Anamudiana granulata ( Pati & Sharma, 2013 ), 2025

Anamudiana granulata ( Pati & Sharma, 2013) comb. nov.

[Anamudi crab]

( Figs. 10 View FIGURE 10 , 11 View FIGURE 11 )

Travancoriana granulata Pati & Sharma, 2013: 276 View in CoL , figs. 2–4.

Travancoriana granulata View in CoL – Rajesh et al. 2017: 145, fig. 23.—Pati 2020: 162 (list).— Pati & Pradhan 2020: 555836 (list).

Type material examined. Holotype: male ( CW 33.7 mm, CL 26.1 mm, CH 15.0 mm, FW 10.3 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.1132), India, Kerala State, Idukki District, Eravikulam National Park, Bheemanada , 10.19545° N, 77.08647° E, elev. 2209 m a.s.l., coll. K.C. Gopi et al., 12 April 1994 GoogleMaps . – Paratypes: male ( CW 35.4 mm, CL 26.9 mm, CH 16.4 mm, FW 10.1 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.579), same collection data as for holotype GoogleMaps ; 2 males ( CW 14.1–32.4 mm, CL 11.0– 23.9 mm, CH 5.7–13.3 mm, FW 4.9–9.7 mm) , 3 females ( CW 16.2–39.7 mm, CL 12.5–29.7 mm, CH 5.9–17.4 mm, FW 5.4–11.1 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.572), India, Kerala State, Idukki District, Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi , 10.16969° N, 77.06400° E, elev. 2472 m a.s.l., coll. K.C. Gopi et al., 5 April 1994 GoogleMaps .

Other material examined. India– Kerala State: male ( CW 44.4 mm, CL 33.5 mm, CH 19.5 mm, FW 12.9 mm), female ( CW 14.4 mm, CL 11.9 mm, CH 4.7 mm, FW 5.3 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.598), Idukki District , Eravikulam National Park, Kolukkumalai, 10.05652° N, 77.21555° E, elev. 1725 m a.s.l., coll. M.S. Pradhan et al., 4 September 1993 GoogleMaps ; female ( CW 44.1 mm, CL 33.5 mm, CH 19.6 mm, FW 13.0 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.584), same collection data as for preceding, coll. K.C. Gopi et al., 10 April 1994 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 19.0 mm, CL 13.9 mm, CH 8.2 mm, FW 6.1 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.574), Idukki District , Eravikulam National Park, Meenathotti, 10.16049° N, 77.01072° E, elev. 1708 m a.s.l., coll. K.C. Gopi et al., 6 April 1994 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 22.2 mm, CL 16.3 mm, CH 9.0 mm, FW 7.0 mm), female ( CW 16.1 mm, CL 11.9 mm, CH 6.4 mm, FW 5.1 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.610), Idukki District , Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi, 10.16968° N, 77.06400° E, elev. 2472 m a.s.l., coll. R. M. Sharma, 28 February 1995 GoogleMaps ; female ( CW 21.2 mm, CL 15.6 mm, CH 8.5 mm, FW 6.7 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.573), Idukki District , Eravikulam National Park, Rajamalai, 10.17366° N, 77.00903° E, elev. 2072 m a.s.l., coll. K.C. Gopi et al., 3 April 1994 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 22.2 mm, CL 16.5 mm, CH 9.2 mm, FW 7.2 mm), female ( CW 22.8 mm, CL 16.9 mm, CH 9.7 mm, FW 7.2 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.575), same collection data as for preceding, 4 April 1994 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 38.6 mm, CL 28.2 mm, CH 16.4 mm, FW 11.1 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.635), Idukki District , Eravikulam National Park, Eravikulam Hut, 10.22164° N, 77.07854° E, elev. 2150 m a.s.l., coll. R. M. Sharma, 25 February 1995 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. As for new genus.

Remarks. The two high mountain dwellers, A. granulata comb. nov. and Pa. convexa comb. nov., share the same locality at Meenathotti of the Eravikulam National Park but might have different ecological requirements or habitat preferences. For instance, Pa. convexa comb. nov. was collected from the gravel bank of a fast-flowing stream at a relatively lower elevation (1708 m a.s.l.; see other material examined for Pa. convexa comb. nov.); while A. granulata comb. nov. generally prefers stagnant water bodies or slow-flowing streams at relatively higher elevations (1708–2472 m a.s.l.; see ecological notes below).

