Revision of the freshwater crabs of the Johora tahanensis (Bott, 1966) species group (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae), with a key to the genus
Author
Ng, Peter K. L.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Singapore
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5946-0608
peterng@nus.edu.sg
text
ZooKeys
2020
994
1
34
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.994.56810
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.994.56810
1313-2970-994-1
DB1879C919044320BE674D9F863F6775
11A23FB601685F7ABFCC123875393447
Johora michaeli
sp. nov.
Figures 1H
, 2H
, 3H
, 4H
, 5H
, 9I-L
, 12H
, 13H
, 14H
Material examined.
Holotype
: male (22.7
x
19.2 mm) (ZRC 2020.0361), waterfalls at rock pools, ca. 5 minutes walk upstream from chalets, Sekayu Waterfall,
4°59'35"N
,
102°56'50"E
, Terengganu, coll. Tan HH, 21 October 1998. Paratype: 1 female (29.9
x
25.0 mm) (ZRC 2010.0047), same data as holotype. Others: 1 female (30.8
x
25.2 mm) (ZRC 1984.6794), Gunung Padang, Terengganu,
4°50'55.7"N
,
102°52'1.9"E
, coll. Hislep JSA, 1952. All locations in Peninsular Malaysia.
Diagnosis.
Adult carapace width to length ratio 1.20-1.22 (Figs
1H
,
2H
,
12H
); dorsal surface gently convex in frontal view, not inflated (Fig.
3H
); frontal margin almost straight (Fig.
2H
); suborbital, pterygostomial and sub-branchial regions rugose, pterygostomial region covered with dense setae (Fig.
3H
); epigastric cristae distinct, distinctly anterior to sharp postorbital cristae, postorbital cristae with lateral edges low, not joining lateral margin (Fig.
2H
); external orbital tooth separated from epibranchial tooth by distinct cleft, epibranchial tooth sharp, distinct (Fig.
2H
); anterolateral margin distinctly convex (Fig.
2H
); posterolateral margin with median concavity or sinuous, distinctly converging towards gently convex to almost straight, entire posterior carapace margin (Fig.
2H
); posterior margin of epistome with triangular median triangle, lateral margin obliquely sloping (Fig.
3H
); outer surfaces of third maxillipeds with long stiff setae; ischium subrectangular, with shallow median oblique groove (Figs
3H
,
4H
); ambulatory legs not elongate, length to width ratio of merus of fourth ambulatory leg 2.7-2.8 (Figs
1H
,
12H
); G1 subterminal segment gradually tapering from broad proximal part to slender distal part, without distinct shelf-like structure along gently concave outer margin; terminal segment almost straight, slightly curved outwards (from median part of sternum), ca. two-thirds length of subterminal segment, surfaces with scattered short setae (Fig.
9I-K
); G2 subequal in length to G1, distal segment long, about one-third length of basal segment (Fig.
9L
). Female pleon ovate; somites 3-6 progressively narrower; telson subtriangular (Fig.
13H
). Vulvae large, on anterior half of sternite 6, adjacent to suture with sternite 5, lateral sternal vulvar cover subtruncate (Fig.
14H
).
Figure 14.
Sternopleonal cavity and vulvae
A
Johora intermedia
Ng, 1986, female (17.9
x
14.7 mm) (ZRC 2001.1002), Selangor
B
J. tahanensis
(Bott, 1966), female (24.4
x
21.0 mm) (ZRC 1984.6765), Pahang
C
J. thoi
Ng, 1990, female (31.7
x
25.5 mm) (ZRC 2001.1167), Terengganu
D
J. hoiseni
Ng & Takeda, 1992, paratype female (22.1
x
19.0 mm) (ZRC 1984.6675), Kelantan
E
J. thaiana
Leelawathanagoon, Lheknim & Ng, 2005, paratype female (21.0
x
17.4 mm) (ZRC 2006.0053), Thailand
F
J. booliati
sp. nov., paratype female (40.4
x
34.4 mm) (ZRC 1995.270), Pahang
G
J. erici
sp. nov., paratype female (32.8
x
26.9 mm) (ZRC 1995.268), Perak
H
J. michaeli
sp. nov., paratype female (29.9
x
25.0 mm) (ZRC 2010.0047), Terengganu.
Etymology.
The species is named after the last director of the Raffles Museum (1946-1967), the late Michael Tweedie, an intrepid collector of interesting animals from Malaysia. The author had the pleasure of knowing him, finally meeting him when the refreshed museum opened as the ZRC in 1988; and even after many years since retiring, he retained his great passion for his crabs, snakes, and fish.
Remarks.
The holotype male of
Johora michaeli
sp. nov. is not fully adult and it is clear that it can grow larger, with the adult females reaching 30 mm in carapace width. The G1, however, remains diagnostic, with the terminal segment elongate and almost straight (Fig.
9I-K
). While this somewhat resembles that of
J. thoi
which is known from the nearby island of Pulau Redang, that of
J. michaeli
is distinctly less elongate and slender, being only about two-thirds the length of subterminal segment. Specimens of
J. thoi
even smaller than the type of
J. michaeli
remain the same G1 terminal segment shape and proportions of adults (Fig.
9E-G
) so the differences observed here are independent of size. The vulva of
J. thoi
is diagnostic, the lateral sternal vulvar cover being triangular in shape (Fig.
14C
); it is subtruncate in
J. michaeli
(Fig.
14H
). The general shape of the G1 terminal segment somewhat resembles that of
J. tahanensis
s. str. (Fig.
8A-C
), it is clearly straighter and slenderer in
J. michaeli
(Fig.
9I-K
). It is also unlike that of
J. hoiseni
which has a proportionately and even straighter G1 terminal segment (Fig.
8E-G
).
The G1 of
J. michaeli
also resembles that of
J. singaporensis
but the terminal segment in this species is longer (
Ng 1987
: fig. 8A, B). In any case, the carapace of
J. singaporensis
is quite different from that of
J. michaeli
as it is a member of the
J. johorensis
species group (see remarks for the species group under remarks for the genus).
One large female (ZRC 1984.6794) had been collected from Gunung Padang, which is relatively close to the type locality in Sekayu Falls. Both are part of the same mountain system east of Lake Kenyir in Terengganu.
Distribution.
Johora michaeli
sp. nov. is known so far only from highland streams in central Terengganu (Fig.
15
).
Figure 15.
Distribution of species of the
Johora tahanensis
species group
1
J. tahanensis
(Bott, 1966)
2
J. thoi
Ng, 1990
3
J. hoiseni
Ng & Takeda, 1992
4
J. thaiana
Leelawathanagoon, Lheknim & Ng, 2005
5
J. booliati
sp. nov.
6
J. erici
sp. nov.
7
J. michaeli
sp. nov. Map data 2020 Google.
Conservation.
The conservation status for
J. michaeli
should be regarded as vulnerable as it is known from a relatively well protected area that is not subject to development (see
Cumberlidge et al. 2009
).