TABLE II Morphological and meristic differences between the four new Liberonautes species
Characters L. kasonko sp. nov. L. njala sp. nov. L. schubarti sp. L. sugarloaf sp.
nov. nov.
Adult size range CW 46.5 mm CW 52-66 mm CW 22-23 mm CW 51-75 mm
Carapace; postfrontal Distinct, Distinct, Distinct, Distinct,
crest completely incomplete, not completely completely
traversing traversing traversing traversing
carapace, meeting carapace, lateral carapace, meeting carapace, meeting
lateral carapace ends only reaching lateral carapace lateral carapace
margins (figs. 3A, cervical sulcus margins (figs. 3C, margins (figs. 3D,
5A). (figs. 3B, 5B). 5C). 5D).
Carapace; With carinae Smooth (figs. 2B, With carinae Smooth (figs. 2D,
anterolateral (figs. 2A, 3A). 3B). (figs. 2C, 3C). 3D).
surface texture
Carapace; All deep (figs. 2A, All deep (figs. 2B, Faint, almost All deep (figs. 2D,
semicircular, 3A). 3B). obscure (figs. 2C, 3D).
urogastric, 3C).
cardiac, cervical,
transverse
branchial grooves
Carapace; exorbital Small, distinct Low, blunt Small, granular Medium sized, well
tooth (figs. 2A, 3A, 4A, (figs. 2B, 3B, 4B, (figs. 2C, 3C, 4C, defined (figs. 2D,
5A). 5B). 5C). 3D, 4D, 5D).
Carapace; With carinae Medium-sized With carinae Medium-sized
intermediate (figs. 2A, 3A, 4A, triangular (figs. 2B, (figs. 2C, 3C, 4C, triangular (figs. 2D,
tooth on 5A). 3B, 4B, 5B). 5C). 3D, 4D, 5D).
anterolateral
margin
Carapace; Granular (figs. 2A, Small, distinct Granular (figs. 2C, Granular (figs. 2D,
epibranchial 3A, 4A, 5A). (figs. 2B, 3B, 4B, 3C, 4C, 5C). 3D, 4D, 5D).
tooth on carapace 5B).
anterolateral
margin
Carapace; With carinae Smooth (fig. 5B). With carinae Smooth (fig. 5D).
branchiostegite (fig. 5A). (fig. 5C).
subhepatic region
surface texture
Major cheliped; Gently curved Highly arched Gently curved Gently curved
dactylus leaving narrow leaving wide leaving narrow leaving narrow
morphology interspace when interspace when interspace when interspace when
closed (fig. 6B). closed (fig. 6F). closed (fig. 6K). closed (fig. 6P).
G1TA length Long, (ca. half as Long, (ca. half as Medium ca. Long, (ca. half as
long as G1SA) long as G1SA) two-fifths as long long as G1SA)
G1TA/G1SA = 0.5 G1TA/G1SA = 0.5 as G1SA, G1TA/G1SA = 0.5
(fig. 7A, B). (fig. 7D, E). G1TA/G1SA = 0.4 (fig. 7J, K).
(fig. 7G, H).
G1SA lateral margin Distinctly curved Distinctly curved Gently curved Distinctly curved
inward (fig. 7A, B). inward (fig. 7D, E). inward (fig. 7G, H). inward (fig. 7J, K).