Cymodoce tribullis Harrison & Holdich 1984
Creators: name: Khalaji-Pirbalouty, Valiallah
name: Raupach, Michael J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Isopoda
Sphaeromatidae
Cymodoce
Cymodoce tribullis

description: Cymodoce tribullis Harrison & Holdich, 1984
(Figs. 1–5)
Cymodoce tribullis Harrison & Holdich, 1984: 304.— Kussakin & Malyutina, 1993: 1171 Cymodoce lirella Schotte & Kensley, 2005: 1248.
Cymodoce longistylis.— Pillai, 1965: 76 (not Cymodoce longistylis Miers, 1884). Cymodoce mammifera.— Pillai, 1965: 78 (not Cymodoce mammifera Haswell, 1881).
Material examined. ♂ (8.8 mm) paratype, from type locality, Magnetic Island, Queensland, 19 °10’S, 146 °50’E, 24 April 1976, coll. D. M. Holdich (QM W9643). 5 adults ♂, numerous ♀ and subadult ♂, Magnetic Island, Nelly Bay, Queensland, 19 °10’12.25”S, 146 °50’52.64”E, 9 March 2010, 1 m. depth, coll. N. L. Bruce & C. Buxton (MTQ W31864).
Diagnosis. Head and pereonites 1–2 smooth, lacking tubercles, pereonites 3–7 with two transverse rows of small tubercles. Pleon posterior margin with two extensions bearing two tufts of long setae on either side. Pleotelson with 2 large, apically bifid bosses, lacking small tubercles between 2 bosses; dorsolateral sides possess 2 prominent tubercles, one posterior to other; posterior half of the pleotelson with medial, large smooth hemispheric dome; posterior margin trilobed, medial lobe extending well beyond lateral lobes. Appendix masculina extending beyond endopod by one-third of length, tapering evenly to a narrowly rounded apex, distally bearing cuticular spines on most of surface. Uropod rami extending beyond pleotelsonic medial lobe apex.
Description of male (from type locality). Body about 2.2 times as long as greatest width (pereonite 6). Head and pereonites 1–2 dorsal surfaces smooth; pereonites 3–7 with two transverse rows of small, and increasingly more prominent tubercles. Pereonites 2–7 coxal plates with evident sutures, and bearing some long setae on distal surface (Fig. 1 A).
Pleon with a row of tubercles over two, long, straight, separate and parallel sutures at each side, dorsally bearing scattered uneven tubercles of various sizes; posterior margin with 2 extensions and 2 pronounced tufts of simple long setae on each side; posterolateral margins with a fringe of very long sub-marginal setae.
Pleotelson (Fig. 1 A, B; 5A–C) bearing scattered tubercles of various sizes over most of surface, with 2 large prominent apically bifid bosses; dorsally with tufts of long setae especially in the cleft and below of the bifid process, large bosses medial regions lacking small tubercles, lateral regions with 2 prominent tubercles, one posterior to the other, each bearing tuft of long simple setae; posterior region of pleotelson in midline with a hemispheric dome. Apex of pleotelson clearly trilobed; lateral lobes blunt; medial lobe extending well beyond the level of lateral lobes, bearing 2 apical conical tubercles and tuft of long setae, dorsally tuberculated.
Antennula (Fig. 1 C) peduncle article 1 bearing scattered weak tubercles, with 4 small sensory palmate submarginal setae on dorsal margin; articles 2 short with some small SPS on ventral and dorsal margins, article 3 with 3–4 long setae on distal margin; flagellum with 17 articles, articles 5–16 each bearing single aesthetasc.
Antenna (Fig. 1 D) peduncle articles 1–3 short, subequal in length, article 5 about 1.2 times as long as article 4; articles 2–5 superodistal margins with long simple setae; flagellum with 21 articles, extending to posterior margin of pereonite 2.
Epistome (Fig. 1 E) granulose, with triangular acute apex, lateral margins concave.
Left mandible (Fig. 2 C) incisor with 3 cusps, lacinia mobilis bluntly dentae, with 3 cusps, spine row of 6 serrate spines.
