Achelia saaeayai Marcus, 1940

Achelia saaeayai Marcus

Achelia saaeayi Marcus 1940: 81-86 , Figs 10 View Fig a-f, 17

Material. Adult ♁ (ZSM-A- 20071594); Casa Grisales , Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta; on stone with algae. 0.5-1.0 m. 11.10.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM- A- 20071595); Playa Brava, Bahia de Taganga, Santa Marta; under stone, 0-0.5 m, 09.12.2004 ; Juvenile (ZSM-A-20060998); Playa Brava, Bahia de Taganga, Santa Marta; under stone, 0-0.5 m, 09.12.2004 ; Adult ♁ (ZSM-A-20060999); Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta; under stone. 0.5-1.0 m. 14.12.2004 ; Adult ♀ with eggs in the legs (ZSM-A- 20071596); Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta; under stone, 0.5-1.0 m, 14.12.2004 ; Adult ♁ carrying eggs on ovigera (ZSM- A- 20071597); Bahia del Rodadero, Santa Marta; under stone. 0.5-1.0 m. 18.12.2004 .

Description ( Figs 1-4 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig )

Light microscopical descriptions of this species are given by Müller (1990), Müller & Krapp (in press), Hedgpeth (1948), Stock (1955), and Child (1992). Living animals are sand-coloured. No special pigmentation of the gut. Body circular ( Figs 1D View Fig , 2C View Fig , 3A,B View Fig ), segmentation lines not visible ( Figs 1D View Fig , 2C View Fig , 3 View Fig C-E), dorsodistal spination absent. Ocular tubercle relatively flat, deprived of apical protrusion; four strongly pigmented eyes and two lateral sense organs present ( Figs 1D View Fig , 4A,E View Fig ).

Short abdomen orientated upwards ( Figs 1D View Fig , 2C View Fig , 4A View Fig ), inserted directly between walking legs 4 and having distally two laterodorsal short spines ( Fig. 4A View Fig ). Proboscis oval, with pointed tip ( Fig. 4D View Fig ).

Chelifores composed of a long article and chelae that are well developed in juveniles ( Figs 1B,G View Fig ) but deformed in adults ( Figs 2C View Fig , 4A,B View Fig ).

Palps with 8 articles in adults ( Figs 2F View Fig , 4F View Fig ) and 6 in juveniles ( Fig. 1F View Fig ). Ovigera with 10 articles in both sexes, articles 8-10 equipped with serrated spines ( Fig. 4 View Fig G-I). Male ovigera with spines on all articles. In specimen examined eggs were carried between 5th and 2nd ovigera article ( Fig. 4G View Fig ).

Coxa 1 of all legs with 3 distal spines inserted on protrusions. In juveniles ( Fig. 1E View Fig ) these are less pronounced than in adults ( Figs 3D View Fig , 4C View Fig ). Coxa 2 equipped with 2 spines, 2× length of coxa 1; coxa 3 with bristles ventrodistally, same length as coxa 1. Length of femur 3× coxa 1. Adult male with strong protrusion (cement gland) at the dorsodistal edge of the article. Femur of ovigerous female swollen and filled with eggs ( Fig. 2B View Fig ). Tibia 1 0.2× as long as tibia 2. Both tibiae rather thin. Tarsus as long as wide, with several spines, ventrally with setae and distally with a single spine ( Fig. 4K View Fig ). Propodus slightly curved ( Figs 1H View Fig , 2H View Fig , 3G View Fig , 4K View Fig ), heel absent. Sole consists of a row of 6-9 thin short spines ( Figs 3G View Fig , 4K View Fig ), dorsomedially with 3-5 long thin spines ( Figs 3G View Fig , 4K View Fig ). Distal tip of propodus with curved main claw and two accessory claws at its dorsal side. Length of accessory claws 0.75× main claw ( Figs 2H View Fig , 3G View Fig , 4K View Fig ).

Remarks. Achelia saaeayai is a small species.Its colour can be explained as an adaptation to the habitat, i.e. infralittoral stones with algae. Due to variability of the spination and the presence of a very similar species, Achelia gracilis Verrill, 1900 , the determination of A. saaeayai is not trivial. However, the number of spines on coxae 1 of legs 1 and 2 (3 in A. saaeayai and 4 in A. gracilis ) turned out to be a good distinctive feature.

This species is distributed along the Atlantic coast from Georgia ( USA) to Brazil and Bahamas Is. In addition, in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, samples have been reported from West Africa, Cape Verde Is. and Madagascar ( Child 1979). In the Pacific, the species is known from Fiji (Müller 1990a), and French Polynesia ( Müller 1989, 1990b).