Processa manningi Grave, 2012, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Grave, Sammy De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Decapoda
Processidae
Processa
Processa manningi

description: Processa manningi sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–3; 4A–D)
Material examined. Holotype: ov. female (pocl 5.8), yabby pump, in burrow with Eucalliax sp., lower intertidal sandflat, South Water Cay, Belize, 16º48.800’N 88º04.971’W, leg. S. De Grave et al., fcn CBC209, 24 Febr. 2009, USNM 1180776. Allotype: male (pocl 5.7), other data as for holotype, USNM 1180777. Paratypes: ov. female (pocl 5.5) yabby pump, in burrow with Neocallichirus grandimana (Gibbes, 1850), other data as for holotype, fcn CBC208, OUMNH.ZC.2009-01-001; ov female (pocl 7.0), male (pocl 5.3), in burrow with N. grandimana, other data as for holotype, fcn CBC207, OUMNH.ZC.2009-01-002; 3 ov. females (pocl 6.2–6.6), 2 males (pocl 4.5–5.0), yabby pump, in burrow with N. grandimana, southern end of lower intertidal sandflat, South Water Cay, leg. D. Felder et al., 0 6 Apr. 2007, USNM 118078; ov. female (pocl 6.0), 2 males (pocl 5.5), yabby pump, in apparent callianassid burrow, South Water Cay, leg. D. Felder et al., 0 9 Apr. 2007, USNM 1180779; female (pocl 5.3), 2 males (pocl 4.8, 5.2), yabby pump, in burrows of N. grandimana, lower intertidal sand flat, South Water Cay, leg. D. Felder et al., 0 6 Febr. 2011, USNM 1180780; ov. female (pocl 5.8), male (pocl 4.7), yabby pump, in burrow of N. grandimana, lower intertidal sandflat, South Water Cay, ULLZ 9541; ov. female (pocl 5.6), female (pocl 4.7), yabby pump, in callianassid burrow, lower intertidal sandflat, South Water Cay, Belize, leg. D. Felder et al., photo voucher, 18 Oct. 2002, ULLZ 9242; ov. female (pocl 6.6), 3 males (pocl 5.2, 5.5, 5.7), yabby pump, in burrows of N. grandimana, lower intertidal sandflat, South Water Cay, Belize, leg. D. Felder et al., photo vouchers, 0 6 Febr. 2011, ULLZ 13922.
Etymology. Named after R. B. Manning (1934–2000), in recognition of his masterful revision of western Atlantic Processidae (together with F.A. Chace Jr.), and numerous other significant contributions to decapod taxonomy.
Description. Rostrum reaching anteriorly just beyond cornea, dorsal margin nearly straight (Fig. 1 A); apex slightly deflexed, bifid, lower tooth longer, bifurcation obscured by several simple setae; lower rostral margin convex proximally, concave distally (Figs. 1 A–C). Lower orbital margin rounded, inconspicuous. Carapace anterior margin with antennal spine (Figs. 1 B–C), lower anterior angle broadly rounded (Figs. 1 A–C).
Abdomen smooth, somites 1–5 bare, somite 6 sparsely setose (Fig. 1 D), ventral margin of pleura fringed with fine setae. Fifth abdominal pleura rounded, posterolateral margin lacking ventral tooth or spine. Sixth abdominal somite about 1.2 times length of fifth, posterolateral margin of pleuron produced to form weakly polygonal lobe above articulation of uropod (Fig. 1 D–E), posteromedial corner of lobe forming short posteriorly directed tooth, ventrolateral corner of pleura forming acute posteriorly directed tooth. Telson length 2.5 times greatest width, 1.5 times length of sixth somite, with 2 pairs of dorsal and 2 pairs of distal spines (Fig. 1 H); anterior pair of dorsal spines close to proximal margin, posterior pair at mid-length; transverse line of simple setae between anterior pair of spines, distinct longitudinal lines of setae present between both pairs of dorsal spines (Fig. 1 I); outer pair of distal spines longest, twice length of inner pair, latter ventromesially flanked by pair of stout, plumose setae (Fig. 1 J); apex of telson produced to sharp median point. Abdominal sternites unarmed.
Eyes moderately large, cornea width subequal to length of stalk and cornea combined, slightly more than twice greatest width of antennal scale.
Antennular peduncle basal article slightly overreaching rostrum (Fig. 1 A), basal article 2.2 times length of penultimate article, ultimate article slightly shorter than penultimate; basal article with ventral tooth just beyond mid-length (Fig. 2 A); stylocerite somewhat truncated anteriorly, outer spine absent, inner margin produced (Fig. 2 B); dorsolateral flagellum about 0.7 times length of carapace, thickened setigerous portion of 20–24 articles comprising 0.5–0.6 of total length; slender distal portion of 10–12 articles; ventromesial flagellum about 2.0–2.5 times length of carapace.
Antennal scale (Fig. 1 K) subequal to length of antennal peduncle, strap-like, length about 8 times greatest width; lateral and medial margins relatively straight; distolateral spine reaching about to distal margin of blade.
Antennal peduncle not reaching ultimate article of antennular peduncle; basal article lacking lateral spine. Antennal flagellum about 2.0–2.5 times length of carapace.
Mouthparts as figured (Figs. 2 C–H), generally similar to all species figured in Manning & Chace (1971). Third maxilliped overreaching distal margin of antennal scale by ultimate article; exopod short. Mandible with 10–15 spines on posterior margin of molar process (Fig. 2 C).
First pereiopods strongly asymmetrical (Figs 3 A–B). Right one (Fig. 3 B) chelate, falling just short of antennal scale distal margin; fingers about 0.6 times length of palm; merus about 1.2 times length of carpus and chela combined. Left one (Fig. 3 A) with simple dactyl, dactyl about 0.45 times length of propodus, carpus about 0.65 times length of propodus, carpus and propodus narrower, less developed than on right pereiopod; merus about 1.2 times length of carpus and propodus combined.