Maxillula (Fig. 2 A) lateral endite with long fine setae on mesial margin, outer margin bearing small stout setae, apical margin with 10 simple or serrate RS, 2 short RS and 1 small serrate submarginal seta; mesial endite with 4 long, robust, comb and 1–2 short simple setae.
Maxilla (Fig. 2 B) lateral and middle endites each with 10 curved pectinate RS; mesial endite with 2 rarely plumose, 2 long robust comb, 7–8 robust proximally plumose and distally biserrate, and some slender simple setae.
Maxilliped (Fig. 2 D) endite lateral margin sinuate, mesial margin with single coupling hook, distal margin with 4 blunt rarely plumose RS and 7 longer circumplumose RS, inner surface with 3 long circumplumose robust and transverse row of stout finely serrate setae; palp article 2 with single long seta on superodistal angle.
Pereopod 1 (Fig. 2 E) basis about 2.6 times as long as greatest width, ischium superior margin with 1 curve, acute RS on proximal corner and 1 long and 1 small RS on medial angle; merus superodistal angle with 4 biserrate RS, inferior margin with 5 biserrate RS and single long apically palmate seta; carpus inferior margin with 3 biserrate RS; propodus inferior margin with 5 biserrate RS set in amongst some acute scales; dactylus inferior margin with serrate cuticular scales.
Pereopod 2 (Fig. 2 F) basis about 2.6 times as long as greatest width, with 3 small SPS; ischium superior margin with 1 long RS on medial angle; merus superodistal angle with 3 RS, inferior margin with 4 biserrate RS and single long apically palmate seta; merus, carpus and propodus inferior margin fringed with short setae; carpus inferior margin with 6 biserrate RS, and long apically palmate seta, superodistal angle with 1 RS; propodus inferior margin with 4 biserrate RS, superodistal angle with 3 long simple seta and a single SPS; dactylu s inferior.
Pereopod 3 (Fig. 3 A) is similar to pereopod 2 as illustrated.
Pereopods 4 and 5 (Fig. 3 B, Fig. 3 C) similar as illustrated.
Pereopod 6 (Fig. 3 D) basis about 3 times as long as greatest width, inferodistal angle with 1 simple setae, superior margin with several simple and 2 SPS; ischium superior margin with 1 long and some small RS; merus superior distal margin with 4 long distally biserrate setae, inferior margin with 6 roust biserrate setae and a single long apically palmate seta; carpus subequal in length to merus, inferior margin with 7 biserrate RS and single long apically palmate seta, distal margin with 4 biserrate RS; propodus superodistal corner with 4 slender and single SPS, inferior margin with 4 biserrate RS; dactylus inferior margin with cuticular scales.
Pereopods 7 (Fig. 3 E) similar to pereopod 6, except in some details such as number of biserrate RS on distal margin of carpus.
Penial processes (Fig. 4 E) about 9 times as long as basal width, tapering to narrowly rounded apex; distal fourth covered with cuticular tiny spines, rest part covered with cuticular branched scales.
Pleopod 1 (Fig. 4 A) exopod and endopod with approximately 37 and 30 PMS; exopod proximally with single RS on lateral angle; endopod nearly triangular, medial margin bearing longitudinal fold fringed with fine setae; sympod mesial margin with 4 coupling hooks.
Pleopod 2 (Fig. 4 B) exopod and endopod shape as in pleopod 1, with 38 and 19–21 PMS; appendix masculina slender, arising basally, extending beyond endopod by about one-third of length, tapering evenly to a narrowly rounded apex, distally bearing cuticular tiny spines on most of surface, proximally with single cuticular spines on medial marginal; sympod with 3 distomesial coupling hooks, lateral margin with long plumose RS.
Pleopod 3 (Fig. 4 C) exopod and endopod with approximately 38 and 15 PMS; endopod distally truncate; exopod sub-elliptical, narrowing proximally, with transverse suture; sympod with 3 distomesial coupling hooks, lateral margin with fringe of thin setae and single long plumose setae on distolateral corner.
