Lyphira bellagrana 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 bellagrana

description: Lyphira bellagrana n. sp.
(Figs. 5C, D, 6G, 8E, F, 9G, 10I, J, 11I, J, 13M, N, 14G, H, 15I, J, 16J, K, 19, 20N ‒P, 21G)
Type material. Holotype: male (15.7 × 15.0 mm), MZB Cru 5627, Sungai Tipoeka, Timika, Papua, 28 June 2000. Paratypes: 2 males (7.6 × 6.7 mm, 15.6 × 14.8 mm), 6 females (12.8 × 11.8 mm ‒ 13.2 × 12.3 mm; one badly damaged), ZRC 2000.2077, (13.4 × 12.2 mm), 3 females (12.5 × 11.4 mm ‒ 13.7 × 12.6 mm), MZB Cru 5628, same locality as holotype.
Other material examined. All localities in Papua, Indonesia, collected by A. Darmawan. 1 male (11.0 × 10.6 mm), 1 female (11.0 × 10.6 mm), ZRC 2022.0750, station Mi, 5°01'20.89"S 137°05'42.73"E, 4 June 2021; 3 males (10.8 × 10.8 mm – 12.6 × 12.2 mm) 1 female (11.0 × 11.0 mm), MZB Cru 5629, same locality, 6 October 2021; 1 male (16.4 × 16.0 mm), 1 females (13.8 × 13.4) 1 ovigerous female (15.8 × 14.8 mm), MZB Cru 5630, same locality, 11 March 2020; 2 males (11.4 × 10.6 mm, 12.4 × 11.6 mm), MZB Cru 5631, station OT5, 5°06'33.91"S 137°14'32.47"E, 7 October 2021; 2 males (14.0 × 13.4 mm, 14.4 × 13.6 mm), 3 females (13.0 × 12.6 mm ‒ 16.2 × 15.6 mm), ZRC 2022.0745, station OT5, 5°06'33.91"S 137°14'32.47"E, 8 October 2020; 2 males (11.8 × 11.4 mm, 13.0 × 11.8 mm), ZRC 2022.0747, station EM 330, 4°48.900"S 136°38.731", 26 May 2021; 1 male (11.2 × 10.8 mm), ZRC 2022.1028, T5, 4°55'04.64"S 136°42'16.25"E, 9 June 2021; 3 males (11.6 × 11.1 mm, 12 × 11.6 mm, 11.3 × 11.1 mm), 1 ovigerous female (12.0 × 11.6 mm), MZB Cru 5632, station Ma, 5°02'16.56"S 137°05'42.73"E, 8 October 2020; 3 males (12.0 × 11.5 mm, 12.2 × 11.6 mm, 11.5 × 11.1 mm), 1 ovigerous female (10.5 × 10.5 mm), ZRC 2022.1029, station Ma, 5°02'16.56"S 137°05'42.73"E, 8 October 2020; 2 males, 2 females, ZRC 2022.0748, station A1, 4°57'49.75"S 136°49'47.53"E, 13 October 2020; 1 male, 2 females, ZRC 2022.0749, station T5, 4°55'04.64"S 136°42'16.25"E, 4 October 2021; 2 males (larger 12.4 × 11.9 mm), 4 females (largest 12.9 × 12.6 mm), ZRC 2022.0746, station K1, trawl, 4°º49'19.67"S 136°35'06.14"E, 21 March 2022; 1 male (12.7 × 12.4 mm), ZRC 2022.1031, station OT5, 5°06'33.91"S 137°14'32.47"E, 8 October 2020.
