Neolithodes flindersi Ahyong, 2010, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Ahyong, Shane T.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Decapoda
Lithodidae
Neolithodes
Neolithodes flindersi

description: Neolithodes flindersi sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–3)
Neolithodes brodiei. — Dawson & Yaldwyn, 1985: 70.— Davie, 2002: 73 [Tasmania and Victoria].— Poore, 2004: 268, fig. 75. [Not N. brodiei Dawson & Yaldwyn, 1970].
Type material. HOLOTYPE: NMNZ Cr. 011763, male (cl. 183.3 mm, pcl. 126.1 mm, cw. 115.8 mm), NW Tasmania, about 900 m, otter trawl, FV Margaret Philippa, coll. W. Nicholls, 1983. PARATYPES: NMNZ Cr. 011764, female (pcl. 117.0 mm, cw. 107.3 mm), NW Tasmania, about 900 m, otter trawl, FV Margaret Philippa, coll. W. Nicholls, 1983; TM G2973, 1 male (cl. 52.4 mm, pcl. 40.3 mm, cw. 35.6 mm), 1 female (pcl. 56.1 mm, cw. 48.4 mm), off W coast of Tasmania, 40°45’S, 143°31’E, 950 m, FRV Challenger, coll. M. Wilson, 16 Dec 1981; TM G2975, 1 female (pcl. 55.8 mm, cw. 49.9 mm), off W coast of Tasmania, 40°45’S, 143°30’E, 860–1060 m, FRV Challenger, coll. M. Wilson, 9 Jan 1982; TM G3480, 1 male (cl. 41.1 mm, pcl. 27.6 mm, cw. 22.7 mm), E coast of Tasmania, 41°27’S, 148°40’E, FRV Soela, SO 4/86/27, coll. P. Last, 13 Jul 1986; NMV J12942, 1 female (pcl. 101.0 mm, cw. 91.5 mm), off NW Tasmania, 43°45’S, 143°40’E to 41°12’S, 143°55’E, 500–650 fm [915–1190 m], Derwent Venture, coll. G. Switzer, 4–8 May 1986.
Other material examined. New South Wales: AM P35596, 1 female (cl. ~ 76 mm, badly damaged), E of Broken Bay, 33°31–28’S, 152°12–14’E, 1079– 951 m, K 83-15-03, coll. K. Graham, 3 Nov 1983; AM P35604, 1 male (cl. 161.6 mm, pcl. 135.5 mm, cw. 132.9 mm), E of Brush Island, 35°38’S, 150°44’E, 887 m, K83-11- 0 3, coll. K. Graham, 8 Sep 1983; AM, 1 male (cl. 124.1 mm, pcl. 105.8 mm, cw. 93.0 mm), off Bermagui, 36°10.8–15.0’S, 150°24.4–22.4’E, 457.5–503.3 m, FV Shelley H, coll. K. Graham, 1 Sep 1999; AM P35598, 1 male (pcl. 149.2 mm, cw. 149.2 mm), E of Gabo Island, 37°37’S, 150°21’E, 960 m, K 84-04-04, coll. K. Graham, 5 Apr 1984; AM P35603, 1 male (pcl. 112.7 mm, cw. 109.5 mm), E of Brush Island, 35°31–28’S, 150°50–53’E, 942–978 m, K 83-11-04, coll. K. Graham, 8 Sep 1983; AM P35606, 1 male (cl. 124.0 mm, pcl. 110.3 mm, cw. 101.1 mm), E of Brush Island, 35°31’S, 150°50’E, 978 m, on Chrysogorgia orientalis Versluys, 1902 (Cnidaria: Chrysogorgiidae), K 83-11-04, coll. K. Graham, 8 Sep 1983; AM P52067, 1 female (cl. 146.9 mm, pcl. 126.2 mm, cw. 112.5 mm), E of Gabo Island, 37°42.1–39.4’S, 150°16.6–17.6’E, 604–617 m, K 97-01-02, coll. K. Graham, 16 Apr 1997.
Victoria: AM P35592, 1 female (pcl. 38.6 mm, cw. 32.4 mm), E of Gabo Island, 37°43–41’S, 150°20’E, 960–978 m, K 83-12-01, coll. K. Graham, 26 Sep 1983; SAM TC 17447, 1 male (cl. 86.3 mm, pcl. 75.3 mm, cw. 68.8 mm), 65 nautical miles SE of Portland, 39°21.55–20.66’S, 142°40.54–39.75’E, demersal trawl, RV Soela, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 4 Mar 1989.