Pleopod 4 (Fig. 4 D) endopod narrower than exopod, with pronounced and curved apical lob, bearing single stout apical seta; exopod bearing 1 single apical plumose seta, lateral margin with 30 slender simple and numerous short setae (6 distally of and 24 under transverse suture); sympod with a plumose setae on distolateral corner.
Pleopod 5 (Fig. 4 E) exopod with 5 scale patches (3 distally of and 2 under transverse suture), lateral margin with 16 slender simple marginal setae (all under transverse suture); endopod distally broadly rounded or truncate, distolateral margin fringed with fine setae on 0.45 its length.
Uropodal rami subequal, extending just beyond pleotelsonic medial lobe apex; endopod distally oblique with distolateral conical acute tip, bearing scattered small tubercles over surface, distal and lateral margins fringed with long setae; exopod wider than endopod, lateral margin stout, straight and tuberculated, medial margin convex, with conical acute tip.
Subadult male. Cephalon, pereon and pleon lacking tubercles, pereon and pleon dorsal surface covered with scattered short setae. Pleon posterior margin with two tufts of setae on either side; penes with separate, short and broad rami; appendix masculina joined with endopod of pleopod 2.
Female. Apart from sexual character similar to sub-adult male (Fig. 1 C).
Remarks. Cymodoce tribullis Harrison & Holdich, 1984 being recognized by the presence of two large, apically bifid bosses on the pleotelson, flanked on either side by two prominent tubercles, one posterior to other. The detailed examination of type specimens of C. tribullis from Queensland and C. lirella Schotte & Kensley, 2005 from the Seychelles failed to reveal any clear differences. Interestingly, the published drawings revealed some differences between C. tribullis and C. lirella in the shape of the penial process, appendix masculina ornamentation, and setation of pleopods 4 and 5. However, the examination of both type specimens confirmed the similarity between C. tribullis and C. lirella. Here, the shape and ornamentation of the penial process, the appendix masculina, and the pleotelson ridges are identical in both species. However, SEM micrographs show some minor differences between C. tribullis and C. lirella in the pleotelson tuberculation. Cymodoce lirella has a pleotelson (see Fig. 6 A, B) with two prominent and some small tubercles on the anterodorsal surface (rather than some small separated tubercles) and also some small scattered tubercles (see Fig. 6 C, D) on medial surface of the prominent apically bifid bosses. However, these prominent tubercles arise from the joining of two small tubercles and also there is variation in the size of these tubercles in the different populations of C. tribullis (Fig. 5 B, F). Therefore, Cymodoce lirella Schotte & Kensley, 2005 is here regarded as a junior subjective synonym of C. tribullis.
The same similarities also exist between C. tribullis and C. madrasensis (Srinivasan, 1959) from India. The later species was redescribed by Loyola e Silva (1998) with material from Madras, India (USNM 102151, Fig. 28E). However, there is no available type material for this species, and the given original descriptions and drawings are of insufficient to confirm the identity of the species in relation to other similar congeneric Cymodoce species. This present work clearly reveald cryptic species within Cymodoce, and as the identity of C. madrasensis is unlikely to ever be resolved, we here regard this species as nomen dubium. Moreover, Cymodoce longistylis Miers, 1884 and C. mammifera Haswell, 1881 were reported from South India by Pillai (1965). According to Pillai’s drawings and descriptions of these species, both appear to be identical with C. tribullis. Pillai’s specimens differ from C. longistylis by having a less tuberculate pleotelson, medial lobe of pleotelsonic apex extending well beyond the level of lateral lobes, uropodal endopod with straight margins and extending only slightly beyond the pleotelsonic apex. Cymodoce mammifera, which Pillai (1965) recorded from the same locality is almost certainly a subadult male (i.e. with short penial process and unseparated appendix masculina to endopod).
Distribution. Eastern Australia (Harrison & Holdich, 1984), southeastern Vietnam (Kussakin & Malyutina, 1993), Singapore (Bruce and Wetzer collections, but not published yet; also Bruce in press), south India (Pillai, 1965), Seychelles (Schotte & Kensley, 2005). Distribution of all known species from the northern Indian Ocean and their present status provided in table 2.
Material examined. All material from Iran, northern Persian Gulf.
