymology.—The name of the genus is tively well marked. Front narrow, less than a combination of rhombila and bathys, to } maximum width of carapace, slightly indicate affinities with the genus Pseudo- rejecting forwards, with a shallow median rhombila H. Milne Edwards and the fact epression, margin sinuous, with a well- that most specimens were collected in the larked notch between the external comer bathybenthic region. nd the inner orbital tooth. Orbits reduced 1 size; eyes relatively small. Upper orbital Bathyrhombila furcata, new species largin slightly concave, with 2 distinct su- Figs 1-3 jres; lower orbital margin with 2 strong jeth, inner one acute, outer one rounded, Material examined.—Holotype,