Lyphira linda Rahayu & Ng, 2024, n. sp.
Creators: name: Rahayu, Dwi Listyo
name: Ng, Peter K. L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Decapoda
Leucosiidae
Lyphira
Lyphira linda

description: Lyphira linda n. sp.
(Figs. 4, 6E, F, 8B‒D, 9E, F, 10F‒H, 11F‒H, 12D‒F, 13H‒L, 14E, F, 15G, H, 16F‒I, 18L‒P, 20E‒M, 21E, F)
Philyra globosa.— Lanchester 1900: 764 (p.p.). (not Cancer globosa Fabricius, 1793 = Philyra globus (Fabricius, 1775)). Philyra heterograna.— Wee & Ng 1994: 82. (not Philyra heterograna Ortmann, 1892).
Philyra heterograna.— Galil 2009: 300 (in part).
Type material. Holotype: male (18.4 × 18.2 mm), ZRC 1981.9.2.7, East Coast Lagoon, Singapore, from fishermen nets, coll. P. K. L. Ng, March 1981. Paratypes: 2 males (20 × 19.5 mm, 21 × 21.4 mm), 1 female (15.5 × 16.1 mm), ZRC 1981.9.2.8-10, same locality as holotype; 2 young females, ZRC 1990.7355 – 7356, off Pulau Tekong, Singapore, coll. dredge, Reef Ecology & Research Team, 26 March 1987; 4 males (7.6 × 7.2 mm – 17.1 × 16.7 mm); 1 female (14.0 × 13.9 mm), ZRC 2022.1001, specimen SEA 3978, station DR276, muddy-sandy substrate, between Ketem and Pasir Ris, Singapore, 01°24.399'N 103°56.139'E – 01°24.191'N 103°56.372'E, 15.3–16.9 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 17 January 2014; 1 female (10.0 × 9.5 mm), ZRC 2022.1002, station DW129, Johor Strait, Singapore, 01°19.075'N 104°04.249'E, 21.7‒22.5 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 30 October 2012; 1 female (14.6 × 14.0 mm), ZRC 2022.1003, specimen JS0606, station DW86, on mud, Johor Strait, Changi Park, Singapore, 01°23.581'N 103°59.593'E – 01°23.529'N 103°59.990'E, 5.6–14.7 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 25 October 2012; 1 male (14.2 × 13.9 mm), ZRC 2022.1004, specimen SEA 3930, station DR277, between Ketem and Pasir Ris, Singapore, 01°24.126'N 103°56.568'E – 01°24.242'N 103°56.400'E, 14.4–14.8 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 17 January 2014; 1 male (17.3 × 17.2 mm), ZRC 2022.1005, station DW28, east of Chek Jawa, Singapore, 01°25.295'N 103°59.645'E, 8.2‒9.6 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 12 October 2012; 1 female (14.5 × 14.3 mm) ZRC 2022.1006, station DW36, off Pulau Serangoon, Singapore, 01°24.545'N 103°55.992'E, 16.8–18.6 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 19 October 2012; 1 female (15.5 × 15.3 mm), ZRC 2022.1007, specimen SEA 5374, station DR333, in front of Noordin Beach, Pulau Ubin, Singapore, 01°25.248'N 103°57.898'E – 01°25.287'N 103°57.640'E, 7.9–9.3 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 20 March 2014; 1 male (11.4 × 11.0 mm), ZRC 2022.1008, station DW40, opposite Changi Radar station, Singapore, 01°23.797'N 103°58.751'E, 13.4–24.7 m, coll. Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, dredge, 19 October 2012. Others: 1 male, 1 female, ZRC 1995.0547, East Coast, Singapore, coll. dredge, D. Vandenspiegel et al., 1990s; 1 juvenile male (badly damaged), ZRC 1995.0546, East Coast, Singapore, coll. dredge, D. Vandenspiegel et al., 1990s; 1 male (18.4 × 19.0 mm), ZRC 1985.1631, Changi Point, Singapore, coll. P.K.L. Ng, 9 May 1982; 1 juvenile male (12.7 × 12.4 mm), ZRC 1985.0090, station B77, on mud, off Bedok, Singapore, 16.5 m (9 fathoms), coll. dredge, D.S. Johnson, 1960s; 1 juvenile male, ZRC 1990.8405, station 6, Kallang Basin, Singapore, coll. Reef Ecology & Study Team, dredge, 23 February 1989; 1 juvenile male (crushed), ZRC 1990.8329, station 6, Kallang Basin, Singapore, coll. Reef Ecology & Study Team, dredge, 22 February 1989; 1 juvenile male, 1 juvenile female, ZRC 1989.2943 – 2944, Southern Islands, Singapore, coll. dredge, P.K.L. Ng, 12 May 1987; 1 male (spiny type, 18.9 × 18.7 mm), 4 females (largest 16.8 × 16.4 mm), ZRC 1999.0507, near Pulau Sajahat, Singapore, 1°24.219’N 104°00.764’E, 15 m, coll. dredge, L.W. Loh et al., 5 August 1997; 1 male, 2 ovigerous females, ZRC 1985.1442 – 1444, Mersing, eastern Johor, Peninsular Malaysia, coll. C. Leong, 5 March 1969; 1 juvenile male (12.6 × 12.7 mm), ZRC 1985.0097, station B78, mud substrate, off Tanjung Stapa, Pengerang, southeastern Johor, Peninsular Malaysia, 1°21'00.0"N 104°08'00.0"E, 31 m (17 fathoms), coll. dredge, D.S. Johnson, 1960s; 1 male (18.00 × 17.7 mm), ZRC 2011.0646, fishing port, Pattani, Thailand, coll. 