Decapoda, Brachyura, Macrophthalmidae) from Amami-Oshima Island, Ryukyu Islands, Southern Japan
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CRUSTacean research, no. 40: 13 – 20, 2011 13 A rare macrophthalmine crab, Euplax leptophthalmus H. Milne Edwards, 1852 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Macrophthalmidae) from Amami-Oshima Island, Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan Tei Kishino, Toshihiko Yonezawa and Keiji Wada Abstract.– The rare macrophthalmine of E. leptophthalmus and M. gastrodes, and crab, Euplax leptophthalmus H. Milne concluded that both species were identical, Edwards, 1852, is recorded from Japan except in a few details of the male chelae. for the first time. Numerous specimens As for the genus, Barnes (1966) had were obtained from tidal muddy mangrove synonymised Euplax under Macrophthalmus creeks on Amami-Oshima Island. Variation Desmarest, 1823. Barnes (1967) recognized is discussed with regard to sexual and size six subgenera under Macrophthalmus in differences. Differences with the allied E. his revision, but inexplicably placed M. dagohoyi (Mendoza & Ng, 2007) from the leptophthalmus in his new subgenus Venitus Philippines are also discussed. Barnes, 1967 (type species Gonoplax latreillei Desmarest, 1822), and chose not to recognize Euplax H. Milne Edwards, 1852, even though Introduction it was an available name and had precedence T he brachyuran subfamily (see Mendoza & Ng, 2007). Barnes (1977) Macrophthalminae Dana, 1851 (family commented that M. gastrodes was a junior Macrophthalmidae Dana, 1851) currently synonym of M. (Venitus) leptophthalmus has 9 genera, 3 subgenera and 61 species with the former considered a juvenile form (Ng et al., 2008; McLay et al., 2010). On of the latter and noted that “Chile”, the type the Japanese coast, 23 species are known in locality of M. leptophthalmus, was erroneous. three genera: of Macrophthalmus Desmarest, Mendoza & Ng (2007) agreed that the type 1823, Chaenostoma Stimpson, 1858 and locality of Euplax leptophthalmus was clearly Venitus Barnes, 1967 (Sakai, 1976; Kosuge & erroneous and suggested that a site in the Davie, 2001; Sakai, 2003; Nagai et al., 2006; Indian Ocean may be the type locality instead. Naruse & Kosuge, 2008). However, the genus Recently, Mendoza & Ng (2007) revised Euplax H. Milne Edwards, 1852 has not been the identity of M. leptophthalmus and recorded from Japan. resurrected the Euplax as a separate subgenus Euplax was established by H. Milne of Macrophthalmus. They also showed that Edwards (1852) for a new species Euplax the subgenus Venitus could be separated from leptophthalmus, described from one male and Euplax. In addition, a new species of Euplax, one female specimen collected in “Chile”, M. (E.) dagohoyi, was described from the South America. Kemp (1915) later described Philippines. Recently, McLay et al. (2010) a closely allied species, Macrophthalmus regarded both Euplax and Venitus as full gastrodes from the Chilka Lake in India. genera. Kemp (1915), however, did not compare M. We collected a good series of male and gastrodes and E. leptophthalmus. Barnes female macrophthalmine crabs that had not (1977) re-examined morphological characters been reported in Japan from tidal muddy 1414 T. KISHINO ET AL. mangrove creeks in Amami-Oshima Island of southern Japan from 2000 to 2004. These specimens were eventually identified with Euplax leptophthalmus H. Milne Edwards, 1852. For E. leptophthalmus, only four specimens have been found thus far and not much is known about variation in the taxon. In this paper, we show that Amami-Oshima Island specimens are true E. leptophthalmus. The good series of specimens obtained also allow us to comment on morphological variations in the species associated with size and sex. Materials and Methods Specimens were collected by a hand net having mesh size 2 mm, from mangrove creeks (water depth: 20–100 cm at low tide) at the Yakugachi River Estuary (28˚15’4”N, 129˚24’30”E), Tekebu Mangrove swamp (28˚26’24”N, 129˚40’0”E) and the Urakawa River Estuary (28˚24’57”N, 129˚36’2”E) in Amami-Oshima Island, mid-Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan in 2000 to 2004. These 15 specimens were preserved in 80% ethanol and deposited in the Osaka Museum of Fig. 1. Euplax leptophthalmus. Male (14.0 by 11.4 National History in Osaka, Japan (OMNH- mm) (OMNH-Ar8697). A, dorsal view; B, Ar). The specimens, entirely covered with ventral view; C, frontal view. mud, were washed and observed under a microscope of 8–40 magnifications. Staining was made with methylene blue as and when pl. XII, fig. 5. necessary. Carapace size is expressed as CW Macrophthalmus leptophthalmus: Barnes, 1966: pl. (carapace width) by CL (carapace length), XXIV, figs. 3, 4. with CW measured at the widest level. Other Macrophthalmus (Venitus) leptophthalmus: Barnes, measurements followed Komai et al. (1995: 1977: text-fig. 1. fig. 1). Macrophthalmus (Euplax) leptophthalmus: Mendoza & Ng, 2007: text-figs 1, 2; Ng et al., 2008: 237 (list); Davie, 2009: 820 (key); Barnes, 2010: text- Systematics fig. 1b (as schematic illustration). Macrophthalmidae Dana, 1851 Material examined.