Bathysquilla crassispinosa ( Fukuda, 1909 )

Bathysquilla crassispinosa ( Fukuda, 1909)

( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 )

Lysiosquilla crassispinosa Fukuda, 1909: 61 , pl. 5 [ type locality off Atami, Sagami Bay, Japan]; 1910: 146–149, pl. 4, fig. 4.— Barnard, 1950: 859–860, fig. 3b.

Bathysquilla crassispinosa .— Manning, 1969b: 95, 98.— Ingle & Merrett, 1971: 197.— Manning & Struhsaker, 1976: 440–443, figs. 1, 2.— Bruce, 1985: 474–475, fig. 4.— Moosa, 1986: 371, pl. 1.— Bruce, 1988: 87–89, figs. 2–5.—Manning, et al. 1990: 312–313, fig. 1; 1991: 1–3, 13, figs. 1, 2; 1995: 18, 28.—Ahyong, 2001: 11–12, fig. 6.

Material examined. KZN: SAMC-A007812 , 1 ♂ (TL 245 mm), north of Durban , 29°42’00.0”S 31°28’59.9”E, 1931, depth unknown, Fishery Marine Biology Survey Report 9, 1932, det. K.H. Barnard. GoogleMaps

Other material examined. SAMC-A065722 , 1 ♂ (TL 223 mm), continental slope, north of Durban , 29°44’48.0”S 31°25’36.0”E, 20 Aug 1988, 325 m, stat. 30-01, Icelandic trawl, SFI-RS Benguela GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Eye large, cornea subglobular, pigmented. Rostral plate longer than broad; dorsally with broad median groove. Carapace anterolateral margin broadly rounded. Raptorial claw dactylus with 10–11 teeth; carpus dorsal margin with 2 slender spines; propodus occlusal margin with inner row of 9–11 large erect spines, outer row with 30–32 short spines. AS 1–5 with indistinct IM carinae; MG carinae distinct; unarmed except for posterior spine of MG carinae. Abdominal carinae spined as follows: SM 6, LT 6, MG 1–5. Telson accessory MD carina indistinct, indicated by line of tubercles; anterior SM carinae short, low, indicated anteriorly, subparallel to MD carina. Uropodal protopod dorsally with tuberculate carina; outer margin with short ventral spine anterior to exopod articulation. Uropodal exopod proximal segment unarmed dorsally except for dorsal spine above exopod articulation; outer margin with lower row of short, fixed teeth corresponding to upper row of 6–11 movable spines.

Colour in life. Eyes with metallic grey cornea. Dorsally reddish-orange with propodus and dactylus of raptorial claw, pereopods, uropodal exopod and endopod pale orange to yellow.

Measurements. ♂ (n = 2) TL 223–245 mm.A1 peduncle 0.74–0.80CL.A2 scale 0.95–1.03CL. Uropod endopod length 2.56–2.89 times width. Largest specimen recorded TL 297 mm ( Barnard 1950; Manning et al. 1990).

Distribution and habitat. Widely distributed in Indo-West Pacific from South Africa, Madagascar, Australia, Philippines, South China Sea and Japan. Deep-water species occurring in soft sediment at depths 240– 297 m.

Remarks. Bathysquilla crassispinosa was first reported from South Africa by Barnard (1950). Although he noted that his specimens lacked papillae on the antennal protopod, re-examination of his material by Ingle & Merrett (1971) found the antennal protopod to have two distinct papillae and thus there are no recorded differences between specimens from Japan and the Indian Ocean. Two papillae were observed for the present material.

In agreement with Ahyong (2001), the South African specimens examined exhibit several differences compared to the account of the holotype ( Fukuda 1909, 1910). As with the Australian material, both South African specimens have a strongly serrated mid-dorsal carina on the proximal uropodal exopod segment ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ) instead of the relatively smooth illustration of the holotype ( Fukuda 1910). Accounts by Moosa (1986) and recent examination by Ahyong (2001) of specimens from the Philippines also show an absence of mid-dorsal carina serration. Further study is needed to determine the significance of this difference. One notable difference between Australian and South African material is the reduced number of short spines on the outer row of the propodus toothed margin of the raptorial claw dactylus: 30–32 reported herein for South African specimens, rather than 32–39 reported for Australia (Ahyong 2001). The use of morphological and genetic tools in comparing material from all localities is needed to clarify the significance of the observed differences.

Barnard (1950) recorded two female specimens from off Durban , which included South Africa’s largest recorded specimen of 297 mm from depths 240–270 m. Unfortunately, Barnard’s specimens could not be found in the museum collection and could not be re-examined. It is assumed that the specimens exhibited similar serration to the present study material .