South Australia: SAM TC15375, 1 female (cl. 110.0 mm, pcl. 96.2 mm, cw. 89.0 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SW of Cape Adieu, 33°58’S, 131°22’E, 1000 m, trawled, FV Saxon Progress, coll. D. Wheenan, Nov 1989; SAM, 1 juvenile male (cl. 31.9 mm, pcl. 21.6 mm, cw. 18.4 mm), 31 nautical miles SW of Cape Martin lighthouse, Beachport, 37°48.61’S, 139°79.74’E, 933–1098 m, FV Silent Victory, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes et al., 16 Dec 1987; SAM, 1 male (pcl. 83.9 mm, cw. 78.4 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSE of Eucla, 33°39’S, 129°50’E, 984–1015 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 12 Dec 1989; SAM TC17445, 1 female (cl. 110.6 mm, pcl. 99.23 mm, cw. 91.3 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 135 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 34°13’S, 131°30’E, 1122–1330 m, from black coral ‘A’, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 19 Dec 1989; TM G2977, 1 male (cl. 75.4 mm, pcl. 55.0 mm, cw. 48.8 mm), 20 miles SW of Port MacDonnell, 38°19–23’S, 140°20–32’E, 800–1000 m, FV Tuna Endeavour, coll. R. M. Green, 5 Aug 1983; SAM, 1 female (pcl. 97.3 mm, cw. 96.1 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 33°57’S, 131°20’E, 1004–1030 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 30 Nov 1989; SAM, 1 male (cl. 105.0 mm, pcl. 92.8 mm, cw. 82.0 mm), 1 female (cl. 81.0 mm, pcl. 67.1 mm, cw. 57.5 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 34°01’S, 131°18’E, 994–1065 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 14 Dec 1989; SAM, 1 male (pcl. 108.6 mm, cw. 96.2 mm), 1 female (cl. 93.0 mm, pcl. 82.3 mm, cw. 74.1 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 33°59’S, 131°27’E, 1020 m, FV Longva III, stn 136, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 3 Dec 1989; SAM, 1 female (cl. 105.2 mm, pcl. 94.1 mm, cw. 87.4 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 33°57’S, 131°19’E, 1020–1055 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 22 Nov 1989; SAM, 1 male (cl. 114.7 mm, pcl. 99.4 mm, cw. 92.3 mm), 32–35 miles off Beachport, 1333 m, trawl, FV Silent Venture, coll. W. Rumball, 27–29 Nov 1987; SAM, 1 male (cl. 144.9 mm, pcl. 128.8 mm, cw. 125.9 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 33°57’S, 131°20’E, 954–1016 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 30 Nov 1989; SAM, 1 male (pcl. 154.1 mm, cw. 151.5 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 120 nautical miles SSW of Cape Adieu, 33°57’S, 131°22’E, 1012–1033 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett-Holmes, 30 Nov 1989; SAM, 1 ovigerous female (cl. 165.3 mm, pcl. 151.1 mm, cw. 143.8 mm), Great Australian Bight, approx. 95 nautical miles W of Cape Wiles, 34°57’S, 133°20’E, 850–970 m, FV Longva III, coll. K. Gowlett- Holmes, 11 Nov 1989.
Description of adults. Carapace: Pyriform, 1.01–1.15 times longer than wide; dorsal surface armed with scattered major spines amongst dense, uniform covering of small secondary spinules. Gastric region bearing 6 large spines forming transverse hexagon; with 2 near transverse rows of 3 smaller spines, first across centre of hexagon and second slightly anterior to hexagon. Hepatic spine anterolaterally directed; margin between outer orbital spine and hepatic spine with 2 or 3 larger spines in additional to small secondary spines. Branchial regions with 8–10 larger dorsal spines in addition to scattered smaller secondary spines; margins with 13–15 major spines in addition to numerous minute spines. Cardiac region with 4 equal spines of similar size to gastric spines and 1 or 2 smaller spines near intestinal region. Intestinal region with 2 upright spines in transverse row and 2 or 3 smaller posteriorly directed spines. Pterygostomian region spinose or tuberculate, with small, anterior, submarginal spine.
Rostrum and orbit: Rostrum 0.09–0.19 pcl; median spine inclined dorsally, with pair of divergent dorsal spines and smaller pair of basal spines; ventral proximal surface with cluster of spinules. Posterior orbital margin concave in lateral view, occasionally with 2–4 spinules on lower margin; outer orbital spine slender, not reaching cornea (when eyes directed forwards). Anterolateral spine as long as or shorter than outer orbital spine.
