Raoulia galea Ng & Rahayu 2014, sp. nov.

Raoulia galea sp. nov.

(Figs. 5E, 18, 19F–L)

Material examined. Holotype: male (9.4 × 7.4 mm) (ZRC 2000.0980), intertidal mud flats, Phuket, Thailand, coll. P.K.L. Ng, 3–6 May 2000.

Diagnosis. Carapace width 1.3 times length (Fig. 18A). Junction between frontal, supraorbital margins appears gently curved in frontal view (Fig. 18C). Third maxilliped merus shorter than ischium; ischium quadrangular, 1.1 times as long as broad (Figs. 5E, 19G). Ambulatory legs short; merus of last ambulatory leg 2.8 times as long as broad (Fig. 18A). G1 with distal half distinctly curving towards abdomen in situ, distal part gradually tapering (Fig. 19H–K).

Colour. The freshly collected specimen has a dirty white carapace and pereopods, with the setae brown.

Etymology. The name is derived from Latin galea for helmet, alluding to the general shape of the carapace of the species. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Raoulia galea sp. nov. is most similar to R. limosa, but it can be separated by possessing a somewhat a more quadrate carapace (Fig. 18; Figs. 13A, 14A, 15A for R. limosa); the junction between the frontal and supraorbital margins of R. galea is gently curved (in frontal view) (Fig. 18C) (at right angles in R. limosa; Fig. 13D, 14C); the merus of the third maxilliped is more subovate, with the anterolateral margin gently convex (Figs. 5E, 19G) (more rounded, with the anterolateral margin markedly convex in R. limosa; Figs. 5C, 16B). The G1s of the two species are superficially similar, but in R. galea sp. nov., the distal half curves towards the abdomen (i.e. directed ventrally) in situ (Fig. 19H–K), while in R. limosa, it is bent outwards (Fig. 16D–G). This argues against the two species being conspecific.

Although R. galea sp. nov. is also found in the Indian Ocean like R. piroculata, its carapace appears more rounded in general appearance (Fig. 18A; Fig. 17A for R. piroculata).

Distribution. Phuket, Andaman Sea coast of Thailand, eastern Indian Ocean; intertidal.