The species of Moloha Barnard, 1946, from the western Indian Ocean, with the description of a new species from India (Crustacea: Brachyura: Homolidae) Author Ng, Peter K. L. 8ACB5B5C-7DC3-43A7-82E4-420AD0FF7377 Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Republic of Singapore. & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: 8 ACB 5 B 5 C- 7 DC 3 - 43 A 7 - 82 E 4 - 420 AD 0 FF 7377 & Corresponding author: peterng @ nus. edu. sg peterng@nus.edu.sg Author Kumar, Appukuttannair Biju B07B1EE1-AD4E-4FEC-A968-90A4A831ACA1 Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram - 695581, Kerala, India. Email: abiju @ rediffmail. com & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: B 07 B 1 EE 1 - AD 4 E- 4 FEC-A 968 - 90 A 4 A 831 ACA 1 text European Journal of Taxonomy 2015 2015-12-17 166 1 25 journal article 22344 10.5852/ejt.2015.166 a584d3ee-4428-4651-bdc7-1d34d274c34c 2118-9773 3805729 FE328725-7017-417D-B140-71D830B89316 Moloha tumida sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 25B20CDD-06DA-4A14-BB61-1F7954ED6357 Figs 1B , 3B , 4C , 5B , 9 , 13 , 14B , 15 D–G, 17B Diagnosis Carapace with pseudorostral and supraocular spines long, subequal; supraocular spine with distinct submedian accessory spine; gastric region with many sharp granules in addition to 3 major spines; branchial regions distinctly inflated; subhepatic region swollen, with 2 large dorsal and 3 small ventral spines; protogastric region with 2 major spines; basal antennal spine acute; P2–P4 long, slender, subcylindrical, merus with 8–10 spines on dorsal margin, outer surface with 1–13 small spines, ventral margin with 19–28 spines; P5 with 2 spines on dorsal margin, 2 small spines on outer surface, 4 spines on ventral margin, subchelate structure stout, propodus with 3 large basal spines, rest of margin with distinct, closely arranged, similarly sized spines. G1 stout, short, groove on ventral surface submedian, dorso-median surface flat, distal part less rounded, opening large, auriculiform, directed towards median part of sternum. Fig. 14. Dorsal view of carapace showing position of folded right P5. A . Moloha grandperrini Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . Holotype, ♂ (cl 46.5 mm, cw 39.0 mm) (NHM 1948.9.7.27), Maldives. B . Moloha tumida sp. nov. Holotype, ♂ (cl 55.7 mm, cw 50.6 mm) (DABFUK), Kerala, India. C . Moloha alisae Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . Holotype, ♂ (cl 36.1 mm, cw 29.7 mm) (MNHN- IU-2008-11077), Seychelles. D . Moloha alisae Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . ♂ (cl 67.7 mm, cw 56.2 mm) (ZRC 2008.1250a), South Africa. Scale bars = 10 mm. Fig. 15. Gonopods. A–C . Moloha grandperrini Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . Holotype, ♂ (cl 46.5 mm, cw 39.0 mm) (NHM 1948.9.7.27), Maldives. D–G . Moloha tumida sp. nov. Holotype, ♂ (cl 55.7 mm, cw 50.6 mm) (DABFUK), Kerala, India. — A , D . Ventral view of left G1. B , F . Dorsal view of left G1. E . Outer-lateral view of left G1. C , G . Left G2. Scale bars = 1 mm. Fig. 16. Gonopods. A–C . Moloha alisae Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . Holotype, ♂ (cl 36.1 mm, cw 29.7 mm) (MNHN-IU-2008-11077), Seychelles. D–F . Moloha alisae Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . ♂ (cl 67.7 mm, cw 56.2 mm) (ZRC 2008.1250a), South Africa. — A , D . Ventral view of left G1. B , E . Dorsal view of left G1. C , F . Left G2. Scale bars = 1 mm. Fig. 17. Colour in life, dorsal view. A . Moloha alisae Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 . ♂ (cl 67.7 mm, cw 56.2 mm) (ZRC 2008.1250a), South Africa [photograph by Sean Fennessy]. B . Moloha tumida sp. nov. Holotype, ♂ (cl 55.7 mm, cw 50.6 mm) (DABFUK), India [photograph by Biju Kumar]. Scale bars = 20 mm. Etymology The species is named after the relatively swollen carapace. Material examined Holotype INDIA : ♂ (tcl 64.4 mm , cl 55.7 mm , tcw 56.1 mm , cw 50.6 mm ), Kerala , 300–350 m , 3 Dec. 2014 ( DABFUK ). Description Medium-sized species, spiny on carapace, appendages, chelipeds and ambulatory legs ( Figs 1B , 3B , 4C , 5B , 13 , 14B ). Dorsal surface of carapace with deep grooves, well marked regions ( Figs 1B , 3B , 4C , 5B , 14B ). Pseudorostral spine simple, as long as or slightly longer than supraorbital spines ( Figs 1B , 3B , 14B ). Proepistome with sharp spine. Supraocular spine long, straight, with prominent laterally directed accessory spine on anterior third ( Figs 1B , 3B , 4C , 5B , 14B ); infraorbital spine long, gently curved outwards, about ⅔ length of supraorbital spine, visible in dorsal view ( Figs 4C , 5B ); buccal spine prominent, just visible in dorsal view ( Figs 4C , 5B ); basal antennal spine sharp, acute ( Figs 4C , 5B ); protogastric region with 2 major spines and smaller spinules posterior and lateral to them ( Figs 1B , 2B , 5B , 14B ); mesogastric region with 1 large median spine ( Figs 1B , 2B , 5B , 14B ); mesobranchial region with 5 or 6 large, laterally directed