Palaniana convexa ( Roux, 1931 ), 2025

Palaniana convexa ( Roux, 1931) comb. nov.

[Roux’s Palani crab]

( Figs. 7–9 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 )

Paratelphusa (Barytelphusa) pollicaris convexa Roux, 1931: 49 View in CoL .

Travancoriana convexa View in CoL – Bahir & Yeo 2007: 321, figs. 11–13.— Pati & Sharma 2013: 281 (list, in key).—Pati et al. 2014: 656, pl. 1 figs. 10–12, pl. 3 figs. 7–9 (part).— Rajesh et al. 2017: 144, fig. 22.—Pati 2020: 162 (list).— Pati & Pradhan 2020: 555836 (list).— Sruthi & Thirunavukkarasu 2022: 460 (list).

Not Paratelphusa (Barytelphusa) pollicaris View in CoL – Roux 1931: 48.

Not Travancoriana pollicaris View in CoL – Bott 1970a: 336; 1970b: 41, pl. 4 figs. 42–44, pl. 26 fig. 21.— Klaus et al. 2014: table S1 (list).

Type material. Lectotype: male ( CW 51.2 mm, CL 37.8 mm) ( MHNG, uncatalogued), India, Tamil Nadu State, Dindigul District, Palani, Thandikudi , 10.310° N, 77.643° E, elev. 1500 m a.s.l., coll. J. Carl, 26 April 1927. GoogleMaps

Other material examined. India – Kerala State: male ( CW 25.2 mm, CL 19.2 mm, CH 10.3 mm, FW 7.8 mm) ( ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9182), Idukki District , Munnar, Kadalar Shola, 10.1420° N, 77.0576° E, elev. 1738 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 22 September 2014 GoogleMaps ; 2 males ( CW 12.7–27.7 mm, CL 9.1–20.8 mm, CH 5.0– 11.7 mm, FW 4.3–7.7 mm), female ( CW 29.2 mm, CL 21.5 mm, CH 11.8 mm, FW 8.0 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.611), Idukki District , Eravikulam National Park, Meenathotti, gravel bank, 10.16049° N, 77.01072° E, elev. 1708 m a.s.l., coll. R. M. Sharma, 27 February 1995 GoogleMaps ; 2 males ( CW 17.5–23.2 mm, CL 13.5–18.2 mm, CH 7.5–9.8 mm, FW 5.2–6.4 mm), female ( CW 21.4 mm, CL 16.7 mm, CH 8.9 mm, FW 6.2 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2361), Idukki District , Marayoor Forest Division, Nagamala Shola, 10.290° N, 77.135° E, elev. 1724 m a.s.l., coll. Md. Jafer Palot, 14 March 2023 GoogleMaps ; 2 males ( CW 15.5–22.3 mm, CL 12.0– 17.3 mm, CH 6.3–9.5 mm, FW 4.9–6.8 mm) ( ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9887), Palakkad District , Nelliyampathi, Thoothampara, 10.44920° N, 76.71545° E, elev. 693 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 1 March 2017 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 35.4 mm, CL 26.9 mm, CH 15.3 mm, FW 9.8 mm) ( ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9892), Palakkad District , Nelliyampathi, Victoria, 10.47275° N, 76.68265° E, elev. 980 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 27 February 2017 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 16.5 mm, CL 13.2 mm, CH 7.0 mm, FW 5.2 mm), 3 females ( CW 16.2–17.2 mm, CL 12.9–13.6 mm, CH 6.7–7.1 mm, FW 5.2–5.4 mm) ( ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9890), Palakkad District , Nelliyampathi, Pothumala, 10.508° N, 76.683° E, elev. 977 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 2 March 2017 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 26.7 mm, CL 20.7 mm, CH 10.8 mm, FW 7.5 mm) ( ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9153), Pathanamthitta District , Gavi, 9.43585° N, 77.16577° E, elev. 1190 m a.s.l., coll. P.M. Sureshan, 5 September 2015 GoogleMaps . – Tamil Nadu State: male ( CW 14.1 mm, CL 11.0 mm, CH 5.4 mm, FW 4.2 mm), 3 females ( CW 9.9–21.9 mm, CL 8.1–16.9 mm, CH 4.1–8.5 mm, FW 3.2–5.9 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2155), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper Manalaru, 9.583° N, 77.335° E, elev. 1664 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 27 June 2019 GoogleMaps ; male, juvenile ( ZSI-WRC C.2341), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary , Chinnamannur Range , Upper Manalar, Vattaparai, 9.584° N, 77.331° E, elev. 1666 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 4 March 2019 GoogleMaps ; 2 females ( CW 18.4–26.6 mm, CL 14.3–20.5 mm, CH 7.0– 11.1 mm, FW 5.1–6.9 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2156), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Vattaparai, 9.585° N, 77.331° E, elev. 1662 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 27 June 2019 GoogleMaps ; male, juvenile ( ZSI-WRC C.2338), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary , Upper Manalar, stream near Suruli Colony, 9.589° N, 77.342° E, elev. 1536 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 17 September 2016 GoogleMaps ; male ( CW 38.7 mm, CL 28.4 mm, CH 15.3 mm, FW 10.0 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2157), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Venniyaru Forest, 9.615° N, 77.330° E, elev. 1536 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 28 June 2019 GoogleMaps ; 3 males ( CW 8.5–20.9 mm, CL 7.0– 15.8 mm, CH 3.3–8.0 mm, FW 2.9–6.3 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2340), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary , Highwavys, shola forest near Forest Rest House, 9.638° N, 77.358° E, elev. 1540 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 3 March 2019 GoogleMaps ; 3 males ( CW 21.7–26.5 mm, CL 17.4–20.6 mm, CH 8.6–10.9 mm, FW 6.1–7.5 mm), 2 females ( CW 11.9–16.8 mm, CL 9.7–13.4 mm, CH 4.2–6.8 mm, FW 3.7–5.0 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2158), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary , Mannoothu, Kadana Estate, 9.692° N, 77.401° E, elev. 1541 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 29 June 2019 GoogleMaps ; 4 males, juveniles ( ZSI-WRC C.2339), Theni District , Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, stream near Kadana Estate, 9.698° N, 77.401° E, elev. 1453 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 18 September 2016 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. As for new genus.

