Revision of the family Acidopsidae Števčić, 2005, and the systematic position of Typhlocarcinodes Alcock, 1900, Caecopilumnus Borradaile, 1902, and Raoulia Ng, 1987, with descriptions of two new genera and five new species (Crustacea: Brachyura: Goneplacoidea)
Author
Ng, Peter K. L.
dbsngkl@nus.edu.sg
Author
Rahayu, Dwi Listyo
dbsngkl@nus.edu.sg
text
Zootaxa
2014
2014-03-03
3773
1
1
63
journal article
5890
10.11646/zootaxa.3773.1.1
6da85b06-8386-41bc-9b34-b16eba941eab
1175-5326
4909796
19F28753-B2D0-4D1F-9D47-88886F7333FD
Family
Acidopsidae
Števčić, 2005
Acidopidae [
sic
]
Števčić, 2005: 36
Parapilumnidae
Števčić, 2005: 70
.
Raouliidae
Števčić, 2005: 71
.
Typhlocarcinodidae
Števčić, 2005: 62
.
Caecopilumnidae
Števčić, 2011: 127
.
Diagnosis
. Thoracic sternal suture 2/3 complete; only lateral part of suture 3/4 visible, short; sutures 4/5–7/8 complete, almost horizontal or with only narrow gap separating sutures 4/5; with distinct longitudinal median groove, reaching st4 sometimes extending beyond sterno-abdominal cavity.
Male
gonopore coxal, penis exiting anterior to coxo-sternal condyle, sitting on shallow depression on st8 at junction of suture 7/8; penis short (coxal penis condition) or long (coxo-sternal condition); lateral margin of a3 reaching to between cx4, 5; a2 reaching to base of cx5 with only small part of st8 visible when abdomen closed (coxal condition), or a3 not reaching cx4, 5; a2 well separated from cx5 with large part of st8 visible when abdomen closed (coxo-sternal condition).
Male
abdomen triangular, a3–5 fused, immovable but sutures may be visible at least in part. Female abdomen subovate, never completely covering thoracic sternum. Female sterno-abdominal cavity deep or shallow; vulva normally with non-movable operculum, positioned close to median longitudinal groove on thoracic sternum or on median part of st6. G1 simple, distal half with spinules or short setae, never with long setae; G2 as long or longer than G1, distal segment elongated.
Remarks
.
Tesch (1918: 79)
, with his usual insight into crab affinities, commented that
Typhlocarcinodes
was probably related to
Acidops
Stimpson, 1871
(as
Epimelus
A.
Milne-Edwards, 1878
), although both genera differ in the form of their eyes (structure and mobility) and third maxillipeds. The Atlantic and eastern Pacific
Acidops
and the closely related Pacific
Parapilumnus
Kossmann, 1877
, are currently in the family
Acidopsidae
Števčić, 2005
(=
Parapilumnidae
Števčić, 2005
) (see
Ng
et al.
2008: 75
). One species,
Pilumnus alcocki
Borradaile, 1902
, described from the
Maldives
and also reported from the Amirante Is. (
Seychelles
) by
Rathbun (1911)
, is not a pilumnid and is actually closely allied to
Acidops
and
Parapilumnus
. It is here referred to a new genus,
Crinitocinus
.
Guinot
et al.
(2013: 41
, 111) discussed the systematic position of the
Acidopsidae
(based on
Acidops
and
Parapilumnus
), noting that it was a basal heterotreme with a number of plesiomorphies, and summarised the key thoracic sternal, male abdominal and gonopodal characters of the family. They also discussed the systematics of
Typhlocarcinodes
and
Raoulia
, noting that they were not chasmocarcinids but uncertain of their position.
Števčić (2005)
had referred both genera to their respective families and superfamilies without any substantial discussion (
Guinot
et al.
2013: 113
). They also commented that the penis condition of members of the “
Caecopilumnidae
” was coxo-sternal (
Guinot
et al.
2013: 82
).