28 August 2003; 25 males (smooth type, 18.4 × 18.6 mm photographed), 19 males (spiny type, 17.4 × 17.1 mm photographed), 7 females (smooth type), 3 females (spiny type), ZRC 2003.0107, Pattani Fishing Port, Gulf of Thailand, southern Thailand, coll. D.C.J. Yeo et al., 20 February 2003; 4 males (smooth type, largest 21.5 × 22.1 mm), 14 males (spiny type), 3 ovigerous females (spiny type, 17.7 × 17.7 mm – 18.6 × 18.1 mm), ZRC 1999.0317, Pattani Fishing Port, Gulf of Thailand, southern Thailand, coll. H.H. Tan et al., 25 October 1998; 2 males, ZRC 2003.0623, Pattani Fishing Port, Gulf of Thailand, southern Thailand, coll. P.K.L. Ng, 16 October 2003; 5 males (largest 19.7 × 19.9 mm), 7 females (largest 15.5 × 15.5 mm), ZRC 2003.0609, Sakom Crab Landing Port, Songkhla, Gulf of Thailand, southern Thailand, coll. P.K.L. Ng et al., 15 October 2003; 1 male (16.7 × 17.0 mm), ZRC 2015.0439, Angsila Fishing Port, Gulf of Thailand, eastern Thailand, coll. Z. Jaafar et al., 21 November 2003; 4 males (20.1 × 20.0 mm – 22.9 × 21.4 mm), 1 female (16.4 × 15.6 mm), ZRC 2014.0191, Nghe An, Cua Lo Beach, northern Vietnam, coll. 27 July 2007.
Diagnosis. Carapace approximately as broad as long or slightly broader than long, more or less rounded (Figs. 4, 6E, F); dorsal surface of carapace covered with closely spaced minute granules or corneous spinules, hepatic, branchial and intestinal regions with slightly larger, more prominent granules. Frontal margin granulated; postfrontal lobe slightly convex with slight concave medially (Figs. 11F‒H). Endostomial spine broad, strong, produced, visible from dorsal view (Figs. 13H‒L, 14E, F). Lateral margin of carapace with row of small granules interspersed by larger granules; posterolateral margin gently convex with large granule medially (Figs. 4, 6E, F). Posterior carapace margin gently convex, with row of small granules, slightly larger granule medially (Figs. 4, 10F‒ H). Third maxilliped exopod 1.5‒1.8 times as long as broad, broader than basal part of endopod, forming petaliform structure with strongly convex outer margin, with submarginal row of low to very low granules along inner margin; endopod with completely fused basis-ischium, distinctly shorter than merus, with shallow submarginal sulcus near inner margin (Figs. 11F‒H, 12D‒F). Chelipeds subequal; merus, carpus and chela surfaces smooth or covered with low, small rounded granules (Figs. 4, 6E, F); merus surface granulated, large granules on proximal area and along margins, minutes granules distally; carpus smooth, unarmed; chela stout, palm surface smooth, upper and lower margins with row of granules; fingers longer than length of palm, surface with longitudinal sulcus; pollex bent, cutting edge with broad, large subproximal tooth lined with denticles, remaining of edge with small denticles; dactylus 1.6 times as long as palm, with row of small granules on upper margin, cutting edge with subdistal large tooth lined with denticles, remaining of edge with small denticles (Fig. 15G, H). P2–P5 slender, short; merus distinctly longer than carpus and propodus; dactylus longer than propodus, lanceolate, terminating in corneous tips; fourth leg shortest, with merus 4 times as long as broad, margins lined with small granules, more prominent on ventral margin (Fig. 16F‒I). Thoracic sternites transversely narrow, surface granulated, larger granules laterally (Fig. 8C, D). Male sternopleonal cavity deep, reaching to mid distance between fused thoracic sternites 1–3. Male pleon narrow, slender, long, edge granulated; somites 2–6 fused, shallow suture just visible between somites 5 and 6, surface smooth; somite 6 longitudinally subrectangular, surface with one low granule medially, low, short sulcus subproximally, lateral margins straight; telson triangular, longer than wide (Figs. 8C, D, 18G). G1 elongate, slender, same size from proximal to distal area; distal process, stout, bilobed, with bent, rounded tip (Figs. 18H‒V, 20E‒M). Female sternopleonal cavity reaches distal part of sternite 1; female pleon broad, convex, smooth, somites 2‒6 fused, suture between somites 2 and 3; telson shorter than its basal width (Fig. 9E, F); vulvae spaced apart on sternite 6, each opening weakly crescent-shaped, relatively long, without opercular cover (Fig. 21E, F).