Although both these above species can occupy the same general area and may have similar physiognomy (e.g., low carapace and broadly triangular external orbital angle with long outer margin; Figs. 7A View FIGURE 7 , 9A View FIGURE 9 , 10A View FIGURE 10 ), A. granulata comb. nov. can be easily differentiated from Pa. convexa comb. nov., by the shallower cervical grooves ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ) (versus cervical grooves relatively deep; Figs. 7A View FIGURE 7 , 9A View FIGURE 9 ); the semicircular medial tooth of the epistome posterior margin ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ) (versus epistome posterior margin with a triangular medial tooth; Figs. 7B View FIGURE 7 , 9B View FIGURE 9 ); the relatively slender adult male chelipeds (see Pati & Sharma 2013: figs. 2A–C, 3E) (versus adult male chelipeds relatively stouter; Figs. 7A View FIGURE 7 , 9A, C View FIGURE 9 ); the relatively shorter male sternopleonal cavity reaching to the imaginary line joining the medial part of the cheliped coxae ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ) (versus male sternopleonal cavity relatively longer reaching to the imaginary line joining the anterior part of the cheliped coxae; Figs. 7C View FIGURE 7 , 10C View FIGURE 10 ); the relatively narrower male pleon with strongly concave lateral margins and a subquadrate pleonal somite 6 ( Fig. 10D, E View FIGURE 10 ) (versus male pleon relatively broader with almost straight lateral margins and a trapezoidal pleonal somite 6; Figs. 7C View FIGURE 7 , 9C, E View FIGURE 9 ); and the relatively slender G1, with a short ultimate article, ca. 0.25 times the length of the penultimate article ( Fig. 11A, B View FIGURE 11 ) (versus G1 stout, with a long ultimate article, ca. 0.5–0.6 times the length of the penultimate article; Figs. 8A, B View FIGURE 8 , 9F, G View FIGURE 9 ).

Ecological notes. Anamudiana granulata comb. nov. is an inhabitant of the high-rolling plateau of the Eravikulam National Park, which is situated at an isolated mountain range of the southern Western Ghats ( Pati & Sharma 2013). The highest peak of the Western Ghats, Anamudi (elevation 2690 m a.s.l.), is located within the national park. This species is known for occupying higher elevations of the Eravikulam National Park, including that at Anamudi (1708–2472 m a.s.l.). Crabs of this species were found in a small and swampy waterbody where small streams adjoin; individuals were also recorded from several streams within the national park ( Pati & Sharma 2013). As opined by Pati & Sharma (2013), A. granulata comb. nov. might have evolved as a distinct species [now a distinct new genus] as it remains isolated and adapted for a unique ecosystem with higher elevations, shola forest, heavy rainfall during the monsoon and very low temperature during the winter.

Geographical distribution. As for new genus.

Genus Naduganiana gen. nov.

( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 , 13 View FIGURE 13 )

Type species. Travancoriana kuleera Bahir & Yeo, 2007 View in CoL , by present designation; gender of genus feminine.

Diagnosis. Medium sized crabs (maximum CW 28.0 mm). Carapace relatively broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.3–1.4), relatively low ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4), with moderately convex lateral margins; frontal medial triangle incomplete, lateral margins indiscernible; postorbital cristae well-developed, reaching lateral margins of carapace; external orbital angle broadly triangular, with long outer margin, ca. 3 times length of inner margin; epibranchial tooth low, located at same level of postorbital cristae; epistome posterior margin with well-developed, trapezoidal medial tooth and strongly sinuous lateral lobes ( Fig. 12A–C, E View FIGURE 12 ). Maxilliped 3 with well-developed flagellum on exopod ( Fig. 12F View FIGURE 12 ). Chelipeds relatively slender in adult males ( Fig. 12A View FIGURE 12 ). Ambulatory legs relatively stout, shorter, glabrous ( Fig. 12A, E View FIGURE 12 ). Male s2/s3 distinct as broad, deep groove, not reaching edge of sternum; male s3/s4 distinct as deep, complete groove, reaching edge of sternum ( Fig. 12D View FIGURE 12 ). Male sternopleonal cavity relatively short, reaching to imaginary line joining anterior part of cheliped coxae ( Fig. 12D View FIGURE 12 ). Male pleon relatively narrow, with strongly concave lateral margins; pleonal somite 6 subquadrate, relatively narrow, proximal width ca. 1.2 times medial length, with gently concave lateral margins ( Fig. 12D, G View FIGURE 12 ). Male telson as long as broad, medial length ca. 1.0 times proximal width, with gently concave lateral margins ( Fig. 12D, G View FIGURE 12 ). G1 relatively stout; ultimate article conical, relatively slender, distally distinctly curved outwards, relatively short, ca. 0.4 times length of penultimate article, tip blunt and bent; penultimate article stout, with sinuous outer margin ( Figs. 12H, I View FIGURE 12 , 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ). G2 longer than G1, ca. 1.2 times G1 length; ultimate article long, ca. 0.5 times length of penultimate article ( Figs. 12J View FIGURE 12 , 13C View FIGURE 13 ). Vulvae relatively widely located from each other (VD/SW = ca. 0.3) ( Fig. 12K View FIGURE 12 ).