Typhlocarcinodes
,
Caecopilumnus
,
Raoulia
and
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
actually share with
Acidops
,
Parapilumnus
and
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
a suite of key characters: male abdominal somites 3–5 are fused (even if the sutures are visible), the G1 is relatively stout and tapering towards the tip with the lateral margins of the distal half lined with spinules, without long setae; and the G2 is elongated, at least as long as G1, with a long distal segment. The male thoracic sterna in
Acidops
,
Parapilumnus
and
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
(notably st7 and st8) are relatively narrow, the lateral edge of a3 is between cx4 and cx5 and adjacent to the cx5, the lateral edge of a2 is adjacent to cx5, and as such, when the abdomen is closed, only a tiny part of st8 is visible (
Fig. 1A–D
). The male opening is clearly coxal, with the short penis exiting at the base of cx5, just anterior of the condyle (
Fig. 1B, D
). As such, the male abdomen almost completely covers the penis when closed (
Fig. 1A, C
) (see
Ng 2002
;
Ng & Chen 2004
;
Guinot
et al.
2013
). Compared to
Acidops
,
Parapilumnus
and
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
, the male posterior thoracic sterna of
Typhlocarcinodes
,
Caecopilumnus
,
Raoulia
and
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
are relatively broader, the lateral edge of a5 is some distance from cx4 and cx5, the lateral edge of a2 is some distance from cx5 with a large part of st8 visible even when the abdomen is closed, and the male opening is clearly coxo-sternal, with the penis longer and at least some part of it is exposed in a channel between st7 and st8 (
Fig. 1E–H
). Of these four genera, the male posterior thoracic sternum is relatively the narrowest in
Caecopilumnus
. St7 and st 8 are tightly appressed along most of the length in
Caecopilumnus
, with only the inner part of the suture slightly divergent and exposing part of the penis externally (
Figs. 1E, F
,
29D
,
32D
). St7 and st8 are distinctly wider in the other three genera. A narrow channel between st7 and st8, forming a channel in which the exposed penis sits (
Fig. 34D
), is present in
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
In
Raoulia
, only the outer edge of st7 and st8 are adjacent to each other, with the margins diverging towards the sterno-abdominal cavity, forming an acutely V-shaped channel in which the partially exposed penis sits (
Figs. 1G, H
,
13E
,
14D
,
18D
,
20D
). The condition is possibly the most derived in
Typhlocarcinodes
, where st7 and st8 are more widely separated and there is a prominent and mobile calcified plate that sits between them. This plate is attached to (and probably derived from) the penis and moves with this structure (
Fig. 38C
). This penial plate is different from the supplementary plate present in chasmocarcinids which is formed by an evagination of st8 and is immobile (
Fig. 2C, D
) (see also
Davie & Guinot 1996
: fig. 7;
Guinot et al. 2013: 111
).
FIGURE 1
. Male thoracic sterna, abdomens and sterno-abdominal cavities. A, B,
Acidops cessacii
(A.
Milne-Edwards, 1878
)
, male (11.3 × 8.1 mm) (ZRC 1998.58), Ascension; C, D,
Parapilumnus cristimanus
(A. Milne-Edwards, 1873)
, male (16.3 × 12.5 mm) (ZRC 2003.90), Nansha Is. (Spratly Is.), South China Sea; E, F,
Caecopilumnus crassipes
(
Tesch, 1918
)
, male (11.8 × 10.1 mm) (ZRC 2013.1710) Lombok, Indonesia; G, H,
Raoulia fortis
sp. nov.
, holotype male (12.0 × 9.2 mm) (MNHN), Santo, Vanuatu. Abbreviations: a1–5 = male abdominal somites 1–5, respectively; cx4, 5 = coxa of fourth and fifth ambulatory leg, respectively; p = penis; st7, 8 = thoracic sternites 7 and 8, respectively.