Holotype. ♂ (5.8 mm), Bushehr, Bahmani, 1.5 m depth, on algae, 9 July 2009, 28 °51’461”N, 56 °50’584”E, coll.V. Khalaji (ZMH –K–42594). Paratypes: 7 ♂ (5.5–5.7 mm), 4 sub-adult ♂ (4–4.5 mm), 30 ♀ (3.8–5 mm), same data as holotype (ZMH –K–42595); 3 ♂ (4.5, 5, 5.8 mm), 2 ♀ (5.5 mm), Gloestan-e-Saheli, sub tidal, 1.5 m depth, on green algae, 28 April 2010, 28 °14’198”N, 51 °16’455”E, coll. A. Samimi and V. Khalaji (ZUTC Iso. 1102); 5 sub-adult ♂ (3.5–5.0 mm), 2 ♀ (3.0, 5.0, 5.0 mm) Brikan, 22 November 2007, 28 °17’294”N, 51 °13’494”E, coll. V. Khalaji (ZUTC Iso. 1103); 2 ♀ (4.0, 5.5 mm), Zyarat, 4 December 2008, 27 °05’444”N, 53 °05’044”E, coll. V. Khalaji (ZUTC Iso. 1104); 5 sub-adult ♂, (3.5–4.2 mm), 9 ♀ (3–4.1 mm), Chahak, Genaveh, rocky shore, sandy flat with algae, 10 July 2009, 29 °40’113”N, 50 °23’355”E, coll.V. Khalaji (ZUTC Iso. 1105); 5 adult ♂ (5.9–6.2 mm), 3 sub-adult ♂ (4.5, 4.9, 5.0 mm), 3 ♀ (4.8, 4.9, 5.0 mm), Bushehr, Jofreh Mahini, 9 July 2009, 28 °58’022” N, 50 °49’100” E, coll.V. Khalaji (ZUTC Iso. 1106).
Diagnosis. Head and pereonites 1–3 smooth, lacking tubercles, pereonites 4–7 with two transverse rows of small tubercles. Pleotelson with two large prominent, apically bifid bosses; anterodorsal surface two irregular, longitudinal rows of various sizes of tubercles medially; dorsolateral sides with numerous of small tubercles; posterior half of the pleotelson with peripherally tuberculated hemispheric dome; posterior margin trilobed, medial lobe extending well beyond lateral lobes.
Description of male. Body 2.17 times as long as greatest width (pereonite 6). Head dorsal surfaces smooth, rostral process not visible in dorsal view. Pereonites 1–3 smooth, 4–5 with 2 transverse rows of non-continuous weak tubercles; pereonites 6–7 with 2 rows of continuous tubercles. Coxal plate 2–7 bearing some long setae below the suture line and distal part (Fig. 7 A, 11A).
Pleon: with a row of tubercles over two, long, straight, separate and parallel sutures at each side, dorsally bearing row of prominent tubercle and numerous scattered uneven tubercles of various sizes, with two pronounced tufts of simple long setae on each side; posterolateral margins with fringe of very long sub-marginal setae.
Pleotelson bearing scattered tubercles of various sizes over most of surface, with two large prominent apically bifid bosses, dorsally with tufts of long setae especially in cleft and below of bifid process, laterally with 2 tufts of long simple setae, posterior region of pleotelson in midline with hemispheric dome, medial margins of bifid bosses and peripheral margin of hemispheric dome bearing numerous small tubercles. Apex of pleotelson clearly trilobed; lateral lobes blunt; medial lobe extending well beyond the level of lateral lobes, bearing two apical conical tubercles and tuft of long setae, dorsally tuberculated (Figs. 7 A, 11A–D).
Antennula (Fig. 7 C) first peduncle article bearing scattered small setae and some SPS, articles 2 short with 4 small SPS on ventral and a single SPS on dorsal margin, article 3 slender, about 1.6 times as long as article 2; flagellum with 16 articles, article1 bearing 3–4 small SPS, articles 5–15 each bearing single aesthetascs and 2 simple setae.
Antenna (Fig. 7 D) peduncle articles 1 fringed with small setae dorsally, article 5 about 1.3 times as article 4; articles 2–5 superodistal margins with long simple setae; flagellum with 18 articles, extending to posterior margin of pereonite 4.
