Epilobocera Wetherbeei, a New Species of Freshwater Crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pseudothelphusidae) from Hispaniola Gilberto Rodr
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 108(l):76-83. 1995. Epilobocera wetherbeei, a new species of freshwater crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pseudothelphusidae) from Hispaniola Gilberto Rodriguez and Austin B. Williams (GR) Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Apartado 21827, Caracas 1020 A, Venezuela; (ABW) National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. Abstract.—Epilobocera wetherbeei, a new species of pseudothelphusid crab, is described from the Dominican Republic. The species can be easily distin guished from other species of Epilobocera by its small size, absence of antero lateral spinulation and characters of the first male gonopods. SEM micropho- tographs of the first and second male gonopods of E. wetherbeei, E. sinuatifrons, E. haytensis and E. gertraudae are provided. The apex of the second male gonopod in all species of Epilobocera studied is hollow, transversely truncate, with a prominent internal rib provided with spines. These characters distinctly separate Epilobocera from species in the subfamily Pseudothelphusinae where the gonopodal apex is spoon-shaped and provided with long setae. The new observations are incorporated into amended diagnoses of the subfamilies Epi- lobocerinae and Pseudothelphusinae. The genus Epilobocera Stimpson, 1860, less it can be shown to be a synonym of E. comprises six species of freshwater crabs re armata."' The genus has been the object of stricted to the Greater Antilles and some recent revisions by Chace & Hobbs (1969), nearby islands: E. sinuatifrons A. Milne Ed Pretzmann (1972) and Rodriguez (1982). wards, 1866, inhabits Puerto Rico and Saint Due to the accessibility and small area of Croix Island; E. haytensis Rathbun, 1893, the Greater Antilles, their freshwater fauna is confined to Hispaniola; Cuba has three is fairly well known. For this reason it has species, E. armata Smith, 1870, E. cubensis been noteworthy to find a new species of Stimpson, 1860, and the troglobic E. ger freshwater crab in the material recently col traudae Pretzmann, 1965; E. gilmani (Smith lected by Dr. David Wetherbee during his 1870), possibly conspecific with E. cubensis, explorations of the Cordillera Central of has been described from Isla de Pinos. One Hispaniola. species, E. granulata Rathbun, 1893, was described from an immature male labeled "West Indies'" and the first male gonopod Materials and Methods was not illustrated. Chace & Hobbs (1969) The materials used for the description of stated that "the material is now virtually Epilobocera wetherbeei were collected as two macerated" and suggested that "In view of separate lots. The first lot included the male the immaturity of these specimens and the holotype and one juvenile specimen col lack of specific type-locality, the species may lected on 2 Oct 1990, and sent to the junior remain a species inquirenda indefinitely un author in the National Museum of Natural VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 77 History, Smithsonian Institution, Washing Cordillera Central, near the water divide, ton (USNM). The specimens were received Provincia Santiago, Dominican Republic, in semi-dry condition, and the coloration at waterfall, 2300 m alt., 2 Oct 1990, leg. was carefully noted at the time of reception David Wetherbee, 1 male holotype, cl 16.5 (see "Color"). The specimens were subse mm, cb 26.6 mm, 1 juvenile (USNM).— quently placed in alcohol and shipped to the Same data, 12 Jul 1991, 1 male paratype, senior author for further study. The second cl 15.0 mm, cb 23.5 mm (IVIC), 1 male, lot was collected on 12 Jul 1991, at the type broken carapace, cl approximately 12.5 mm, locality, and was shipped to the senior au cb approximately 20.1 mm; 4 ovigerous fe thor by Dr. Wetherbee. The lot included male paratypes, cl 14.7, 15.5, 16.1 and 16.8 two males and five ripe or ovigerous fe mm, cb 24.6, 25.8, 25.7 and 28.1 mm, 1 males. These specimens were in poor con adult female broken carapace cl 14.2 mm, dition and almost all pereiopods and some cb approximately 24.0 mm (USNM). carapaces have become dislocated. The Description. —Carapace wide (cb/cl =1.61 specimens are deposited at the USNM and in holotype), strongly convex on antero the Reference Collection of the Instituto Ve- posterior axis. Cervical groove absent, only nezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Ca in female cl 15.5 mm indicated by thin line racas (IVIC). on left side of carapace. Antero-lateral mar Other abbreviations used are cb for car gin without conspicuous depression behind apace breadth, and cl for carapace length. antero-external angle, entire or slightly fes For comparative purposes we have stud tooned on anterior portion, with occasional ied the first and second gonopods of other small papillae in holotype and male para species of Epilobocera deposited in IVIC, type, smooth or with 12 