Two kinds of basal antennal articles (antennal article 2) are also present. In
Acidops
,
Parapilumnus
and
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
, the basal antennal article is quadrate, being longer than wide or as long as wide (
Figs. 6A, B
,
11D
). In
Typhlocarcinodes
,
Caecopilumnus
,
Raoulia
and
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
, the basal antennal article is short, being much wider than long (
Fig. 6C–F
). There are also two kinds of arrangements of the vulvae. In
Acidops
,
Parapilumnus
and
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
, the female sterno-abdominal cavity is relatively deep, transversely narrow, and the vulvae are positioned close to the median longitudinal groove of st6 (
Figs. 3
,
10D
). In
Typhlocarcinodes
,
Caecopilumnus
,
Raoulia
and
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
, the female sterno-abdominal cavity is relatively shallower, transversely broader, and the vulvae are positioned on median part of st6 (
Fig. 4B, D, F, H
).
Considering the shared characters discussed above, it seems best to include
Typhlocarcinodes
,
Caecopilumnus
,
Raoulia
and
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
in the
Acidopsidae
, but in a separate subfamily in view of their coxal-sternal male openings, structure of the basal antennal articles and position of the vulvae. The selection of a name for this subfamily poses a problem.
Števčić (2005
,
2011
) named a large number of new suprageneric taxa for what he felt were unusual genera, often without examining material or any explanation, establishing
Raouliidae
Števčić, 2005
,
Typhlocarcinodidae
Števčić, 2005
, and
Caecopilumnidae
Števčić, 2011
, for
Raoulia
,
Typhlocarcinodes
and
Caecopilumnus
, respectively.
Ng
et al.
(2008: 75)
commented that the
Raouliidae
and
Typhlocarcinodidae
“are a problem as they do not agree well with any of the families recognised here. They may be distinct families in the Goneplacoidea as
Števčić (2005)
argued or merely very apomorphic genera allied to better known families in other superfamilies. For genera like these whose members are small and very poorly known, it is imperative that the original specimens are carefully re-examined, and their sternal, abdominal and gonopodal characters properly documented, before firm conclusions are made. Until we better understand their affinities, we prefer to synonymise
Raouliidae
and
Typhlocarcinodidae
with the
Chasmocarcinidae
for the time being”.
FIGURE 2
. Male thoracic sterna, abdomens and sterno-abdominal cavities. A, B,
Scalopidia spinosipes
Stimpson, 1858
, male (12.2 × 16.7 mm) (ZRC 2000.1604), Singapore; C, D,
Hephthopelta apta
Rathbun, 1914
, male (7.1 × 5.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.1727), Luzon, Philippines. Abbreviations: a1–5 = male abdominal somites 1–5, respectively; cx4, 5 = coxa of fourth and fifth ambulatory leg, respectively; p = penis; pt = penial tube; sp = supplementary plate; st7, 8 = thoracic sternites 7 and 8, respectively.
As expected, the present study shows that the
Raouliidae
and
Typhlocarcinodidae
(as well as
Caecopilumnidae
) are not distinct familes (see also
Guinot
et al.
2013: 113
) and are not related to
Chasmocarcinidae
. They are instead junior subjective synonyms of
Acidopsidae
.
As discussed earlier, chasmocarcinids differ markedly from acidopsids in several characters. The most important difference is that male chasmocarcinids possess a fused supplementary plate between st7 and st8. In addition, the basal antennular article of all chasmocarcinids completely fills the fossa and the elongated flagellum cannot retract into it (a character shared with scalopidiids). In addition, st5–8 of all male chasmocarcinids are medially interrupted with the sternites separated by a prominent channel between them. Chasmocarcinids also do not have the median longitudinal groove on st4 which is distinct in acidopsids (
Castro
et al.
2010
;
Ng & Castro 2013
).
Another issue concerns the
Scalopidiidae
Števčić, 2005
.
Ng
et al.