Ocular peduncle: longer than cornea; with scattered dorsal granules or spinules.
Antennule: peduncle unarmed, reaching anteriorly beyond antennal peduncle by less than half distal antennular peduncle segment.
Antenna: basal antennal segment with small anterolateral spine; outer margin of second segment with or without cluster of small spinules basally and long slender spine that reaches to end of fourth segment; third segment with 1 or 2 sharp to angular inner distal teeth; scaphocerite minute, often with bifid or trifid apex, shorter than fourth segment; fourth segment with mesial and lateral distal spinule and occasionally 1 or 2 other minute spinules, about half as long as fifth segment; fifth with scattered spinules or granules.
Abdomen: Ornamentation similar in both sexes. Second abdominal somite densely spinose, with about 10 long spines and numerous smaller spines on median plate; submedian and lateral plates densely spinose, spines largest laterally; surface and margins of remaining somites and telson multispinose.
Chelipeds (pereopod 1): Dimorphic but spination similar. Entire surface of both chelipeds, except for distal half or two-thirds of fingers, covered with numerous minute secondary spines in addition to major spines. Coxa ventral surface with blunt tubercles and tufts of setae; ischiobasis with 4 or 5 stout ventral spines. Merus inner margin with stout subdistal spine; ventral margin with two rows of stout spines, mesial row with 2 spines, lateral row with 3 or 4 spines; dorsal and lateral surface spinose, spines largest distally. Carpus with prominent spines on dorsal and lateral surfaces, with 3 or 4 irregular rows of 3–5 spines. Palm of both chelipeds in both sexes with similar ornamentation; all surfaces spinose, although less pronounced mesially and ventrally; dorsal margin with 2 irregular rows of about 3 or 4 conical spines; midlateral surface with 2 rows of 4 or 5 spines of similar size to dorsal row; ventral surface irregularly spinose.
Major cheliped 1.27–1.35 pcl (male), 1.13–1.14 (female); upper palm length 1.06–1.14 times height (male), 1.14–1.16 (female); occlusal margins of fingers corneous for distal third to half, proximally with 3 calcareous nodules; dactylus dorsal margin broadly convex, with rows of tufts of golden setae and proximal cluster of 4–7 small spines, 1.23–1.33 times longer than dorsal margin of palm (male), 1.26–1.43 (female).
Minor cheliped 1.24–1.32 pcl (male), 1.09–1.21 pcl (female); upper palm length 1.17–1.33 times height (male), 1.17–1.31 (female); occlusal margin corneous in distal half, proximally crenulate; dactylus dorsal margin broadly convex, with rows of tufts of golden setae and proximal cluster of 4–6 small spines proximally, 1.69–1.98 times longer than dorsal margin of palm (male), 1.65–1.86 (female).
Ambulatory legs (pereopods 2–4): Similar, slender, elongate; ornamentation similar in both sexes; segments spinose, surface between major spines densely covered with small spines. Pereopod 4 longest. Coxae covered with small conical spinules in males, in females becoming obsolete or reduced to blunt granules beneath overlap of abdomen (covered in conical spinules in juvenile females); distal margins crenulate to bluntly dentate. Ischiobasis with 3–5 stout spines around distal margins and numerous smaller ventral spinules. Merus dorsoventrally compressed; extensor margin lined with numerous, short, subequal spines in addition to paired distal spines; dorsal surface with irregular row of 4–7 major spines of similar size to distal extensor spines; flexor margin lined with short, subequal spines in addition to 2–5 larger spines; major spines on surfaces of merus distinctly standing out from secondary spinules. Carpus with 4 or 5 strong spines in addition to numerous small spines. Propodus dorsoventrally compressed; as long as or longer than merus; with 4–7 spines on extensor margin and 3–5 similar spines on dorsal surface; flexor margin with numerous smaller spines. Dactylus curved, rounded in cross section, with numerous small spines covering proximal half (pereopod 2) to three-quarters (pereopods 3–4); apex corneous.
Pereopod 2 length 2.20–2.47 pcl (male), 1.84–2.24 pcl (female). Merus 0.74–0.81 pcl (male), 0.60–0.73 pcl (female); length: height ratio 4.42–4.59 (male), 3.21–3.98 (female). Carpus 0.54–0.55 merus length (male), 0.56–0.60 (female). Propodus 0.93–0.99 merus length (male), 0.95–0.99 (female), length: height ratio 9.20–10.63 (male), 7.08–8.93 (female). Dactylus 0.62 propodus length (male), 0.61–0.73 (female).