spines and numerous spinules behind them ( Figs 1B , 2B , 5B , 14B ); subhepatic region swollen, with 2 large dorsal spines, 1 median spine and 2 small ventral spines ( Figs 1B , 2B , 4C , 5B , 14B ); anterolateral spine distinct, pointing obliquely anteriorly, with smaller spine below it ( Figs 1B , 2B , 5B , 14B ); posterolateral spines distinct, 3 largest laterally directed, first largest, with many spinules between them ( Figs 1B , 2B , 5B , 14B ); cardiac region small, with 1 short spine ( Figs 1B , 2B , 4C , 5B , 14B ). Cervical groove shallow, but clearly visible ( Figs 1B , 2B , 14B ); transverse cardio-intestinal groove shallow ( Figs 1B , 2B , 14B ). Posterior carapace margin strongly concave; lateral margins of branchiostegite almost smooth ( Figs 1B , 2B , 14B ). Eyes short; podophthalmite short, stout; basophthalmite slender, elongate; cornea bulbous ( Figs 1B , 2B , 4C , 5B , 14B ). Antennules with a swollen basal article, other articles long, slender, with elongate flagellum ( Fig. 4C ). Antennae short, first article with large urinary article ( Figs 4C , 5B ). Epistome truncate; posterior margin gently sinuous, with median part weakly triangular, lateral parts gently concave ( Fig. 4C ). Third maxilliped subpediform, elongated; inner margins lined with dense, long setae; basis-ischium with 4 submedian tubercles; merus with 1 large subproximal tubercle, anterolateral margin dentate; carpus short, unarmed; propodus and dactylus elongated, unarmed ( Fig. 13A ). Cheliped relatively long, slender, spiny ( Figs 1B ); coxa with 2 short spines; ischium subtrigonal in crosssection, with 3–7 short spines; merus with 3 rows of short or long spines: dorsal row with 17–19 spines, outer surface with 12 or 13 spines, ventral margin with 14–18 spines ( Figs 1B , 9D ); carpus elongate, outer surface granulated, not spinose ( Figs 1B , 9 D–E). Palm slender, covered with small granules and setae, those on inner surface denser and longer; fingers shorter than palm, with hooked tips, pigmented throughout most of length except near base, that of pollex not extending substantially into palm; cutting edges blade-like; dactylus with 1 low subproximal tubercle ( Figs 1B , 9 E–F). Ambulatory legs long, slender; meri subcylindrical; P3 longest ( Figs 1B , 13 B–H). P2 coxa with 3 spines; ischium with 4 short spines; merus with 3 rows of short or long spines: dorsal row with 9 or 10 spines, outer surface with 1–13 spines, ventral margin with 19–21 spines ( Fig. 13B, E ). P3 coxa with 3 spines; ischium with 4–7 short spines; merus with 3 rows of short or long spines: dorsal row with 9 spines, outer surface with 10–13 spines, ventral margin with 20–25 spines ( Fig. 13C, F ). P4 coxa with 2 or 3 spines; ischium with 3–6 short spines; merus with 3 rows of short or long spines: dorsal row with 8 spines, outer surface with 11 spines, ventral margin with 26–28 spines ( Fig. 13D, G ). P5 coxa with 1 spine; ischium with 2 short spines; merus with 3 rows of short or long spines: dorsal row with 2 spines, outer surface with 2 spines, ventral margin with 4 spines; carpus elongate, unarmed; propodus and dactylus forming subchelate structure; propodus curved, relatively shorter, flexor margin with 3 large, curved spines and 4 or 5 smaller spines anterior to it in a row, dactylus curved with 6–9 small spines on flexor margin ( Fig. 13 H–I). Male pleon ovate, completely covering thoracic sternal surface; telson pentagonal, with distal half triangular, with sharp tip, basal part quadrate, lateral margin convex to distinctly convex ( Fig. 9 A– B); somite 6 trapezoidal, with deeply concave lateral margins, distal median margin with prominent spine ( Fig. 9 A–B); somites 4 and 5 subquadrate, with lateral margins expanded, triangular, somite 5 distal median margin with distinct tubercle, somite 4 with median tubercle ( Fig. 9B ); somites 2 and 3 trapezoidal, with long median spine; somite 1 short, with sharp median tubercle ( Fig. 9B ). Sternopleonal cavity deep, smooth; thoracic sternites 1–5 without median longitudinal line, suture between sternites 5 and 6 shallow, complete; pair of partially flattened prominences (homolid button, cf. Guinot & Bouchard 1998: 635 , fig. 9c) on sternite 4 at margin of sternopleonal cavity, fits into pair of sockets on internal marginal surface of somite 6 ( Fig. 9C ). G1 short, stout, distal part rounded; opening directed towards median part of thoracic sternum; groove submedian; dorso-median surface flat; distal part less rounded; opening auriculiform ( Figs 9C , 15 D–F); marginal and submarginal surfaces along distal part with long setae ( Fig. 15 D–F). G2 stout, as long as G1, basal part dilated, with long setae; distal part cup-like ( Fig. 15G ). Colour In life, the carapace and chelipeds are red; the ambulatory legs are red with patches of white and the ventral surfaces are dirty white ( Fig. 17B ). Distribution The species is known only from southwestern India . Remarks See the Discussion section.