Miyakella Ahyong & Low, 2013

Miyakella Ahyong & Low, 2013

Miyakella Ahyong & Low, 2013: 99–100 . [ Type species Squilla nepa Latreille in Latreille, Le Peletier, Serville & Guérin, 1828 by original designation. Gender feminine].

Diagnosis. Dorsal integument pitted, rugose. Eye with cornea bilobed, width less than 0.30 CL. Ocular scales separate. Carapace with anterolateral spines; with normal complement of carinae; MD carina distinct, uninterrupted at base of anterior bifurcation; branches of anterior bifurcation distinct, opening posterior to dorsal pit; posterolateral margin rounded. Raptorial claw dactylus with 6 teeth; carpus dorsal carina sinuous or with low irregular tubercles; merus outer surface with inferodistal spine. Mandibular palp 3-segmented. MXP1–4 with epipod. PLP1 endopod in adult male without posterior endite; hook process distally blunt. TS6–8 with distinct SM and IM carinae. TS5–7 lateral processes bilobed. AS 1–6 with normal complement of carinae. Telson SM teeth with fixed apices; prelateral lobe present; dorsolateral surface without supplementary longitudinal carinae.

Composition. Miyakella holoschista ( Kemp, 1911) ; M. nepa (Latreille in Latreille, Le Peletier, Serville & Guérin, 1828).

Remarks: Species in the genus Miyakella are most similar to those of Oratosquilla and Oratosquillina in sharing a normal complement of carinae on the carapace and body ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ), bilobed lateral processes of TS5–7 and a raptorial claw dactylus with six teeth and an outer inferodistal spine on the merus. Species of Miyakella differ from species of both these genera in having a dorsal pit enclosed by the branches of the median carina on the carapace and in lacking the posterior endite of pleopod 1 endopod in adult males. Natosquilla is the only other squillid genus known from South Africa to lack the posterior endite on the endopod of pleopod 1 in adult males. Both species of Miyakella are known from the Indo-West Pacific and occur on the east coast of South Africa.

Key to the species of Miyakella

1. Carapace with portion of MD carina between cervical groove and anterior bifurcation ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ) simple, not bicarinate. AS 4 with SM carinae ( Fig. 26I View FIGURE 26 ) usually armed posteriorly................................................... M. nepa

– Carapace with portion of MD carina between cervical groove ( Fig. 25C View FIGURE 25 ) finely bicarinate. AS 4 with SM carinae ( Fig. 25F View FIGURE 25 ) unarmed posteriorly........................................................................ M. holoschista