to 16 poorly-de namely E. sinuatifrons, 1 male, cl 55.6 mm, fined papillae in females. Postfrontal lobes from El Yunque, Coca Falls, Luquillo, Puer absent, their position indicated only by to Rico, collected 5 Feb 1972; E. haytensis, rounded scars; median groove thin and 1 male cl 43.2 mm, from Barahona, Do shallow, obsolescent. Front lacks upper bor minican Republic, collected 3 Feb 1967; E. der, but surface of carapace in this area gertraudae, 1 male cl 31.5 mm, from Cueva rounded off to lower margin. Lower margin Superior Majaguas, Sierra de San Carlos, clearly visible in dorsal view, slightly arched; Pinar del Rio, Cuba, collected 2 Aug 1977. strongly sinuous in frontal view. Surface of The first and second gonopods of the ho- carapace smooth and polished, with regions lotype of E. wetherbeei and all the species not marked. No tooth present at aperture recorded above were dried, coated with of efferent branchial channel. platinum, and photographed on a scanning Largest cheliped elongated, ischium over electron microscope Hitachi S-500. Point- reaching by % of its length margin of cara drying was not used due to the extreme brit- pace. Palm moderately inflated, lower mar tleness of the material. For the gonopods of gin of palm and fixed finger sinuous; fingers E. armata and E. cubensis we have relied arched, widely gaping. Walking legs slender, on drawings and notes made on the material ischium of third pair 4.7 as long as wide. already reported by Rodriguez (1982). Third maxilliped with merus wide, antero lateral border evenly rounded; exopod de Subfamily Epilobocerinae Smalley, 1964 void of flagellum, overreaching ischium of Genus Epilobocera Stimpson, 1860 endognath, its tip rounded, provided with Epilobocera wetherbeei, new species plumose setae. Figs. 1, 2A, B, 3A, 4A First male gonopod long and slender. Material. —Rio Magua, tributary of Rio Margin (sensu Smalley 1964a) progressively Mao, Sierra Platicos, northern slopes of the twisted dextrally, its middle portion direct- 78 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Fig. 1. Epilobocera wetherbeei, new species, holotype male, dorsal view of carapace and pereiopods. ed mesially and its apical portion directed the collector, the color in live specimens to cephalic side. Margin developed distally "varies from brown in some to orange. Or into strong recurved mesial lobe. Apex club ange specimens have maroon (reddish pur shaped; bulging lateral process ("globulus" ple) walking legs and white claws." In the sensu Pretzmann 1972) with 7 strong hooked holotype specimen preserved in alcohol the spines; finger-like caudal process ("nasus" color is as follows. Overall color carapace sensu Pretzmann 1972) devoid of spines, salmon pink. Walking legs lighter. Che- apex with crenulations on inner side; mesial lipeds still lighter, buff, articular mem process ("caudaler Kamm" sensu Pretz branes between merus and carpus, between mann 1972) consists of 5 spines disposed carpus and propodus, and at base of dactyl, in comb-like structure directed externally; salmon pink and contrasting with buff of intermediate plate ("Querkamm" sensu articles; membrane at either end of carpus Pretzmann 1972) with 5 slender spines; ce darker than those at base of dactyl; mem phalic margin with few tiny proximal pa branes of major right chela darker than those pillae, ending mesially in acute angle (bro of minor (left). ken in our SEM illustration of Fig. 3a). Sec The fifth left leg is detached; articular ond male gonopod straight, apex hollow, membranes not colored on this or any other transversely truncate, prominent internal rib of the walking legs. Underside of the walk provided with spines. ing legs only slightly lighter in color than Color. —According to field notes taken by other sides. VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 Fig. 2. Epilobocera wetherbeei, new species, holotype male: a, third maxilliped, right; b, apical portion of left first gonopod, cephalic view, ml, mesial lobe; lp, lateral process; cp, caudal process; s, spines of mesial process; ip, intermediate plate; cm, cephalic margin; ma, mesial angle of cephalic margin; tp, terminal process. Underparts of body lighter than dorsum, antero-lateral margin and the smoothness but flush of salmon pink on sternal plate of carapace characteristic of E. wetherbeei between chelipeds and third maxillipeds, are only observed in E. cubensis, but while with similar color on exposed articles of third in this last species the margin has some ru maxilliped, pterygostomian and subhepatic dimentary papillae, in E. wetherbeei it has regions. Abdomen not salmon pink, but of none. The coloration observed in this spe somewhat darker hue than adjacent ster- cies has not been reported for other Epilo nites to each side. bocera. Size. —The species is small for the mem The characteristic tooth present at the ap bers of the genus. Our largest male has a cl erture of the efferent branchial channel in 26.6 mm, and females reach maturity at cl other species of Epilobocera (see Rodriguez 24.6 mm.