(2008: 85)
recognised this taxon as a valid family in view of the unique arrangement of its long calcified penis and coxo-sternal condition (see also
Ng & Castro 2013
). Comparisons of the male sternum and structure of the penis shows that the condition of the penial plate in
Typhlocarcinodes
(a relatively long penis covered by a narrow plate) is very similar to that observed in
Scalopidia
Stimpson, 1858
, in which the very long penis is surrounded by a chitinised and weakly calcified penial tube which is also mobile (
Fig. 2A, B
). Whereas
Scalopidia
is superficially similar to
Raoulia
,
Typhlocarcinodes
and
Caecopilumnus
in the coxo-sternal form of the penis, there are substantial differences in the structures of the male thoracic sternum, antennules, antennae, male thoracic sternum and gonopods that argue against putting them in the same family. One significant difference is that male thoracic sutures 4/5, 5/6 and 7/8 are medially interrupted in scalopidiids (
Ng & Castro 2013
: fig. 1) whereas these sutures are complete in acidopsids or almost so (with only a narrow gap between s4/
5 in
Acidops
) (
Fig. 1
). Additional differences are that in acidopsids, the antennular flagellum folds completely obliquely to almost vertically into the fossa (e.g.,
Fig. 6
) (basal antennular article completely fills fossa and the flagellum cannot fit into fossa in scalopidiids;
Ng & Castro 2013
: fig. 5); the anterior thoracic sternum (st1–4) is relatively narrow (
Fig. 1
) (transversely very broad in scalopidiids;
Ng & Castro 2013
: fig. 9); the G1 has scattered spinules on the distal half (
Fig. 11A, B
) (with two dense patches of spinules on the median part in scalopidiids;
Ng & Castro 2013
: figs. 12, 13); G2 is as long as or longer than the G1 with an elongated distal segment (
Fig. 11C
) (G2 about a third length of G1, with short distal segment in scalopidiids;
Ng & Castro 2013
: figs. 12, 13) (see also
Castro
et al.
2010
: Table 1;
Guinot
et al.
2013: 118
).
FIGURE 3
. Female thoracic sterna and vulvae. A,
Acidops fimbriatus
(
Stimpson, 1871
)
, female (19.7 × 14.9 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2013-9470), Clipperton I.; B,
Acidops cessacii
(A.
Milne-Edwards, 1878
)
, female (12.6 × 9.9 mm) (ZRC 1998.58), Ascension; C,
Parapilumnus cristimanus
(A. Milne-Edwards, 1873)
, female (10.1 × 8.0 mm) (MNHN 2013-513), Madang, New Guinea. Abbreviations: st4–6 = thoracic sternites 4–6, respectively; v = vulvae.
The present study shows that
Acidopsidae
Števčić, 2005
,
Caecopilumnidae
Števčić, 2011
,
Parapilumnidae
Števčić, 2005
,
Raouliidae
Števčić, 2005
, and
Typhlocarcinodidae
Števčić, 2005
, are synonyms; with all of its members belonging to a single family.
Acidopsidae
Števčić, 2005
,
Parapilumnidae
Števčić, 2005
,
Raouliidae
Števčić, 2005
, and
Typhlocarcinodidae
Števčić, 2005
, are simultaneous synonyms, as all were established in the same publication (
Števčić 2005
).
Ng
et al.
(2008: 75)
highlighted this problem with
Acidopsidae
and
Parapilumnidae
, and as first revisers, chose
Acidopsidae
to have priority whenever the two names are treated as synonyms. The same rationale is adopted here, and as first revisers, we choose
Acidopsidae
Števčić, 2005
, to have priority over all other names in
Števčić (2005)
, even if they are in the same family grouping. We here recognise two subfamily groupings within
Acidopsidae
;
Acidopsinae
for
Acidops
,
Parapilumnus
and
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
(with coxal male openings); and subfamily,
Raouliinae
subfam. nov.
for
Typhlocarcinodes
,
Caecopilumnus
,
Raoulia
and
Thecaplax
gen. nov.
