Galilia narusei Ng & Forges, 2007, new species
Creators: name: Ng, Peter K. L.
name: Forges, Bertrand Richer De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Malacostraca
Decapoda
Leucosiidae
Galilia
Galilia narusei

description: Galilia narusei, new species
(Figs. 2–3, 4G –I, 5B)
Material examined. Holotype male (31.2 x 32.2 mm) (MNHN), station 2050, Jumeau Bank East (Twin East Seamount), Norfolk Ridge, New Caledonia, 23°42.2’S 168°15.7’E, 377 m, coll. B. Richer de Forges, 24 October 2003.
Diagnosis. Carapace rounded, slightly broader than long (Fig. 2 A); regions well demarcated, grooves between regions distinct, especially branchial ones; surface covered by large, rounded pustule-like tubercles, and numerous small pearliform or fungiform granules and numerous bumps (Fig. 2 B–D, F); large tubercles on gastric region relatively low, those on branchial regions large, more numerous (ca. 20 on each side) (Fig. 2 B, D); hepatic region with 2 large rounded tubercles (Fig. 2 B, C, E); cardiac region prominently swollen, highest point with large conical tubercle (Fig. 2 B, D); intestinal region with 2 large rounded tubercles, directed posteriorly (Fig. 2 F). Front bilobed, lobes low, separated by broad V-shaped cleft, each lobe triangular, tip rounded, surface covered with numerous small granules (Fig. 2 B, C, E). Third maxilliped finely granular (Fig. 2 C, E). Chelipeds less than 2 times carapace length (Fig. 2 A), completely covered with small granules on all articles, including fingers (Figs. 2 A; 3D–F); merus gently curved (Fig. 3 D); carpus relatively short, with 2 low ridges on external margin (Fig. 3 D); palm slightly inflated (Fig. 3 E, F); fingers long, curved, cutting edges with numerous denticles (Fig. 3 E, F). Ambulatory legs relatively short, surfaces completely granular (Fig. 2 A); length decreasing gradually from first to fourth (Fig. 2 A). Thoracic sternum with sternites 5–7 medially depressed, appearing sunken (Fig. 3 B, C); sternites 3 and 4 swollen, raised (Fig. 3 B); sterno-abdominal cavity narrow, very deep (Fig. 3 A, B). Male abdomen with 6 segments, 3–6 fused, sutures between 3, 4 and 5 shallow, just discernible but segments immovable (Fig. 3 A, C), distal border of segment 6 with distinct laterally flattened tooth (Fig. 3 A, B); telson slender, elongate, tongue-shaped (Fig. 3 A, B), strongly curved as it fits into sterno-abdominal cavity of swollen sternites 4 and 5 (Fig. 3 A, B). G1 slender, long, distal third very slen- der, pectinated, curving sharply towards sternum at approximately 90° angle (Fig. 4G, H), tip rounded (Fig. 4 I).
Coloration. The carapace of the freshly collected specimen was bright orange, with orange granules on the chelipeds and orange bands on the legs (Fig. 5 B).
Etymology. The species is named after Tohru Naruse, who has helped us with many aspects of our studies of the Philippine crab material in the ZRC.
Remarks. See comments for genus.
General Comments. Some comments on various taxa originally in Randallia and revised by Galil (2003) are necessary. There is a small nomenclatural problem in the case of R. pustulilabris Alcock, 1896, which has not been previously mentioned. In describing this as a species of Randallia, Alcock (1896: 194) commented that he “ … thought it justifiable to change the name of this species from granulosa to pustulilabris, as Miers, ‘Challenger’ Brachyura (1886) p. 317 has already used the very similar name granulata for a species belonging to this genus as here defined”. In the volume of “Investigator” plates, on the captions page facing plate 14, Alcock & Anderson (1896) wrote: “ Fig. 3. – Randallia pustulilabris, Alcock. Journal, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. LXV. Pt. 2, 1896 (= Leucosilia granulosa, Alcock and Anderson. ” (see Clark & Crosnier 1992, for the dates of the various “Investigator” plates). However, on plate 24 itself, all the species figured are also named at the bottom of the page, and here, the name “ Leucosilia granulosa ” is used instead. It seems obvious that “ Leucosilia granulosa ” was the name originally used by Alcock but after he changed his mind, he altered the name in the description and captions page to Randallia pustulilabris but not the headings on the actual plate. Leucosilia granulosa Alcock & Anderson, 1896, is an available name under the Articles 12.2.7 and 13.1.3 of the Code (ICZN 1999). It is nevertheless, clearly an objective synonym of Randallia pustulilabris Alcock, 1896, according to Article 72.7 and therefore share the same type series.
Two other Randallia species require comment. In describing R. serenei, Richer de Forges (1983) compared it with R. granulata Miers, 1886, and figured a syntype male from Fiji (Richer de Forges 1993: Fig. 5, 6). While the two species are clearly different, they are nevertheless close, and we see no reason why Miers’ species should notr type species agreeing in all diagnostic characters. Galil (2003) had already included this species when describing Toru.
One of the characters cited by Galil (2003: 396) to distinguish Randallia sensu stricto was that members had “the antennular operculum entirely sealing the antennular aperture”. We are not sure of what Galil meant, but presumably, it is similar to the character first utilised by Tan & Ng (1995: 167, Fig. 29) in their revision of the leucosiid genus Oreophorus Rüppell, 1830. In that revision, some genera (e.g. Oreophorus and Oreotlos Ihle, 1918) had a small basal antennular article which only covers half of the fossa even when it is completely retracted (Tan & Ng 1995: Fig. 29A). In genera like Alox Tan & Ng, 1995, and Dolos Tan & Richer de Forges, 1993, the basal antennular article is large and completely seals the fossa when it is retracted (Tan & Ng 1995: Fig. 29B). In all the Indo-West Pacific genera allied to Randallia recognised by Galil (2003), the basal antennular article is relatively small and never occupies much of the fossa. With the rest of the antennule folding into the fossa, the space is filled up to differing degrees, from completely in Galilia narusei (Fig. 2 C, E) to leaving a small gap (e.g. in Tanaoa distinctus and Urashima pustuloides).
description: Published as part of Ng, Peter K. L. & Forges, Bertrand Richer De, 2007, A new genus and new species of leucosiid crab from New Caledonia, with a note on the validity of Tanaoa serenei (Richer de Forges, 1983) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), pp. 15-24 in Zootaxa 1662 on pages 18-23, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.179982