Gonodactylellus crosnieri ( Manning, 1968a )

Gonodactylellus crosnieri ( Manning, 1968a) , new record

( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 )

Gonodactylus crosnieri Manning, 1968a: 48–50 , fig. 15 [ type locality Banc de Pracel, western coast of Madagascar]. Gonodactylellus crosnieri .— Manning, 1995: 56–57, 65 [new combination].— Poupin et al., 2019: 5.

Material examined. KZN: SAMC-A079451 , 1 ♀ (TL 18.5 mm), off Kosi Bay, 26°52’24.0”S 32°55’12.0”E, 45–47 m, dredge, coll. Natal Museum Dredging Programme GoogleMaps ; SAMC-A079454 , 1 ♀ (TL 23 mm), off Kosi Bay, 26°53’36.0”S 32°55’36.0”E, same as above GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Ocular scales small, rounded, separate. Rostral plate with anterior margins straight or sloped slightly posterolaterally, anterior angles acute but rounded; median spine longer than base. Mandibular palp 3-segmented. 5 epipods present. Lateral processes of TS6–7 subtruncate, subequal with TS6 being slightly larger. AS 1–5 unarmed posterolaterally. Telson as long as broad with SM and IM teeth distinct and no denticles present between teeth; LT teeth not developed. Telson dorsal surface with numerous spinules and tubercle; MD carina short with spine and tubercles and flanked by 2 rows of spines; SM carina anteriorly covered in spines, anterior SM carina flanked by row of spines; IM carina with posteriorly pointing spines and flanked on inner margin by 2 spinules. Uropod exopod proximal segment with 10 movable spines and distal, ventral spine; proximal segment lacks setae and distal segment entire margin setose. Uropodal endopod broad, width about 0.5 telson width, with long dorsal carina, inner margin strongly convex, only distally setose.

Colour in alcohol. Faded, with raptorial claw of dactylus white to light lavender. Colour in life unknown.

Measurements. ♀ (n = 2) TL 18.5–23.0 mm. A2 scale length 2.0– 2.3 mm. AWCLI 800–825. Manning (1968a) reported specimens to 19.3 mm. The TL 23 mm ♀ examined herein is the largest known specimen.

Distribution. Known only from Western Indian Ocean. Previously recorded from Madagascar and Comoro Islands at 50 m and now from Kosi Bay, South Africa [KZN] at 45–47 m depth.

Remarks. This is only the second species record of Gonodactylellus crosnieri in the scientific literature after being described from specimens from Madagascar and Comoro Islands ( Manning 1968a). The specimens examined herein agree well with the original description. Gonodactylellus crosnieri is distinguished from similar species by the characteristically broad uropodal endopod ( Fig. 5G, I View FIGURE 5 ). This species is potentially rare with only four specimens known to be collected. The small size, apparent preferred depth of G. crosnieri beyond shallow SCUBA limits and lack of habitat knowledge has made the collection of material scarce. Colour in life remains unknown and no male has been observed. Furthermore, the proximity of Kosi Bay to the South African border with Mozambique and the distribution of the species restricted to the coastal regions of northern KwaZulu-Natal and western Madagascar suggests that G. crosnieri is also likely to occur in the reef systems of Mozambique.