(with coxo-sternal male openings). As first revisers, we here select the name
Raouliinae
having priority over
Typhlocarcinodidae
Števčić, 2005
, whenever they are treated as synonyms.
Caecopilumnidae
Števčić, 2011
, is also a junior subjective synonym of
Raouliidae
Števčić, 2005
.
Key to genera
1. Third maxilliped merus with angular or subauriculiform anterolateral margin (
Fig. 5A, B
); basal antennal article quadrate, at least as long as wide (
Fig. 6A, B
); penis coxal, exiting cx5 directly into sterno-abdominal cavity, protected by a3 when abdomen closed (
Fig. 1B, D
); male st8 visible only as a small plate when abdomen closed (
Fig. 1A, C
); vulvae closed to median longitudinal groove of st6 (
Fig. 3
) [
Acidopsinae
]............................................................ 2
- Third maxilliped merus with rounded, convex anterolateral margin (
Fig. 5C–L
); basal antennal article rectangular, much wider than long (
Fig. 6C–F
); penis coxo-sternal, exiting cx5 directly under or on groove between st7, 8, at least part of penis exposed, unprotected by sternites or abdomen (
Fig. 1F, H
); male st8 visible as large rectangular to subrectangular plate even when abdomen closed (
Fig. 1E, G
); vulvae located on median parts of st6 (
Fig. 4
) [
Raouliinae
]................................. 4
2. Fingers of chelae with blade-like cutting edges (
Fig. 8B
) (Indo-West Pacific)...........................
Parapilumnus
- Cutting edges of fingers of chelae dentate (
Fig. 7F
) (circumtropical)............................................. 3
3.
Male
anterior thoracic sternum (st1–4) relatively wide (
Fig. 9B
); eyes with prominent cornea, as wide as peduncle (
Fig. 12A
); dactylar finger of major chela with prominent basal cutting tooth (
Fig. 9D
) (Indo-West Pacific)......
Crinitocinus
gen. nov.
-
Male
anterior thoracic sternum (st1–4) relatively narrow (
Fig. 7E
); eyes pear-shaped, cornea reduced (
Fig. 12D
); cutting edges of major chela with large and small teeth but never with basal cutting tooth (
Fig. 7F, G
) (Atlantic and Tropical
Eastern Pacific
).............................................................................................
Acidops
4. Eyes mobile; epistome only partially sunken (
Fig. 38B
); penis protected by mobile plate which sits in groove between st7, 8 -
Eyes fused to orbits, immobile; epistome prominently sunken (
Fig. 13D
); at least part of penis exposed in groove between st7, 8 (
Fig. 1E–H
) (Indo-West Pacific)........................................................................ 5
5. Thoracic sternum relatively narrow (
Fig. 29B
); male and female a1 subrectangular, with lateral margins straight or gently convex (
Fig. 1E
); penis partially covered by st7, st8 near junction with cx5, exposed on short groove between st7, 8 (
Fig. 1E, F
).......................................................................................
Caecopilumnus
- Thoracic sternum relatively wide (
Fig. 13C
); male and female a1 very narrow, with lateral margins tapering to form acutely triangular structure (
Fig. 1G
); penis partially covered by st7, st8 near junction, exposed on long groove between st7, 8, or completely exposed (
Fig. 1G, H
)............................................................................. 6
6. Anterolateral margin subcristate, entire, without trace of teeth, spines or lobes (
Fig. 13A
); penis initially partially covered by st7, 8 near junction but exposed for the greater length between st7, 8 (
Fig. 1G, H
); G1 with stout basal half, distal half sharply tapering to form narrow structure with scattered spinules on subdistal surface (
Fig. 16D–G
)....................
Raoulia
- Anterolateral margin with distinct granuliform lobes (
Fig. 34A
); penis completely exposed in groove between st7, 8 (
Fig. 34D
); G1 gradually tapering towards tip, with numerous spinules on subdistal surface (
Fig. 35D–G
)....
Thecaplax
gen. nov.