Diagnosis. Carapace slightly broader than long (Figs. 5C, D, 6G); dorsal surface of carapace covered with closely spaced minute granules, gastric, branchial and intestinal regions with slightly larger, more prominent granules. Frontal margin granulated; postfrontal lobe slightly convex (Fig. 11I, J). Endostomial spines absent (Figs. 13M, N, 14G, H). Lateral margin of carapace with row of small granules, interspersed by large granules formed by group of small granules; posterolateral margin very slightly convex with large granule medially and on each posterolateral border (Figs. 5C, D, 6G). Posterior carapace margin almost straight, with larger granule medially and on each posterolateral corner, with margin between them almost straight (Figs. 5C, D, 10I, J). Third maxilliped exopod 2.3 times as long as broad, wider than basal part of endopod, forming petaliform structure with strongly convex outer margin; endopod with completely fused basis-ischium, as long as merus, with shallow submarginal sulcus near inner margin; (Figs. 11I, J, 19A, G). Chelipeds subequal; merus, carpus and chela surfaces smooth or covered with low, small rounded granules (Figs.5C, 6G); surfaces of merus, carpus and propodus covered by closely spaced small granules; merus subcylindrical, anterior and posterior margin with row of granules; carpus anterior margin with row of larger granules; chela stout, upper and lower margins with row of granules, longitudinal row of relatively large granules on lower outer surface of palm; fingers longer than length of palm; pollex slightly bent, cutting edge lined with denticles, shallow concavity submedially; dactylus 1.3 times as long as palm, with row of small granules on upper margin, cutting edge with median large tooth lined with denticles, remaining of edge with small denticles (Fig. 15I, J). 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, lined with small granules on ventral margin (Fig. 16J, K). Thoracic sternites transversely narrow, surface finely granulated, larger granules laterally; sternites 1–3 completely fused without trace of sutures; sternite 3 separated from sternite 4 by shallow groove; sternites 4–7 progressively narrower sternite 8 narrowest (Fig. 8E, F). Male sternopleonal cavity deep, reaching to proximal distance between fused thoracic sternites 1–3, margin lined with granules, those on distal part proportionately larger. Male pleon narrow, slender, long (Figs. 8E, F, 19B, H); somite 1 longitudinally narrow, wide; somites 2–6 fused, forming elongate trapezoidal plate, shallow suture just visible between somites 5 and 6, surface smooth; somite 6 longitudinally subrectangular, surface with one low granule medially, lateral margins gently convex; telson triangular, longer than wide. G1 elongate, slender, slightly dilated in distal area; distal process moderately long, gently bent, with pointed tip (Fig. 19C‒F, I, J). Female sternopleonal cavity reaches distal part of sternite 1; female pleon broad, convex, margin densely tuberculate; somite 1, 2, covered by tubercle; somites 2‒6 fused, suture between somites 2 and 3; telson shorter than its basal width (Fig. 9G); vulvae positioned close to median part of sternite 6, each opening V-shaped, relatively short, narrow, without opercular cover (Fig. 21G).
Colour. Dorsal surface of carapace and chelipeds dirty white to pale yellow, with legs reddish brown.
Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin “ bellus ” for beauty and “ granosa ” for granules; alluding to the beautiful arrangement of sharp granules on the carapace of the species. It is also an indirect acknowledgement to the lady who revised Philyra and has contributed substantially to our knowledge of leucosiid systematics; our friend Bella Galil.
Remarks. Lyphira bellagrana n. sp. is very characteristic in having the lateral margin of the carapace lined with small tubercles interspersed by larger tubercles that are formed by a clustering of small tubercles. The morphological characters generally resemble L. heterograna s. str. in the absence of endostomial spines, and a very slightly bent distal process of G1 (Figs. 13A, B, M, N, 14A,G, H, 17E, F, 19E, F, J), but differences can be seen in the broader and more convex third maxilliped exopod, shorter P5 merus, shorter distal process of G1, stouter male pleon of L. bellagrana n. sp. (Figs. 11I, J, 16J, K, 19A, G, versus Figs. 11A, B, 16A, B, 17E, F).
There is one specimen of L. bellagrana n. sp. (ZRC 2022.1031) which is unusual in having corneous spinules on the carapace, chelipeds and third maxilliped, with the granules on the thoracic sternum and male pleon more developed (Figs.5D, 8F, 15J, 19G). This is something shared with L. linda n. sp. (see discussion earlier for that species). It agrees with typical specimens, however, in all other characters, including the diagnostic G1 structure (Fig. 19C‒F, I, J, 20N‒P). The G1 distal process is slightly longer (Figs. 19I, J, 20N) in this specimen than typical specimens (Figs. 19C‒F, 20O) but this difference is too slight to be considered significant. In addition, all the other specimens from the same area are of the typical form.
Type locality. Timika, Papua, Indonesia.
Distribution. Papua, Indonesia, 7‒ 15 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 386-389, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5476.1.29, http://zenodo.org/record/12681921