Remarks. Palaniana convexa comb. nov. was formerly reported as Paratelphusa (Barytelphusa) pollicaris by Roux (1931: 48) and as Travancoriana pollicaris by Bott (1970a: 336; 1970b: 41, pl. 4 figs. 42–44, pl. 26 fig. 21) and Klaus et al. (2014: table S1), which is now regarded as Pa. convexa comb. nov. (see remarks for Po. pollicaris comb. nov.). The records of the species from the Kodagu district of Karnataka and Kollam district of Kerala by Pati et al. (2014) appear to be misidentification of the specimens; the remaining specimens examined by Pati et al. (2014), however, belong to Pa. convexa comb. nov.

Ecological notes. Palaniana convexa comb. nov. is generally found in high mountains (elevation up to 1738 m a.s.l.) ( Bahir & Yeo 2007; present study); it is also recorded from an elevation as low as 600 m a.s.l. (present study). The species is known to occupy small and shallow streams, especially underneath boulders, in addition to paddy fields and muddy canals ( Bahir & Yeo 2007).

Geographical distribution. As for new genus.

Genus Anamudiana gen. nov.

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

Type species. Travancoriana granulata Pati & Sharma, 2013 View in CoL , by present designation; gender of genus feminine.

Diagnosis. Large sized crabs (maximum CW 44.4 mm). Carapace relatively broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.2–1.4), relatively low ( CH /CW = ca. 0.3–0.4), 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. 4 times length of inner margin; epibranchial tooth low, located at same level of postorbital cristae; epistome posterior margin with well-developed, semicircular medial tooth and gently sinuous lateral lobes ( Fig. 10A, B View FIGURE 10 ). Maxilliped 3 with well-developed flagellum on exopod ( Fig. 10C View FIGURE 10 ). Chelipeds relatively slender in adult males (see Pati & Sharma 2013: figs. 2A–C, 3E). Ambulatory legs relatively stout, shorter, glabrous ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ; see Pati & Sharma 2013: fig. 2A, C). Male s2/s3 distinct as narrow groove, reaching edge of sternum; male s3/s4 distinct as deep, complete groove, reaching edge of sternum ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ). Male sternopleonal cavity relatively shorter, reaching to imaginary line joining medial part of cheliped coxae ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ). Male pleon relatively narrow, with strongly concave lateral margins; pleonal somite 6 subquadrate, relatively broad, proximal width ca. 1.5 times medial length ( Fig. 10D, E View FIGURE 10 ). G1 relatively slender; ultimate article conical, relatively slender, relatively short, ca. 0.25 times length of penultimate article; penultimate article moderately stout ( Fig. 11A, B View FIGURE 11 ). G2 longer than G1, ca. 1.2 times G1 length; ultimate article long, ca. 0.4 times length of penultimate article ( Fig. 10C View FIGURE 10 ). Vulvae relatively widely located from each other (VD/SW = ca. 0.3) ( Fig. 10F View FIGURE 10 ).

Etymology. Crabs of the new genus are found in the high mountains of the southern Western Ghats of India. The genus name is thus derived from Anamudi, the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The gender of this genus is feminine.

Remarks. Anamudiana gen. nov. comprises only one species, A. granulata ( Pati & Sharma, 2013) comb. nov., which was described as T. granulata by Pati & Sharma (2013). The new genus can be differentiated from Travancoriana s. str. by the characters in the male chelipeds, male s2/s3, male sternopleonal cavity, male pleonal somite 6, and G1 ultimate article (see remarks for Travancoriana ).

From other gecarcinucid genera of southern India, Anamudiana gen. nov. can be distinguished by the following morphological characters: the relatively low carapace ( CH /CW = ca. 0.3–0.4) ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ); the well-developed postorbital cristae reaching the lateral margins of the carapace ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ); the broadly triangular external orbital angle, with a long outer margin, ca. 4 times the length of the inner margin ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ); the low epibranchial tooth located at the same level of the postorbital cristae ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ); the well-developed flagellum on the exopod of the maxilliped 3 ( Fig. 10C View FIGURE 10 ); the deep, complete groove of the male s3/s4 reaching the edge of the sternum ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ); the relatively shorter male sternopleonal cavity, reaching to the imaginary line joining the medial part of the cheliped coxae ( Fig. 10D View FIGURE 10 ); the relatively narrow male pleon, with the strongly concave lateral margins ( Fig. 10D, E View FIGURE 10 ); the subquadrate and relatively broad male pleonal somite 6 with proximal width ca. 1.5 times the medial length ( Fig. 10D, E View FIGURE 10 ); the relatively slender and short G1 ultimate article, ca. 0.25 times the length of the penultimate article ( Fig. 11A, B View FIGURE 11 ); the relatively stouter G1 penultimate article ( Fig. 11A, B View FIGURE 11 ); the longer G2 as compared to the G1 ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 ); and the relatively widely located vulvae (VD/SW = ca. 0.3) ( Fig. 10F View FIGURE 10 ).

Geographical distribution. Anamudiana gen. nov. is known only from the southern Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala, southern India, where it is endemic ( Pati & Sharma 2013) ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ).