Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5318 No. 1: 18 Jul. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-07-18
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.1.1
Page range: 1-44
Abstract views: 454
PDF downloaded: 31

New and rare deep-sea majoid crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura) from Papua New Guinea

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum; National University of Singapore; 2 Conservatory Drive; Singapore 117377
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle; Institut de Systématique; Évolution; Biodiversité; ISYEB - UMR 7205 – CNRS; MNHN; UPMC; EPHE; Département Systématique et Evolution; 57 rue Cuvier; CP26; F-75005; Paris; France
Tropical Marine Science Institute; National University of Singapore; 18 Kent Ridge Road; Singapore 119227; Republic of Singapore
Crustacea Spider crabs Inachidae Majidae Oregoniidae Epialtidae new genus new species western Pacific deep-sea

Abstract

Additional spider crab (superfamily Majoidea) material from four major French-led expeditions to the Papua New Guinea region were examined in this study. One new genus and four new species from the families Inachidae and Oregoniidae are described. Dorhynchus profundus n. sp. is close to D. rostratus (Sakai, 1932) but can easily be separated by the shape of the ambulatory dactylus and the proportionately lower protogastric spines. Achaeus pholcus n. sp. is unusual in that it occurs in deeper waters (beyond 500 m), and can be separated from A. lacertosus Stimpson, 1857, A. villosus Rathbun, 1916, and A. brevidactylus Sakai, 1938, by its distinctive carapace shape, structure of the frontal margin, regions of the carapace, antennular fossa, ambulatory dactylus, male pleon, and proportions of the chela. Parapleisticantha aie n. sp. is closest to P. japonica Yokoya, 1933, but differs in its proportionately longer carapace, more elongated basal antennal article, longer third maxilliped ischium and the relatively less curved male first gonopod with the distal part differently structured. A new genus (Orbicantha n. gen.) with one new species (Orbicantha sacrebleu n. gen., n. sp.) is also described; it is allied to Pleistacantha Miers, 1879, Parapleisticantha Yokoya 1933, and Pleisticanthoides Yokoya, 1933, but is distinctive in its subcircular carapace, shorter regions, short pseudorostral spines, possession of spines on the gastric, cardiac and branchial regions, some of which have rounded tips, a short ocular peduncle, a very short third antennal article, a quadrate epistome, and the more reduced P4 and P5. New records from the family Epialtidae are also reported: Griffinia gilloloensis (Rathbun, 1916), Hyastenus borradailei (Rathbun, 1907), and Oxypleurodon luzonicum (Rathbun, 1916). The taxonomy of Grypachaeus tenuicollis Takeda, 1978 (Oregoniidae) and Griffinia lappacea (Rathbun, 1918) (Epialtidae) is also discussed.

 

References

  1. Ahyong, S.T., Chen, H. & Ng, P.K.L. (2005) Pleistacantha stilipes, a new species of spider crab from the South China Sea (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae). Zootaxa, 822 (1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.822.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.822.1.1
  2. Ahyong, S.T. & Lee, T. (2006) Two new species of Pleistacantha Miers, 1879 from the Indo-West Pacific region (Crustacea, Decapoda, Majidae). Zootaxa, 1378 (1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1378.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1378.1.1
  3. Ahyong, S.T., Mitra, S. & Ng, P.K.L. (2019) Redescription of Echinoplax rubida Alcock, 1895, a valid species of Pleistacantha from the Andaman Sea (Crustacea: Brachyura: Oregoniidae). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 67, 391–395.
  4. Ahyong, S.T. & Ng, P.K.L. (2007) Pleistacantha ori, a new species of deep-water spider crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae) from the western Indian Ocean. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 16, 67–74.
  5. Alcock, A. (1895) Materials for a carcinological fauna of India. No. 1. The Brachyura Oxyrhyncha. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 64 (2), 157–291, pls. 3–5. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.16033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.16033
  6. Alcock, A. & Anderson, A.R.S. (1894) Natural History Notes from H.M. Indian Marine Survey Steamer ‘Investigator,’ Commander C. F. Oldham, R.N., commanding. Series II, No. 17. List of the Shore and Shallow-water Brachyura collected during the Season 1893–1894. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 63(2—Natural Science), 197–209.
  7. Alcock, A. & Anderson, A.R.S. (1896) Illustrations of the Zoology of the Royal Indian Marine Surveying Steamer Investigator, under the command of Commander C.F. Oldham, R.N. Crustacea. Part IV. Published under the Authority of Captain J. Hert, R.N., C.I.E., Director of the Royal Indian Marine. Printed and sold by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, pls. XVI–XXVII.
  8. Baker, W.H. (1906) Notes on South Australian decapod Crustacea. Part IV. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 30, 104–117, pls. 1–3.
  9. Barnard, K.H. (1950) Descriptive Catalogue of South African Decapod Crustacea (Crabs and Shrimps). Annals of the South African Museum, 38, 1–837, figs. 1–154.
  10. Borradaile, L.A. (1900) On some Crustaceans from the South Pacific. Part IV. The Crabs. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1900 (3), 568–596, pls. 40–42.
  11. Griffin, D.J.G. (1970) The Australian majid spider crabs of the genus Achaeus (Crustacea, Brachyura). Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 53 (4), 97–119, figs. 1–15.
  12. Griffin, D.J.G. (1974) Spider crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae) from the International Indian Ocean Expedition 1963–64. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 182, i–iv+1–35. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.182
  13. Griffin, D.J.G. (1976) Spider crabs of the family Majidae (Crustacea: Brachyura) from the Philippine Islands. Journal of Natural History, 10 (2), 179–222, figs. 1–11, tabs. 1 + 2. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937600770131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937600770131
  14. Griffin, D.J.G. & Tranter, H.A. (1986) The Decapoda Brachyura of the Siboga Expedition. Part VIII. Majidae. Siboga-Expeditie Monograph, 39 (c4), 1–335.
  15. Guinot, D. & Richer de Forges, B. (1982) Nouvelles récoltes des genres Cyrtomaia Miers et Pleistacantha Miers (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, Series 4, 3, Section A (4), 1087–1125. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.304626 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/p.304626
  16. Guinot, D. & Richer de Forges, B. (1986) Crustacés Décapodes: Majidae (genres Platymaia, Cyrtomaia, Pleistacantha, Sphenocarcinus et Naxioides). In: Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM I et II – Philippines (1976, 1980). Tome 2. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, A (Zoologie), 133, 83–179, pls. 1–11.
  17. Haswell, W.A. (1880) On the Australian Brachyura Oxyrhyncha. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 4 (4), 431–458, pls. 25–27. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.22869 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.22869
  18. Lee, B.Y., Richer de Forges, B. & Ng, P.K.L. (2017) Deep-sea spider crabs of the families Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838, and Inachidae MacLeay, 1838, from the South China Sea, with descriptions of two new species (Decapoda, Brachyura, Majoidea). European Journal of Taxonomy, 358, 1–37. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.358 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.358
  19. Lee, B.Y., Richer de Forges, B. & Ng, P.K.L. (2019) Deep-sea spider crabs of the family Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838, from Papua New Guinea, with a redefinition of Tunepugettia Ng, Komai & Sato, 2017, and description of two new genera (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea). Zootaxa, 4619 (1), 1–44. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.1
  20. MacLeay, W.S. (1838) On the Brachyurous Decapod Crustacea. Brought from the Cape by Dr. Smith. In: Smith, A., Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa; consisting chiefly of figures and descriptions of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition into the interior of South Africa, in the years 1834, 1835, and 1836; fitted out by ‘The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa:’ together with a summary of African Zoology, and an inquiry into the geographical ranges of species in that quarter of the globe. Smith, Elder and Co., London, pp. 53–71, pls. 2 + 3.
  21. Macpherson, E. (1983) Crustáceos Decápodos capturados en las costas de Namibia. Resultados Expediciones Cientificas Buque oceanogr. Cornide Saavedra, 11 (Supplement Investigación Pesquera), 3–79.
  22. Manning, R.B. & Holthuis, L.B. (1981) West African brachyuran crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 306, i–xii, 1–379, figs. 1–88, table 1. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.306 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.306
  23. Miers, E.J. (1879) On a collection of Crustacea made by Capt. H. C. St. John, R. N., in the Corean and Japanese Seas. Part I. Podophthalmia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1879, 18–61, pls. 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1879.tb02624.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1879.tb02624.x
  24. Miers, E.J. (1885) The Brachyura. In: Tizard, T.H., Moseley, H.N., Buchanan, J.Y. & Murray, J. (Eds.), Narrative of the cruise of H.M.S. Challenger with a general account of the scientific results of the expedition. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876 under the command of Captain George S. Nares, R.N., F.R.S. and the late Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, R.N. prepared under the Superintendence of the late Sir C. Wyville Thomson, Knt., F.R.S. &c. Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh Director of the civilian scientific staff on board and now of John Murray, one of the naturalists of the Expedition. Narrative. 1 (2). Published by Order of Her Majesty’s Government, London, Edinburgh and Her Majesty Stationery Office, Dublin, pp. 585–592.
  25. Miers, E.J. (1886) Report on the Brachyura collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876. In: Wyville Thomson, C. & Murray, J. (Eds.), Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876 under the command of Captain George S. Nares, R.N., F.R.S. and the late Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, R.N. prepared under the Superintendence of the late Sir C. Wyville Thomson, Knt., F.R.S. &c. Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh Director of the civilian scientific staff on board and now of John Murray, LL.D., Ph.D., &c. one of the naturalists of the Expedition, Zoology. 17 (2). Published by Order of Her Majesty’s Government, London, Edinburgh and Her Majesty Stationary Office, Dublin, pp. l (= 50) + 1–362, pls. 1–29.
  26. Milne-Edwards, A. (1865) Description de quelques Crustacés nouveaux appartenant à la tribu des Maiens. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, Série 4, 5, 133–147, pls. 3–5.
  27. Milne-Edwards, A. (1880a) Études préliminaires sur les Crustacés, 1ere partie. In: Reports on the results of dredging under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Sea, 1877, ’78, ‘79, by the U.S. Coast Survey Steamer “Blake,” Lieut.-Commander C. D. Sigsbee, U.S.N., and Commander J. R. Bartlett, U.S.N., commanding, VIII. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, 8, pp. 1–68, pls. 1, 2.
  28. Milne-Edwards, A. (1880b) Études sur les xiphosures et les crustacés podophthalmaires. In: Mission scientifique au Mexique et dans l’Amérique centrale. Recherches Zoologique pour servir à l’histoire de la faune de l’Amérique centrale et du Mexique, publiées sous la direction de M. H. Milne Edwards, membre de l’Institut. Cinquième partie. Livraison 7, 265–312, pls. 31A + 44 + 49–54.
  29. Ng, P.K.L. & Anker, A. (2014) Pteromaja maklayi gen. and sp. nov., a remarkable new spider crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Epialtidae) from Papua New Guinea. Marine Biology Research, 10 (8), 816–823. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2013.853127 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2013.853127
  30. Ng, P.K.L., Guinot, D. & Davie, P.J.F. (2008) Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant brachyuran crabs of the world. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 17, 1–286.
  31. Ng, P.K.L., Ravinesh, R. & Ravichandran, S. (2017) A new large oregoniid spider crab of the genus Pleistacantha Miers, 1879, from the Bay of Bengal, India (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea). Zookeys, 716, 127–146. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.716.21349 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.716.21349
  32. Ng, P.K.L. & Richer de Forges, B. (2012) Pleisticanthoides Yokoya, 1933, a valid genus of deep-sea inachid spider crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea), with descriptions of two new species from the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Zootaxa, 3551 (1), 65–81. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3551.1.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3551.1.5
  33. Ng, P.K.L. & Richer de Forges, B. (2013) Samadinia longispina, a new genus and species of deep-sea spider crab from the western Pacific, and a new species of Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, from Papua New Guinea (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majoidea: Epialtidae). Zootaxa, 3718 (4), 357–366. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3718.4.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3718.4.5
  34. Ng, P.K.L. & Richer de Forges, B. (2015) Revision of the spider crab genus Maja Lamarck, 1801 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majoidea: Majidae), with descriptions of seven new genera and 17 new species from the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 63, 110–225.
  35. Ng, P.K.L. & Richer de Forges, B. (2021) A new species of spider crab of the genus Sakaija (Brachyura: Majidae) from New Caledonia. Crustacean Research, 50, 95–101. https://doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.50.0_95 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.50.0_95
  36. Pante, E., Corbari, L., Thubaut, J., Chan, T.-Y., Mana, R., Boisselier, M.-C., Bouchet, P. & Samadi, S. (2012) Exploration of the deep-sea fauna of Papua New Guinea. Oceanography, 25 (3), 214–225. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2012.65 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2012.65
  37. Rathbun, M.J. (1916) New species of crabs of the families Inachidae and Parthenopidae. [Scientific results of the Philippine Cruise of the Fisheries Steamer “Albatross,” 1907–1910.—No. 34]. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 50 (2135), 527–559.
  38. Rathbun, M.J. (1918) Report on the spider crabs obtained by the F.I.S. “Endeavour” on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments Carried On by the F.I.S. “Endeavour” 1909–14, 5 (1), 3–29, figs. 1–3, pls. 1–15. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.2135.527 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.2135.527
  39. Rathbun, M.J. (1932) Preliminary descriptions of new species of Japanese crabs. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 45, 29–38.
  40. Richer de Forges, B. (1994) A new genus of deep-sea majid crab: Griffinia gen. nov. (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura). The Beagle, Records of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, 11, 65–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/p.264027
  41. Richer de Forges, B. & Corbari, L. (2012) A new species of Oxypleurodon Miers, 1886 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea) from the Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa, 3320 (1), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3320.1.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3320.1.4
  42. Richer de Forges, B. & Ng, P.K.L. (2009) New genera, new species and new records of Indo-West Pacific spider crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Epialtidae: Majoidea). Zootaxa, 2025, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2025.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2025.1.1
  43. Richer de Forges, B. & Ng, P.K.L. (2012) Griffinia takedai, a new species of deep sea majoid crab (Decapoda, Brachyura, Epialtidae) from the Philippines. In: Komatsu, H., Okuno, J. & Fukuoka, K. (Eds.), Studies on Eumalacostraca: a homage to Takeda Masatsune. Crustaceana Monographs, 17, 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004202894_023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004202894_023
  44. Richer de Forges, B., Ng, P.K.L. & Ahyong, S.T. (2013) Parapleisticantha Yokoya, 1933, a valid genus of deep-sea inachid spider crab from Japan and the Philippines (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea), with the description of a new species. Zootaxa, 3635 (1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3635.1.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3635.1.2
  45. Sakai, T. (1932) Notes on Some Rare Materials of Japanese Oxyrhyncha. Science Reports of the Tokyo Bunrika Daigaku, Section B, 1 (4), 41–59, figs. 1–8, pls. 2 & 3.
  46. Sakai, T. (1938) s.n. In: Studies on the Crabs of Japan. III. Brachygnatha, Oxyrhyncha. Yokendo, Tokyo, pp. 193–364, figs. 1–55, pls. 20–41, tab. I.