Colour. Brownish grey to dirty white, merus of cheliped yellow.
Etymology. The species is named after the late Linda Goh. She was an Assistant Director at the National Parks Board and was overseeing the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey for the government. She was instrumental in making sure the project progressed smoothly and ensured its success. Beyond this, she was a good friend and a lovely person to work with. Her sudden passing in 2021 was a tragedy for both the agency and conservation in general. The name is used as a noun in apposition.
Remarks. The variation in the smoothness of the carapace and pereopods of L. linda n. sp. is surprising. While, most specimens have smooth and unarmed carapaces, chelipeds and legs, with the granules present rounded and smooth (e.g., Fig. 4A‒C); the same surfaces of several specimens are covered with short corneous spinules to various degrees, even on the thoracic sternum and pleon (Figs. 4D‒F, 6F, 8C, D). These spiny specimens, however, agree with the smooth ones in all other diagnostic characters, including the structures of their endostomial spines, third maxillipeds and G1s. In addition, there are many specimens with intermediate characters, e.g., only some parts of the carapace are spinous, only some legs or some articles of the legs are spiny, only one cheliped is spinous with the other smooth etc. (e.g., see Fig. 4D, E). In some specimens, there are only a few scattered spinules on the carapace or pereopods, with remaining of the surfaces smooth. These variations are independent of sex. All juvenile and subadult specimens are of the smooth type, suggesting spination is associated with adulthood. These adult specimens with varying degrees of spination can be collected together from the same location. For example, in lot ZRC 2003.0107 from Pattani in the Gulf of Thailand, 32 specimens were of the smooth type, with 22 having at least some some spinules on some part of the body. This substantial variation is not known for any other known leucosiid species, with the possible exception of L. bellagrana n. sp. (see remarks for that species).
Spination aside, L. linda n. sp. and L. ngankee n. sp. are morphologically close; possessing prominent endostomial spines, a wide third maxilliped exopod and a slightly convex posterior carapace margin. The carapace of L. linda n. sp., however, is as long as broad (Figs. 4, 6E, F) (broader than long in L. ngankee n. sp.; Figs. 5A, B, 6D), the gastrocardiac grooves very shallow and barely visible (Fig. E, F) (grooves clearly visible and relatively deeper in L. ngankee n. sp.; Fig. 5A, B); the endostomial spines are slightly weaker and positioned further apart (Fig. 13H‒L) (spines stronger and positioned closer together in L. ngankee n. sp.; Fig. 13F, G); the third maxilliped exopod is somewhat more rounded, being 1.5 to 1.8 as long as broad (Fig. 18F, Q) (slightly longer, being 2 times as long as broad in L. ngankee n. sp.; Fig. 18A); the palm of the male cheliped is distinctly stouter with a longer dactylus, 1.6 times as long as the palm (Fig. 15G, H) (palm distinctly more slender with a shorter dactylus, 1.4 times as long as palm in L. ngankee n. sp.; Fig. 14F); and the G1 apical process is longer and bilobed (Fig. 18I‒K, M‒P, T‒V) (shorter and broader in L. ngankee n. sp.; Fig. 18D, E).
Type locality. Singapore.
Distribution. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and southern Vietnam, 8.2‒22.5 m.
description: Published as part of Rahayu, Dwi Listyo & Ng, Peter K. L., 2024, On the genus Lyphira Galil, 2009 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Leucosiidae), with descriptions of four new species from the West Pacific, pp. 358-392 in Zootaxa 5476 (1) on pages 377-379, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5476.1.29, http://zenodo.org/record/12681921