Epistome (Fig. 7 E) granulose, with triangular acute apex, anterolateral margin straight, lateral margins concave.
Left mandible (Fig. 8 C) incisor with 3 cusps, lacinia mobilis with 3 cusps, spine row of 6 serrate spines.
Maxillula (Fig. 8 A) lateral endite with long fine setae on mesial and lateral margins, outer, apical margin with 10 simple or serrate RS; mesial endite with 4 long, robust, comb and 1short simple setae.
Maxilla (Fig. 8 B) lateral and middle endites each with 10 curved pectinate RS; mesial endite with 2 rarely plumose, 2 long robust comb, 7–8 robust proximally plumose and distally biserrate, and some slender simple setae.
Maxilliped (Fig. 8 D) endite lateral margin sinuate, mesial margin with single coupling hook, distal margin with 4 blunt rarely plumose RS and 7 longer circumplumose RS; palp article1 with single simple seta on distomedial corner, article 2 with single long seta on superodistal angle.
Pereopod 1 (Fig. 8 E) basis about 2.4 times as long as greatest width, ischium superior margin with 1 curve, acute RS on proximal corner and 1 long and 1 small RS on medial angle; merus superodistal angle with 4 robust biserrate or simple setae, inferior margin with 5 biserrate RS and single long apically palmate seta; carpus inferior margin with 3 biserrate RS; propodus inferior margin with 5 biserrate RS set in amongst some acute scales and 1 submarginal biserrate seta; dactylus inferior margin with serrate cuticular scales, secondary unguis simple.
Pereopod 2 (Fig. 8 F) basis about 2.6 times as long as greatest width, with 3 small SPS; ischium superior margin with 2 RS on medial corner; merus superodistal angle with 3 RS, inferior margin with 4 biserrate RS and single long apically palmate seta; merus, carpus and propodus inferior margin fringed with short setae; carpus inferior margin with 6 biserrate RS, and long apically palmate seta, superodistal angle with 1 RS; propodus inferior margin with 4 biserrate RS, superodistal angle with 3 long simple seta and a single SPS.
Pereopod 3 (Fig. 9 A) is similar to pereopod 2. Pereopods 4 (Fig. 9 B) and 5 (Fig. 9 C) are similar as illustrated.
Pereopod 6 (Fig. 9 D) basis about 3 times as long as greatest width, inferodistal angle with 1 long simple setae, superior margin with several simple and 3 SPS; ischium superior margin with 1 long and some small RS; merus superodistal margin with 3 long setae, inferior margin with 4 roust biserrate setae and single long apically palmate seta; carpus subequal in length to merus, inferior margin with 6 biserrate RS and single long apically palmate seta, distal margin with 2 biserrate RS; propodus superodistal corner with 5 slender and single SPS, inferior margin with 4 biserrate RS; dactylus inferior margin with cuticular scales. Articles carpus, propodus and dactylus of pereopods 7 (Fig. 9 E) and 6 are similar except in some details such as number of biserrate RS on distal margin of carpus.
Penial processes about 7 times as long as basal width, tapering to narrowly rounded apex; medial margin and apical parts covered with small cuticular tiny spines, medial surface covered with cuticular scales (Fig. 10 F).
Pleopod 1 (Fig. 10 A) exopod and endopod with 39 and 29 PMS; exopod proximally with single biserrate RS on lateral angle; endopod nearly triangular, medial margin bearing longitudinal fold fringed with fine setae; sympod mesial margin with 4 coupling hooks.
Pleopod 2 (Fig. 10 B) exopod and endopod shape as for pleopod 1, with approximately 39 and 18 PMS; appendix masculina slender, arising basally, extending beyond endopod (by about 0.33 its length), tapering evenly to a narrowly rounded apex, distally bearing cuticular branched scales on most of surface, proximally with single cuticular scales on medial margin; sympod with 3 distomesial coupling hooks, lateral margin with long plumose RS.
