Liocarpilodes sp.

Liocarpilodes sp. ( Fig. 9A–H View Fig )

Material examined: 1 ñ, NMNS 8772-35, 3.8 × 2.5, Shihmen Township, New Taipei City, 12 October 2008.

Description: Carapace ( Fig. 9A–C View Fig ) transversely ovate, width to length ratio about 1.53, dorsal area slightly convex transversely, longitudinally; dorsal surface well covered by microscopic granules; regions moderately defined, divided by shallow grooves; subhepatic, pterygostomial regions covered with short setae. Front weakly advanced, about 0.41 times as long as carapace width, strongly deflexed ventrally, margin granulate, outer angles well marked and separated by V-shaped notch from orbital rim; divided into two lobes by wide, shallow V-shaped notch, continuing posteriorly as shallow median groove on dorsal carapace. Anterolateral margin convex, divided into 4 low lobes, separated from each other by small, shallow V-shaped notches; first lobe feebly demarcated from second lobe; second lobe widest; third lobe narrower at base but more projecting than preceding, anterior margin much shorter than posterior; fourth lobe smallest, posterior margin continuous with carapace posterolateral margin; short transverse groove between second, third teeth, slightly continuing onto branchial region. Posterolateral margin about as long as anterolateral margin, straight to slightly concave in central region.

Orbits ( Fig. 9A–C View Fig ) suboval, margins granulate, continuous; inner pre-frontal supraorbital and exorbital tooth weakly developed. Eyes well developed, eyestalks short, stout, corneas large. Antennular fossae transversely oval; antennules folding transversely. Basal article of antenna short, subrectangular; flagellum freely entering orbital hiatus, short, tip not exceeding exorbital tooth.

Third maxillipeds ( Fig. 9D View Fig ) subrectangular, length to greatest width ratio about 1.89; palp tapering distally, articles subcylindrical; merus subquadrate, length to greatest width ratio about 0.64, anterolateral angle rounded, not projecting, anterior margin cristate and granulate, sinuous, external surface with patched granules; ischium subrectangular, about 2.06 times longer than merus, sulcate submedially, mesial margin cristate, serrated, lined with submarginal setae; exopod stout, margins slightly convex, inner margin cristate, tapering slightly toward distal end, distal end concave.

Thoracic sternum ( Fig. 9H View Fig ) margins cristate; sternites 1, 2 fused, external surfaces granulate, anterior area of sternite 1 with setal tuft; sternites 2, 3 and 3, 4 separated entirely by deep and shallow sutures, respectively; sternite 4 lateral margins slightly convex; sutures 4/5, 5/6 joining toward median longitudinal axis of thoracic sternum; vulvae oval, without operculum, located mesial third of sternite 5.

Chelipeds ( Fig. 9A, E, F View Fig ) subequal, moderately robust, external surface almost fully granulate, except partial surfaces of fingers. Meri moderate long, distal end extending slightly beyond carapace anterolateral margin in dorsal view. Carpi internal angle with blunt, triangular projection. Palm external surface granules compacted, forming perpendicular lines or stripes. Fingers thick, tips hemi-cupuliform, beige in alcohol; dactylus subdorsal margin with 2 granular crests, forming longitudinal shallow groove extending to subdistal area, distal area moderately deflexed, lower submargin with longitudinal shallow groove, extending two-thirds of dactylus from proximal end, 3 large teeth on cutting edge; pollex external surface upper submargin with longitudinal shallow groove, extending two-thirds of dactylus from proximal end, bottom margin of shallow groove granulate, lower submargin with a row of longitudinal scattered granules.

Ambulatory legs ( Fig. 9A, E View Fig ) flattened, broad, moderate in length, P3, P4 longest, coxa-to-dactylus length about 0.93 times carapace width, P5 shortest, coxa-to-dactylus length about 0.87 times carapace width; surfaces entirely granulate; anterior margin of meri, carpi, propodi, dactyli granulate with scattered long setae; posterior margin of meri, propodi, dactyli granulate with scattered short and long setae, dactyli with single large spine posterior to chitinous claw, single-tipped. P5 merus subrectangular, median length about 2.03 times greatest width; carpus curved, distal end distinctly wider than proximal end, median length about 1.53 times greatest width; propodus subrectangular, median length about as long as greatest width; dactylus about as long as propodus, stout proximally, tapering distally, terminating in sharp, short chitinous claw with length about 1.83 times greatest width.

Pleon ( Fig. 9H View Fig ) moderate long relative to thoracic sternum, tip of telson almost reaching anterior margin of sternite 4; somites 1, 2 trapezoidal, much wider than long; all somite free, base of somite 3 widest, distal somites progressively narrower, anterior combined lateral margin gently convex; somite 6 subquadrate, slightly wider than long, center of anterior margin slightly concave; telson subtriangular, angles rounded, basal width about 1.36 times median length.

Distribution: Known only from Shihmen Township, North Taiwan.

Remarks: Among known congeners, the morphology of Liocarpilodes sp. shows some resemblance to L. biunguis ( Rathbun, 1906) and L. kauaiensis ( Edmondson, 1962) , sharing features such as a transversely ovate carapace with granules throughout and low anterolateral lobes with granulate margins ( Fig. 9A, B View Fig ; Rathbun 1906: 849, fig. 12; Edmondson 1962: 272, fig. 18c–e). However, L. sp. differs from L. biunguis in the following ways: 1) greater width/length ratio of the carapace (1.52 versus 1.44); 2) absence of coarse tubular setae on the carapace surface (versus presence); 3) first anterolateral lobe not fused with the orbital tooth (versus fused); 4) chelipeds almost entirely granulate, except for parts of the fingers (versus mostly granulate, except for the inner arm face of arm and lower palm); 5) smaller width/length ratio of the cheliped palm (0.66 versus 0.79); 6) more teeth on cutting edges of the dactylus and pollex (3–5 versus 2); and 7) dactylus of ambulatory legs with a single tip (versus two tips) ( Fig. 9A, B, E–G View Fig ; Rathbun 1906: 849, fig. 12a–b). Liocarpilodes sp. can be distinguished from L. kauaiensis by: 1) front outer angles being well-marked and separated from the orbital rim by a V-shaped notch (versus weakly marked and separated by a V-shaped indentation); 2) first anterolateral lobe not fused with the orbital tooth (versus fused); 3) anterolateral lobes defined by a small notch (versus enlarged granules); 4) last anterolateral lobe as a small triangle lobe (versus sharp granule); 5) chelipeds almost fully granulate, except parts of the fingers (versus granulate except on the arm and lower palm); 6) more teeth on the pollex cutting edges (3–5 versus 2); and 7) surface and margins of ambulatory legs covered with granules and spines (versus smooth) ( Fig. 9A, B, E–G View Fig ; Edmondson 1962: 272, fig. 18c–e). The morphology description is based on a single juvenile female specimen. It remains uncertain whether variations between sexes or ontogenetic changes occur in this species.