  47. Sakai, T. (1965) The Crabs of the Sagami Bay collected by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Maruzen Co., Tokyo, xvi + 206 pp. (in English), 27 figs, 100 pls., 92 pp. (in Japanese), 26 pp. (Bibliography and Index in English), pp. 27–32 (Index in Japanese), 1 map.
  48. Sakai, T. (1976) Crabs of Japan and the Adjacent Seas. Vols. 1–3. Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo, pp. xxix + 773 pp. (English Txt), 461 pp. (Japanese Txt), 16 pp., 251 pls. (Pls. Vol.)
  49. Sakai, T. (1986) Rare crabs and their genus in Japan. Research on Crustacea, 15, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.18353/rcustacea.15.0_1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18353/rcustacea.15.0_1
  50. Samouelle, G. (1819) The Entomologist’s Useful Compendium; or an introduction to the knowledge of British Insects, comprising the best means of obtaining and preserving them, and a description of the apparatus generally used; together with the genera of Linné, and modern methods of arranging the Classes Crustacea, Myriapoda, spiders, mites and insects, from the affinities and structure, according to the views of Dr. Leach. Also an explanation of the terms used in entomology; a calendar of the times of appearance and usual situations of near 3,000 species of British Insects; with instructions for collecting and fitting up objects for the microscope. Thomas Boys, London, 496 pp., 12 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.120094 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.120094
  51. Stimpson, W. (1857) Prodromus descriptionis animalium evertebratorum in expeditione ad Oceanum Pacificum Septentrionalem missa, C. Ringgold et Johanne Rodgers ducibus, observatorum et descriptorum. Pars III. Crustacea Maioidea. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 9, 216–221 (23–28). https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.51447 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.51447
  52. Stimpson, W. (1907) Report on the Crustacea (Brachyura and Anomura) collected by the North Pacific Exploring Expedition 1853–1856. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Part of 49 (1717), 1–240, 26 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.51448 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.51448
  53. Suzuki, K. & Kurata, Y. (1967) On the carcinological Fauna of the Izu-Ohshima and its adjacent Island. Researches on Crustacea, 3, 86–104, txt-figs. 1 + 2, pls. 8 + 9. https://doi.org/10.18353/rcustacea.3.0_86 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18353/rcustacea.3.0_86
  54. Takeda, M. (1978) A new spider crab from off Iriomote Island, the Ryukyu Islands. Bulletin of the National Science Museum, Tokyo, Series A (Zoology), 4 (2), 117–121, figs. 1–11.
  55. Takeda, M., Ahyong, S.T., Ohtsuchi, N. & Komatsu, H. (2022) Crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda) from the Seas of East and Southeast Asia collected by the RV Hakuhô Maru (KH-72-1 Cruise) 3. Sahul Shelf. Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural Science, Series A, 48 (2), 35–83.
  56. Takeda, M. & Miyake, S. (1969) Crabs from the East China Sea. III Brachygnatha Oxyrhyncha. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 15 (4), 469–525. https://doi.org/10.5109/22797 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5109/22797
  57. Ward, M. (1941) New Brachyura from the Gulf of Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands. American Museum Novitates, 1104, 1–15, figs. 1–30.
  58. Wyville Thomson, C. (1873) The Depths of the Sea. An account of the general results of the dredging cruises of H.M.SS. ‘Porcupine’ and ‘Lightning’ during the summers of 1868, 1869, and 1870, under the scientific direction of Dr. Carpenter, F.R.S., J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., and Dr Wyville Thomson, F.R.S. 1st Edition. Macmillan and Co., London, xxi + 527 pp., 84 figs., 8 pls. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.16330 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.16330
  59. Yokoya, Y. (1933) On the distribution of Decapod Crustaceans inhabiting the continental shelf around Japan, chiefly based upon the materials collected by the S.S. Sôyô-Maru, during the year 1923–1930. Journal of the College of Agriculture, Imperial University of Tokyo, 12 (1), 1–226.