GONODACTYLOIDEA Giesbrecht, 1910 View in CoL

Diagnosis (after Ahyong 2012). Cornea mid-band with 6 rows of rectangular ommatidia. Propodi of MXP3–4 ovate, not ribbed or beaded ventrally. Body subcylindrical, articulation compact. Raptorial claw with terminal or subterminal ischiomeral articulation; dactylus inflated or not inflated basally. Telson with distinct MD carina or boss; SM teeth with movable apices; at most with 3 IM denticles, arising marginally. Uropodal protopod with 1 or 2 primary spines; articulation of exopod segments terminal or subterminal.

Composition. Alainosquillidae Moosa, 1991 ; Pseudosquillidae Manning, 1977a ; Hemisquillidae Manning, 1980 ; Odontodactylidae Manning, 1980 ; Gonodactylidae Giesbrecht, 1910 ; Protosquillidae Manning, 1980 ; Takuidae Manning, 1995 .

Remarks. Five families of Gonodactyloidea are recorded from South African waters and distinguished in the key below. The regional fauna comprises eight genera with a total of 14 species. Gonodactyloidea include the majority of coral reef and rocky shore stomatopods, most notably the ‘smashers’ of the families Gonodactylidae , Protosquillidae , Odontodactylidae and Takuidae . Species of Alainosquillidae and Pseudosquillidae are the only gonodactyloids to bear a spearing claw (Ahyong 2001), but only the latter is represented in South African waters.

Key to South African families of GONODACTYLOIDEA View in CoL

1. Raptorial claw with terminal ischiomeral articulation; base of dactylus uninflated or at most slightly thickened........................................................................................... PSEUDOSQUILLIDAE View in CoL

– Ischiomeral articulation of raptorial claw subterminal; base of dactylus strongly inflated into blunt heel................. 2

2. Articulation of uropodal exopod segments terminal.......................................................... 3

– Articulation of uropodal exopod segments subterminal........................................................ 4

3. Dactylus of raptorial claw with short teeth on inner margin. A2 protopod with articulated plate dorsally. AS 6 articulating with telson. Telson with distinct MD carina................................................ ODONTODACTYLIDAE View in CoL

– Dactylus of raptorial claw ( Fig. 13A View FIGURE 13 ) without teeth on inner margin. A2 protopod ( Fig. 13B View FIGURE 13 ) with fixed spine dorsally. AS 6 ( Fig. 13G View FIGURE 13 ) immovably fused with telson (demarcation usually indicated by dorsal groove). Telson ( Fig. 13G View FIGURE 13 ) with MD boss................................................................................. PROTOSQUILLIDAE View in CoL

4. Distal spines on outer margin of uropodal exopod stout, strongly recurved anteriorly ( Fig. 17F, G View FIGURE 17 )........... TAKUIDAE View in CoL

– Distal spines on outer margin of uropodal exopod slender, straight or slightly curved, not strongly recurved anteriorly....................................................................................... GONODACTYLIDAE View in CoL

GONODACTYLIDAE Giesbrecht, 1910 View in CoL

Gonodactylinae Giesbrecht, 1910: 148.

Gonodactylidae View in CoL .— Manning, 1968b: 137.

Diagnosis (after Ahyong 2012). Rostral plate trispinous, or with median spine and trapezoid basal portion. Antennal protopod dorsally with fixed, anteriorly directed spine or tooth. Raptorial claw with subterminal ischiomeral articulation; propodus occlusal margin sparsely pectinate; dactylus of raptorial claw without teeth on inner margin, outer basal margin strongly inflated into blunt heel. AS 6 articulating with telson. Telson with distinct MD carina. Articulation of uropodal exopod segments subterminal. Distal spines on outer margin of uropodal exopod slender, straight or slightly curved, not strongly recurved anteriorly.

Composition. Gonodactylaceus Manning, 1995 ; Gonodactylellus Manning, 1995 ; Gonodactyloideus Manning, 1984a ; Gonodactylolus Manning, 1970b ; Gonodactylopsis Manning, 1969c ; Gonodactylus Berthold, 1827 ; Hoplosquilla Holthuis, 1964 ; Hoplosquilloides Manning, 1978a ; Neogonodactylus Manning, 1995 .

Remarks. All gonodactylids bear smashing claws and are most abundant on coral reefs. Three genera are recorded from South African waters.

Key to South African genera of GONODACTYLIDAE View in CoL

1. Mandibular palp absent.................................................................... Gonodactylolus

– Mandibular palp present................................................................................ 2

2. Ocular scales truncate, wider than base of median spine of rostral plate................................. Gonodactylus View in CoL

– Ocular scales rounded or angular, narrower than base of apical spine of rostral plate.................... Gonodactylellus View in CoL