Munidopsis subsquamosa Henderson 1885

Munidopsis subsquamosa Henderson, 1885

Munidopsis subsquamosa Henderson, 1885: 414.

Munidopsis subsquamosa.— Baba, 2005: 186, 296, figs 88, 89 (complete list of synonymies and references).

Not Munidopsis subsquamosa fide de Saint­Laurent, 1885: 475 (= M. exuta n. sp.)

Material examined. Off Namibia, WALDA, Stn CY05, 21º46.3’S, 11º08.3’E, 2953 m, 11.06.1971: 12 males 23.0–27.0 mm, 1 ovig. female 30.2 mm, 3 females 31.9–41.7 mm.—Stn CY07, 22º53’S, 11º56’E, 2840 m, 17.06.1971: 1 ovig. female 34.8 mm.— Stn CY11, 17º30’S, 09º27’E, 4335, 30.06.1971: 1 female 20.0 mm.

Remarks. Baba (2005) provided an excellent analysis of the material collected in different localities and identified as different species or subspecies. The specimens collected off Namibia agree quite well with the description and figures of the type material. Our material is also similar to M. subsquamosa aculeata Henderson, 1885 (between Marion Island and Crozet islands and off Chile, 2516–2654 m) and M. barnardi Kensley, 1968 (W of Cape Point, 2708–2965 m). As Baba (2005) pointed out both taxa are junior names of M. subsquamosa. The specimens collected in the Bay of Biscay and identified provisionally as M. subsquamosa by de Saint­Laurent (1985) correspond to M. exuta (see above). The species is characterized by the carapace having low scale­like ridges on the gastric region, the presence of a group of gastric spines, including 2 epigastric spines, the anterolateral spine of the carapace larger than antennal spine in size, directed anterolaterad, the rostrum spiniform, the abdominal segment 6 with posteromedian margin weakly convex, not produced, the eyestalks short relative to length, the mesial eye­spine present, the cornea relatively small, as broad as the eyespine, the first walking leg overreaching the end of the cheliped, the fixed finger of the cheliped without a denticulate carina on the distolateral margin, the dactyli of walking legs strongly curved distally, the ultimate flexor marginal tooth much closer to the penultimate than to tip of the article, and epipods present on the chelipeds.

Distribution. Japan, eastern Australia, Chile, Marion Island, Crozet Islands, South Africa, between 2516 and 3960 m. The present material was collected off Namibia, between 2840 and 2953 m.