Pleopod 3 (Fig. 10 C) exopod and endopod with approximately 41 and 15 PMS; endopod distally truncate; exopod sub-elliptical, narrowing proximally, with transverse suture; sympod with 3 distomesial coupling hooks, lateral margin with fringe of thin setae and single long plumose setae on distolateral corner.
Pleopod 4 (Fig. 10 D) endopod with pronounced and curved apical lob, bearing 1 stout apical seta; exopod bearing 1 single apical plumose seta, lateral margin with approximately 34 slender simple setae and numerous short setae (6–8 distally of and 26–28 under transverse suture); sympod with plumose setae on distolateral corner.
Pleopod 5 (Fig. 10 E) exopod with 5 scale patches (3 distally of and 2 under transverse suture), lateral margin with 18 slender simple marginal setae (1 distally of and 17 under transverse suture); endopod distolateral margin fringed with fine setae on 0.52 its length.
Uropodal rami (Figs 7 A, 11A) subequal, extending just beyond pleotelsonic medial lobe apex; endopod distally oblique with distolateral conical acute tip, bearing scattered small tubercles on dorsal surface, with prominent proximal tubercle, distal and lateral margins fringed with long setae; exopod wider than endopod, lateral margin stout, straight and tuberculated, medial margin convex, tapering distally to conical acute tip, distal and lateral margins and ventral surface bearing long setae.
Subadult male. Cephalon, pereon and pleon lacking tubercles, dorsal surface covered with scattered short setae. Pleon posterior margin with two tufts of setae on either side, posterolateral margins with transverse row of long sub-marginal setae. Pleotelson bearing weak, sparsely setose boss mid-dorsally on either side, with trifid apex, medial lobe broad and extending well beyond level of small lateral lobes. Uropodal rami smooth with sparsely setose; endopod distally oblique; exopod lanceolate, with acute tip and serrated medial margin; penes with separate, short and broad rami; Appendix masculina joined with endopod of pleopod 2, bearing single plumose seta on rounded apex (Fig. 12 A, B).
Female. Apart from sexual character similar to sub-adult male, medial lobe of pleotelsonic apex not extended as sub-adult male, whereas in ventral surface apical depression is longer than sub-adults male (Fig. 7 F; 12C, D).
Remarks. Cymodoce waegelei sp. nov. can be recognized by a pleotelson with two widely separated bifid bosses, dorsolateral sides with small tubercles, and posterior margin with well extending narrow medial lobe beyond lateral lobes. Cymodoce waegelei is most similar to C. tribullis Harrison & Holdich, 1984, and differs from it by lacking two continuous rows of tubercles on the pereonites 3 and 4. Furthermore, the pleotelson has numerous scattered tubercles between two large prominent apically bifid bosses, and small lateral tubercles rather than two prominent tubercles in C. tribullis. Both bifid bosses are more widely separated, and the medial lobe of the pleotelson is more extended and narrower than in C. tribullis. In the new species the antenna extends to posterior margin of the pereonite 4, whereas in C. tribullis it extends to posterior margin of pereonite 2. Moreover, the shape of the penial process differs in cuticular scales pattern, and the length ratio to basal width (in the new species is about 7 times as long as basal width but in C. tribullis is about 9). Beside this, there are differences between C. tribullis and C. waegelei sp. nov. in the shape and marginal setation of pleopod 5 (in C. waegelei sp. nov. exopod has 1 slender simple marginal setae upper the transverse suture whereas in C. tribullis all setae are under the transverse suture and endopod distolateral margin fringed with fine setae on 0.52 of length rather than 0.45 mm of length). Finally, the maximum size of C. waegelei sp. nov (5.8 mm) is less than C. tribullis (7.9 mm).
Etymology. This species is named for Prof. Dr. J. Wolfgang Wägele (Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany) to acknowledge many years of contributions to the taxonomy and phylogeny of Isopoda.
description: Published as part of Khalaji-Pirbalouty, Valiallah & Raupach, Michael J., 2014, A new species of Cymodoce Leach, 1814 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Sphaeromatidae) based on morphological and molecular data, with a key to the Northern Indian Ocean species, pp. 230-254 in Zootaxa 3826 (1) on pages 233-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3826.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/251189