PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 108(l):76-83. 1995. Epilobocera wetherbeei, a new species of freshwater (: Brachyura: ) 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 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. 1982, fig. 3h-l), and which can be clearly Remarks. — The small size distinguishes seen through the channel aperture, is miss­ this species from all others in the genus; in ing in this species. fact and E. hay- The most important differences from oth­ tensis, are among the largest Pseudothel- er species are found in the apex of the first phusidae on record (cb 103.3 mm and 100.4 gonopods, as can be observed by the illus­ mm, Rodriguez 1982). The largest speci­ trations of the appendages of other species mens recorded for E. armata and E. cub­ presented in figure 3 and the illustrations of ensis have a cb of 85.2 mm and 84 mm, the gonopods of E. armata and E. cubensis respectively (Rodriguez 1982). The speci­ given by Chace & Hobbs (1969) and Rod­ men of E. gertraudae examined by us has a riguez (1982). The strong mesial lobe of E. cb of 53.8 mm. The absence of teeth on the wetherbeei is found also in E. gertraudae. 80 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

Fig. 3. Apical portion of left first gonopod: a, Epilobocera wetherbeei, new species, holotype; b, E. sinuatifrons; c, E. haytensis; d, E. gertraudae. d at same scale as c.

The number of strong spines on the bulging ensis 8, and gertraudae 12. The finger-like lateral process of the different species are: caudal process is devoid of spines in E. in E. wetherbeei 7, E. sinuatifrons 14-16, wetherbeei, but armed with strong spines in E. haytensis 12, E. armata 13-14, E. cub- E. sinuatifrons and E. haytensis, and with VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 81

Fig. 4. Left second gonopod, detail of apex: a, Epilobocera wetherbeei, new species, holotype; b, E. sinu­ atifrons; c, E. haytensis; d, E. gerlraudae. b, c, and d at same scale as a. small spines in E. armata, E. cubensis and traudae 9. The terminal process has more E. gertraudae. The number of spines on the than 3 spines in E. sinuatifrons and E. hay­ mesial process in the different species are: tensis; in E. armata, E. cubensis and E. ger­ in E. wetherbeei 5, E. sinuatifrons 7, E. hay­ traudae there are only 2 or 3 spines on the tensis^, E. armata 9, E. cubensis 6, E. ger­ cephalic side; in E. wetherbeei the process 82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON is devoid of spines. The intermediate plate Common name.—The species is locally has approximately the same form and num­ known as "Pinita." ber of spines in all the species. The cephalic margin in E. wetherbeei has a few tiny pa­ Acknowledgments pillae proximally; in E. haytensis these pa­ pillae are stronger, disposed in a double row We thank Dr. David K. Wetherbee for which extends through the length of the the opportunity to study this interesting margin, in E. armata, E. cubensis, and E. species. SEM photographs were taken by gertraudae there are a few small spines; and Mr. Hector Suarez. in E. sinuatifrons this margin is produced into 6 long spines. The mesial angle of the Literature Cited cephalic margin is unarmed in E. wether­ beei; while it has two strong spines in all Chace, F. A. Jr., & H. H. Hobbs, Jr. 1969. The fresh­ other species. water and terrestrial Decapod Crustacea of the The apex of the second male gonopod in West Indies with special reference to Domini­ ca.—Bulletin of the United States National Mu­ all species of Epilobocera is hollow, trans­ seum 292:1-258. versely truncate, with a prominent internal Milne Edwards, A. 1866. Description de trois nou- rib provided with spines. In some speci­ velles especes du genre Boscia, Crustaces Brach- mens can be observed a very thin mem­ yures de la tribu des Telpheusiens.—Annales de brane which prolongs the apex and which la Societe Entomologique de France (4)6:203- 205. is lost during preparation of the appendage Ortmann, A. 1893. Die Dekapoden-Krebse des for scanning microscopy. The morphology Strassburger Museums, mit besonderer Beriick- of the apex of Epilobocera distinctly differs sichtigung der von Herr Doderlein bei Japan from all other species of Pseudothelphusi- und bei den Liu-Kiu-Inseln gesammelten und dae where the gonopodal apex is spoon zur Zeit in Strassburger Museum aufbewarten Formen. VII. Theil. Abtheilung: Brachyura shaped and provided with long setae (Rod­ (Brachyura genuina Boas) II. Unterabtheilung: riguez & Suarez 1994). This character should Cancroidea, 2 Section: Cancrinea, 1. Gruppe: be incorporated into the diagnoses of the Cyclometopa. — Zoologische Jarbiicher, Abth­ subfamilies Epilobocerinae and Pseudo- eilung fur Systematik, Geographie und Biologie derThiere 7:411-495, pi. 17. thelphusinae, as follows. Pretzmann, G. 1965. Vorlaufiger Bericht iiber die Epilobocerinae Smalley, 1964b (caract. Familie Pseudothelphusidae. —Anzeiger der emend.): Pseudothelphusidae with apex of Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse der first gonopod bearing both a group of apical Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften spines surrounding aperture of spermatic (1)1:1-10. channel, and also large scattered spines; apex . 1972. Die Pseudothelphusidae (Crustacea Brachyura).-Zoologica 42(120) pt. 1:1-182. of second male gonopod hollow, transverse­ Rathbun, M. J. 1893. Descriptions of new species of ly truncate, with prominent internal rib pro­ American freshwater crabs. — Proceedings of the vided with spines. United States National Museum 16(959):649- Pseudothelphusinae Ortmann, 1893 (car- 661, pis. 73-77. act, emend.): Pseudothelphusidae with apex Rodriguez, G. 1982. Les Crabes d'eau douce d'Ame- rique. Familie des Pseudothelphusidae. —Faune of first gonopod armed with a distinct group Tropicale 22:1-223, fig. 1-132. of apical spines surrounding aperture of , & H. Suarez. 1994. Fredius stenolobus, a new spermatic channel; apex of second male species of freshwater crab (Decapoda: Brachy­ gonopod spoon shaped and provided with ura: Pseudothelphusidae) from the Venezuelan long spines. Guiana. —Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 107:132-136. Etymology. — The species is named in Smalley, A. E. 1964a. A terminology for the gono- honor of Dr. David K. Wetherbee, who col­ pods of the American river crabs.—Systematic lected the type material. Zoology 13:28-31. VOLUME 108, NUMBER 1 83

. 1964b. The river crabs of Costa Rica, and cut Academy of Arts and Sciences 2:113-176, the subfamilies of the Pseudothelphusidae.— pis. 2-5. Tulane Studies in Zoology 12(1):5—13. Stimpson, W. 1860. Notes on American Crustacea. Smith, S. I. 1870. Notes on American Crustacea. I. II.—Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History Ocypodoidea.—Transactions of the Connecti­ of New York 7:176-246, pis. 2, 5.