Pereopod 3 length 2.85–2.89 pcl (male), 2.26–2.74 pcl (female). Merus 0.84–0.94 pcl (male), 0.71–0.85 pcl (female); length: height ratio 4.56–4.91 (male), 3.50–4.09 (female). Carpus 0.53–0.54 merus length (male), 0.56–0.59 (female). Propodus 0.96–1.01 merus length (male), 1.01–1.02 (female), length: height ratio 9.94–10.65 (male), 7.94–10.02 (female). Dactylus 0.58–0.59 propodus length (male), 0.62–0.68 (female).
Pereopod 4 length 3.05–3.14 pcl (male), 2.41–2.87 pcl (female). Merus 0.86–0.94 pcl (male), 0.70–0.86 pcl (female); length: height ratio 3.98–5.01 (male), 3.49–4.22 (female). Carpus 0.56–0.57 merus length (male), 0.59–0.62 (female). Propodus 1.03–1.10 merus length (male), 1.08–1.14 (female); length: height ratio 9.67–12.27 (male), 8.41–11.42 (female). Dactylus 0.58–0.60 propodus length (male), 0.62–0.70 (female).
Colour in life. Red body and pereopods, with ventral surface slightly paler than dorsal surface.
Etymology. Named for the English explorer, Captain Matthew Flinders (1774–1814), namesake of the southern Australian Flindersian biogeographic province, which largely encompasses the known range of the new species.
Remarks. Neolithodes flindersi sp. nov. most closely resembles N. brodiei Dawson & Yaldwyn, 1970, from New Zealand, and N. nipponensis Sakai, 1971, from Taiwan and Japan. The new species differs from N. nipponensis chiefly in being less prominently spinose: the secondary spines covering the surfaces of the walking legs are distinctly shorter, and the antennal peduncle is only sparsely granulate or minutely spinulate, rather than prominently spinulate.
Comparison of specimens of Neolithodes flindersi sp. nov. with the extensive New Zealand series of N. brodiei in NIWA and NMNZ shows that the two species are best distinguished by patterns of spination: the ventral surfaces of the coxae of the walking legs in all males and in juvenile female N. flindersi sp. nov. are covered in short conical spines, rather than low, blunt tubercles as in adult N. brodiei (tubercles sometimes acute in juvenile males); the spination of the walking leg dactyli of N. brodiei usually extends only slightly beyond the proximal half, rather than beyond the distal quarter; and in N. brodiei, the extensor margins of the pereopod 2–4 meri are lined with short, closely spaced spines that are interspersed by 6–9 distinctly longer spines, whereas in N. flindersi sp. nov. and N. nipponensis, the meral extensor spines are of similar size. The strong morphological similarities and adjacent, but discrete, distributions suggest that N. brodiei and N. flindersi sp. nov. might be sibling species.
As in other lithodids, dorsal spination of N. flindersi sp. nov. is most pronounced in smallest specimens, becoming progressively shorter with increasing size. Similarly, the proportional length of the walking leg dactyli decreases with increasing size, ranging from about 0.8 propodus length in the smallest specimen (SAM, juvenile male, pcl. 21.6 mm) to 0.6 in the largest specimens (SAM, male, pcl. 176.5 mm). The smallest and only known ovigerous female is 151.1 mm pcl, though individuals appear to be mature by about 95 mm pcl.
One specimen of N. flindersi sp. nov. (AM P35606) was collected from Chrysogorgia orientalis Versluys, 1902 (Chrysogorgiidae), and another (SAM TC17445) from an unidentified black coral, representing the first records of a gorgonacean-lithodid association. The male holotype bears an egg mass on the inside of the carapace in the right branchial chamber (egg diameter 3.98–4.08 mm). These eggs probably belong to the liparid fish (Careproctus sp.), which deposits eggs in the branchial chamber of various lithodids and use the crab as a mobile ‘home’. The association between Careproctus sp. and N. brodiei is known (Batson 2003), but the present record is the first for N. flindersi sp. nov.
Distribution. Southeastern Australia: off Broken Bay, New South Wales, south to Victoria, Tasmania and the Great Australian Bight, South Australia; 887–1333 m.
description: Published as part of Ahyong, Shane T., 2010, Neolithodes flindersi, a new species of king crab from southeastern Australia (Crustacea: Decapoda: Lithodidae), pp. 55-62 in Zootaxa 2362 on pages 56-62, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193654