– 1 male (14.0 by Macrophthalminae Dana, 1851 11.4 mm) (OMNH-Ar8697), subtidal mud in Euplax H. Milne Edwards, 1852 mangrove creek, Yakugachi River Estuary, Euplax leptophthalmus H. Milne Edwards, Amami-Oshima Island, 11 May 2002, 1852 collected by T. Yonezawa; 1 female (18.0 by (Figs. 1–3) 14.8 mm) (OMNH-Ar8696), subtidal mud in mangrove creek, Yakugachi River Estuary, 6 Euplax leptophthalmus H. Milne Edwards, 1852: 160 (type locality: Chile?, South America); Rathbun, Nov. 2001, coll. T. Yonezawa; 1 male (11.1 1918: 423. by 8.9 mm = exuvium size just after molting) Macrophthalmus gastrodes Kemp, 1915: (type (OMNH-Ar8695), subtidal mud in mangrove locality: the Chilka Lake, India), text-figs. 9, 10. creek, Yakugachi River Estuary, 4 June 2000, EUPLAX LEPTOPHTHALMUS FROM JAPAN 1515 Fig. 2. Euplax leptophthalmus. Male (14.0 by 11.4 mm) (OMNH-Ar8697): A, C–G; female (18.0 by 14.8 mm) (OMNH-Ar8696): B. A, carapace (dorsal view); B, female antero-lateral tooth of left side (dorsal view); C, frontal view of left side; D, right third maxilliped (ventral view); E, right 2nd – 4th ambulatory legs (dorsal view); F, left first gonopod (ventral view); G, distal part of left first gonopod (ventral view). Scales, A– F = 5 mm; G = 3 mm. coll. T. Kishino; 2 males (9.0 by 8.0 mm, equal to carapace length; regions well defined, 10.3 by 9.1 mm), 3 females (7.8 by 6.8 mm to with 2 deep longitudinal grooves marking 11.3 by 9.7 mm), 1 juvenile (4.2 by 3.7 mm) both sides of the gastric and cardiac regions; (OMNH-Ar8698), subtidal mud in creek, surface with scattered very short setae, with Tekebu, Amami-Oshima Island, 6 Nov. 2003, patches of granules on gastric, cardiac and coll. T. Yonezawa and T. Kishino; 2 males branchial regions. Lateral margins convergent (6.7 by 5.5 mm, 6.9 by 5.6 mm) (OMNH- anteriorly and posteriorly, point of greatest Ar8699), subtidal mud in creek, Tekebu, carapace width at postero-lateral angle (at Amami-Oshima Island, 16 Nov. 2003, coll. T. level of second/third ambulatory legs). Kishino; 1 male (13.0 by 11.3 mm) (OMNH- Antero-lateral margin granulated, setose, with Ar8700), subtidal mud in mangrove creek, three well-defined (including orbital corner) Urakawa River Estuary, 5 Apr. 2004, coll. small teeth and inconspicuous fourth tooth. T. Yonezawa; 2 males (9.8 by 9.1 mm, 12.2 First (orbital corner) and second tooth broad, by 10.5 mm), 1 female (11.6 by 10.1 mm) subtriangular, bluntly pointed; third tooth (OMNH-Ar8701), subtidal mud in creek, smaller than former tooth, bluntly triangular, Tekebu, Amami-Oshima Island, 6 Apr. 2004, fourth present as obscurely granulated coll. T. Yonezawa. protrusion. Postero-lateral margin and Description of male (OMNH-Ar8697).– posterior margin smooth excepting inferior Carapace subquadrate (Figs. 1A; 2A), almost ridge lined by very small granules. circular, in shape, width 1.2 times of length; Front (Figs. 1A, C; 2A, C) moderate in width across external orbital angles almost width (1/5 carapace width at external orbital 1616 T. KISHINO ET AL. Fig. 3. Euplax leptophthalmus. Male (14.0 by 11.4 mm) (OMNH-Ar8697): left sides; female (18.0 by 14.8 mm) (OMNH-Ar8696): right sides. A, B: abdomen and left side of thoracic sternites; C, E: left chela (outer view); D, F: left chela (inner view). Scales, 5 mm. angle), slightly constricted between bases of septum; basal segment distinctly inflated. eyestalk; frontal margin granulated, deep, Antennae almost as long as eyestalks. surface without granules, anterior margin Epistome (Figs. 1C; 2C) narrow, central slightly emarginated medially by longitudinal region of posterior border of epistome groove. Eyestalks prominent, corneas concave, without posterior rim or postero- reduced, cornea only extending to a point median protrusion; endostominal ridge just short of base of external orbital angle. in anterior buccal cavity absent. Third Upper orbital margin curved, slightly sloping maxillipeds separated by a median hiatus, backwards; margin granulated, setose. Lower setose along internal margins; merus and orbital margin granulated, lined by long setae. ischium with longitudinal sculpturing near Antennules separated by a narrow median inner margin; merus about half as long as EUPLAX LEPTOPHTHALMUS FROM JAPAN 1717 ischium; internal and external margins of Abdomen (Figs. 1B; 3A) with 6 freely merus convex; anterior margin excavated; articulating somites and telson with short internal margin of ischium slightly concave setae along margins, surface almost smooth, medially, external margin almost straight, central convexities developed; 1st somite posterior margin with small rounded granules; short, widest with obscure transverse ridge exopod narrow, width about 0.3 times of bearing minute granules in median surface; ischium, with flagellum. 2nd somite shortest, narrower than 1st and Chelipeds subequal (Fig. 1A); cheliped 3rd somites; 3rd somoite trapezoidal, slightly length shorter than 1 st, longer than 4 th narrower than 1st somite; 4th somite to telson ambulatory legs.