Second pereiopods strongly asymmetrical (Figs. 3 C–D). Right one longer, over-reaching antennal scale by merocarpal articulation; ischium undivided, merus with 10–14 and carpus with 26–29 articles; fingers slightly shorter than palm, palm slightly swollen; carpus nearly 5.5 times length of chela, merus 3.3 times length of chela, ischium shorter than merus. Left one shorter, over-reaching distal end of antennal scale by dactylus only, ischium undivided, merus with 3–4 weakly articulated articles, carpus with 13–15 articles; fingers about 0.5 times length of palm, palm slightly swollen; carpus 4.5 times length of chela, merus about 2.8 times length of chela, ischium slightly shorter than merus.
Third pereiopod (Fig. 3 E–F) over-reaching distal margin of antennal scale by distal half of propodus, dactylus stout, simple, with subapical setal patch (Fig. 3 F); propodus about 2.8 times length of dactylus, unarmed; carpus slightly more than twice length of propodus, unarmed; merus slightly longer than carpus, with 5 movable spines on outer surface; ischium about 0.6 length of merus, with 2 movable spines on outer surface; combined length of propodus and carpus about 0.8 times length of ischium and merus combined.
Fourth pereiopod (Fig. 3 G) over-reaching distal margin of antennal scale by distal 0.20–0.25 of carpus; dactylus slender, simple, with subapical setal patch; propodus about 3.5 times length of dactylus, unarmed; carpus about twice length of propodus, unarmed; merus slightly shorter than carpus, with 5 movable spines on outer surface; ischium about 0.5 times length of merus, with 2 movable spines on outer surface; combined length of propodus and carpus about equal to length of ischium and merus combined.
Fifth pereiopod (Fig. 3 H) over-reaching distal margin of antennal scale by distal half of propodus; dactylus slender, simple, with subapical setal patch (Fig. 3 F); propodus about 3.0 times length of dactylus, unarmed; carpus about 1.5 times length of propodus, unarmed; merus 1.2 times length of carpus, unarmed; ischium about 0.5 length of merus, unarmed; combined length of propodus and carpus about 0.8 times length of ischium and merus combined.
Outer margin of uropodal exopod (Fig. 1 F–G) terminating in immobile triangular tooth lateral to movable, longer, mesial spine; suture distinct. Endopod sparsely setose.
Color in life. Body largely translucent to transparent; commonly marked by scattered white chromatophores (best observed on dark background) on distal articles of third maxillipeds, basal articles of pleopods, distal and basal extremes of uropods, and as transverse line of spots across posterodorsal area of each abdominal somite; commonly with scattered red chromatophores forming distinct spots (best observed on white background) on distal articles of anterior appendages, basal articles of pleopods (especially second and fourth), uropods, proximal and distal areas of telson, and distinctly on posterior to posterolateral areas of sixth abdominal somite; very light diffuse orange usually evident dorsally to dorsolaterally on each abdominal somite.
Remarks. Processa manningi sp. nov. is closely related to P. famelica from Bermuda, sharing with it a welldeveloped rostrum over-reaching the eyes, a well-developed antennal spine on the carapace margin, and an unarmed stylocerite on the antennule. The two species can be easily separated from one another by features of the posterolateral lobe on the sixth abdominal pleura (unarmed in P. famelica vs. with small medial tooth in P. manningi), the pattern of setation on the telson (row of setae between anterior spines and longitudinal row of setae between both pairs of dorsal spines in P. manningi versus naked in P. famelica), and the different shape of the stylocerite (compare Fig. 2 B with Manning & Hart, 1991, fig. 3a). The telson setation, shape of the stylocerite and the presence of a posteromedial tooth on the posterolateral lobe of the sixth pleura also serve to distinguish P. manningi from the only other species (P. vossi) in the burrow-dwelling group, a species that also has a much shorter rostrum and appears to lack the mesial pair of plumose setae on the distal margin of the telson (see Manning, 1992).
The presence of the dorsal row of setae between the anterior, dorsal telson spines has also been noted in the following unrelated western Atlantic species: P. hemphilli Manning & Chace, 1971; P. guyanae Holthuis, 1959 (see Manning & Chace, 1971, as P. tenuipes Manning & Chace, 1971), and P. v i c i n a Manning & Chace, 1971. However, in none of these is the longitudinal line of setae present between the two pairs of dorsal telson spines (see Manning & Chace, 1971).
Ecology. All specimens were collected from the upper part of an intertidal sandflat riddled with burrows of the callianassid Neocallichirus grandimana. The majority of specimens were collected together with these hosts, with many burrows hosting a male-female pair of P. manningi. One pair was extracted with Eucalliax sp., and not N. grandimana. This associate is in all likelihood not an additional host species, as it constructs smaller burrows immediately adjacent to the larger burrows of N. grandimana. The related species P. vossi and P. famelica were collected in a similar habitat, but as no actual host was collected. Manning & Hart (1991) and Manning (1992) were not able to ascertain whether these species were commensals or merely seeking day time refuge in these burrows. As almost all the current specimens were collected with N. grandimana, and furthermore occurred as male-female pairs in each burrow, it seems clear that they are commensals, rather than opportunistic refuge seekers.
Distribution. Currently only known from the type locality, South Water Cay, Stann Creek District, Belize.
description: Published as part of Grave, Sammy De, 2012, The genus Processa in the vicinity of Carrie Bow Cay (Belize) with description of a new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Processidae), pp. 41-50 in Zootaxa 3436 on pages 42-48, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.208520