Etymology. The genus name is derived from the Nadugani Hills, which are located in the central Western Ghats of India bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. The gender of this genus is feminine.

Remarks. The species described by Bahir & Yeo (2007) as Travancoriana kuleera is assigned to Naduganiana gen. nov. after comparing with Travancoriana s. str. (see remarks for Travancoriana ). Naduganiana gen. nov. includes a lone species, Naduganiana kuleera ( Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov.

Naduganiana gen. nov. can be differentiated from the gecarcinucid genera of southern India by the following suite of morphological characters in addition to the medium sizes of the crabs (maximum CW 28.0 mm): the relatively low carapace ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4) ( Fig. 12C View FIGURE 12 ); the well-developed postorbital cristae reaching the carapace lateral margins ( Fig. 12A, E View FIGURE 12 ); the broadly triangular external orbital angle, with the long outer margin, ca. 3 times the inner margin length ( Fig. 12A, E View FIGURE 12 ); the low epibranchial tooth located at the same level of the postorbital cristae ( Fig. 12A, E View FIGURE 12 ); the maxilliped 3 exopod with a well-developed flagellum ( Fig. 12F View FIGURE 12 ); the relatively deep male s2/s3 and s3/s4 with the latter suture distinct as a deep, complete groove, reaching the sternum edge ( Fig. 12D View FIGURE 12 ); the subquadrate and relatively narrow male pleonal somite 6, with the proximal width ca. 1.2 times the medial length ( Fig. 12D, G View FIGURE 12 ); the stout G1 with a bent tip, the ultimate article being relatively slenderer and shorter, ca. 0.4 times the length of the penultimate article ( Figs. 12H, I View FIGURE 12 , 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ); the distinctly longer G 2 in relation to the G1 length ( Figs. 12H–J View FIGURE 12 , 13 View FIGURE 13 ); and the relatively widely positioned vulvae (VD/SW = ca. 0.3) ( Fig. 12K View FIGURE 12 ).

Naduganiana gen. nov. (see Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 , 13 View FIGURE 13 ) might be confused with Vanni (see Figs. 14–21 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 View FIGURE 17 View FIGURE 18 View FIGURE 19 View FIGURE 20 View FIGURE 21 ) as did Pati et al. (2014, 2019b) (see remarks for Naduganiana kuleera comb. nov.). This is mainly because of their subequal size, equally broad and low carapace, more or less equally long outer margin of the external orbital angle (ca. 2–3 times the length of the inner margin), and low epibranchial tooth ( Figs. 12A–C, E View FIGURE 12 , 14A, B View FIGURE 14 , 16A, B View FIGURE 16 , 18A–C, E View FIGURE 18 , 20A–C, E View FIGURE 20 ). Naduganiana gen. nov. is nevertheless separated from Vanni s. str. especially by the glabrous ambulatory legs ( Fig. 12A, E View FIGURE 12 ) (versus ambulatory legs setose; Figs. 14A View FIGURE 14 , 16A, C View FIGURE 16 , 18A, E View FIGURE 18 , 20A, E View FIGURE 20 ), the distinct, deep, complete male s3/s4 ( Fig. 12D View FIGURE 12 ) (versus male s3/s4 indiscernible; Figs. 14C View FIGURE 14 , 16C, G View FIGURE 16 , 18D View FIGURE 18 , 20D View FIGURE 20 ), and the relatively stouter G1 with a bent tip and the relatively longer ultimate article, ca. 0.4 times the length of the penultimate article ( Figs. 12H, I View FIGURE 12 , 13A, B View FIGURE 13 ) (versus G1 relatively slenderer with a straight tip and the relatively shorter ultimate article, ca. 0.2–0.3 times the length of the penultimate article; Figs. 15A, B View FIGURE 15 , 17A, B View FIGURE 17 , 18H, I View FIGURE 18 , 19A, B View FIGURE 19 , 20H, I View FIGURE 20 , 21A, B View FIGURE 21 ).

Geographical distribution. Naduganiana gen. nov. is restricted in distribution to the Nadugani Hills at the lower elevations (651–800 m a.s.l.) of the central Western Ghats , bordering Malappuram district of Kerala and Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, southern India ( Bahir & Yeo 2007; present study) ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) .