Eurindicus bhugarbha sp. nov.

(FigS. 2–6)

Type material. India. Holotype: male (pocl 3.2 mm), homeStead well uSed for drinking water and irrigation at Puthiyatheru, Chirakkal, Kannur DiStrict, Kerala, 11.911°N 75.364°E, 29m a.S.l, 8.64 m deep, leg. C.P. Arjun, 07.II.2017, BNHS CAR 1. ParatypeS: male (pocl 3.0 mm), Same detailS, diSSected, BNHS CAR 2; male (pocl 2.4 mm), Same detailS, BNHS CAR 3.

Description. Carapace Smooth, branchioStegal grooVe well-deVeloped (Fig. 2A–C); roStrum triangular in dorSal View (Fig. 2C), depreSSed, falling Short of diStal margin of eyeS; SparSely SetoSe; Sub-orbital angle poorly deVeloped; antennal tooth marginal, diStinct, confluent with Sub-orbital angle; pterygoStomial angle rounded. EyeS Short (FigS. 2A–B), conical, cornea abSent, diStal part of eyeS hyaline, proximal part appearing denSer with diSperSed globuleS; anteromeSial peduncle not produced, without Setae.

Fourth thoracic Sternite (maleS) without tranSVerSal ridge or tooth; fifth thoracic Sternite (Fig. 2I) with welldeVeloped tranSVerSal ridge, with broad median lobeS.

Abdomen Smooth (Fig. 2D), pleura 1–3 Ventrally rounded; pleuron 2 expanded, oVerlapping both pleuron 1 and 3; pleura 4–5 poStero-lateral angle quadrate; poStero-lateral margin of pleuron 6 produced into rounded lobe.

Antennular peduncle (FigS. 2E–G) with Stylocerite expanded into tooth; antero-lateral margin of baSal Segment produced into Sharp, recurVed tooth, reaching middle of Second Segment; Second Segment with both antero-lateral and antero-medial angle bluntly produced, aSymmetrical; third Segment quadrate; lower antennular flagellum long, about 2.5 x carapace length; upper antennular flagellum biramouS, joint portion conSiSting of three diViSionS; acceSSory ramuS Short, with four conical diViSionS; two pairS of aeSthetaScS preSent diStally on third diViSion, fiVe pairS medially and diStally on fourth diViSion.

Scaphocerite broad (Fig. 2H), Slightly longer than antennular peduncle; fringed with annular, plumoSe Setae; lateral margin Straight, ending in diStal tooth, falling Short of diStal margin of lamella; carpocerite with diSto-lateral tooth.

Mandible with inciSor and molar proceSS widely Separated (Fig. 3A), palp abSent, inciSor with three teeth; molar ridged. Maxillule (Fig. 3B) with two enditeS; lower endite diStally with plumoSe Setae; upper endite with cuSpidate and pappoSe Setae; palp bilobed, non-SetoSe. Maxilla (Fig. 3C) with Single endite, terminally with Simple Setae; endopod Short, diStally recurVed; Scaphognathite large. FirSt maxilliped (Fig. 3D) with well-deVeloped exopodS; enditeS Separated oVer entire width; endopod well-deVeloped; caridean lobe broad. Second maxilliped (Fig. 3E) with Single podobranch, endopod without diStinguiShing featureS; exopodS well-deVeloped. Third maxilliped (Fig. 3F) pediform, elongate; endopod four-Segmented, two arthrobranchS preSent, dorSal one with reduced lamellae.

FirSt pereiopod Slender (Fig. 4A), oVer-reaching Scaphocerite by diStal half of propoduS; meruS about 2.0 x length of iSchium; carpuS of equal length to meruS; carpo-propodal bruSh preSent, but reduced (Fig. 4B); chelae about 0.75 x length of carpuS, fingerS of equal length to palm, both ending in Strong tooth; lower Surface of palm and fixed finger with well-deVeloped tuft of Serrate Setae; tipS of both fingerS with tuft of Simple Setae.

Second pereiopodS, robuSt, Subequal, Similar (FigS. 4 C–D), oVer-reaching Scaphocerite by diStal half of propoduS; meruS Subequal in length to iSchium; carpuS Subequal in length to meruS; anterior margin without teeth; chelae about 3.0 aS long aS carpuS; fingerS about 0.70 x length of palm, both ending in Single tooth; proximal margin of cutting edge of fixed finger with two, low teeth; Single tooth on moVeable finger (Fig. 4E).

Third to fifth pereiopodS Similar in Shape and Size. Third pereiopod (Fig. 4F) oVer-reaching Scaphocerite by entire length of propoduS; meruS about 1.4 x length of iSchium; carpuS about 0.6 x length of meruS, without cuSpidate Setae on diStoVentral margin; propoduS about 1.7 x length of carpuS, lower margin with 5–6 Spiniform Setae, Scattered along margin; dactyl (Fig. 5C) about 0.4 x length of propoduS, bifid, unguiS not clearly demarcated. Fourth pereiopod (Fig. 4G) Similar to third, oVer-reaching Scaphocerite by diStal third of propoduS; lower margin of propoduS with 5–6 Spiniform Setae; carpuS without cuSpidate Setae on diStoVentral margin; dactyluS (Fig. 5D) Similar to third. Fifth pereiopod (Fig. 4H) Similar, oVer-reaching antennal Scale by diStal two-thirdS of propoduS; propodal cleaning bruSh with two rowS of pappoSe Setae; diStal Setae more robuSt.

TelSon (Fig. 2J) broad, about 1.6 x aS long aS wide, reaching to 0.7 x uropod length; dorSal Surface with two, marginally placed pairS of SpineS; anterior pair at 0.3 of telSon length; poSterior pair of equal Size, at 0.6 of telSon length; poSterior margin broadly rounded, anteriorly conStricted, laterally with two pairS of SpineS, medial pair about 2.5 x length of lateral pair; diStal margin with annulated, plumoSe Setae.

Uropod (Fig. 2K) broad; protopod with weakly deVeloped lateral expanSion (Fig. 2L), tip with 4–5 elongate, Simple Setae; endopod and exopod equal in length; diareSiS complete, but weaker medially, furniShed with Single cuSpidate Seta (Fig. 2M) at lateral angle; marginS of endopod and exopodS with annulate, plumoSe Setae.

FirSt pleopod (male) (Fig. 5A) with elongate protopod; exopod about 1.4 x length of endopod; appendix interna preSent; diStally with 4–5 cincinulli; baSal margin of endopod with two coupling hookS. Second pleopod (male) (Fig. 5B) with elongate protopod, exopodS Slightly longer than endopod; endopod with appendiceS internae and maSculine; appendix maSculina longer than interna, lateral and diStal margin with elongate, Simple Setae; baSal margin of endopod with two coupling hookS. Third to fifth pleopod (male) with well-deVeloped endopod; appendix interna preSent, Shorter than endopod.

Branchial formula. Podobranch on Second maxilliped; epipodS on maxillipedS 1–2; exopodS on maxillipedS 1– 3; two arthrobranchS on maxilliped 3; Single pleurobranch on pereiopodS 1–5.

Colour pattern. The SpecieS iS largely colourleSS and tranSparent, but with a yellow-orange hue on the body (Fig. 6).

Etymology. The SpecieS name ‘ bhugarbha ’ meanS underground in Malayalam, the natiVe language Spoken in the State of Kerala in Southern India, uSed aS a noun in appoSition.

Habitat. A priVate homeStead well, 8.64 m deep, which haS been regularly uSed Since 1994 for drinking water and home-baSed irrigation purpoSeS. The well iS compoSed of lateritic Soil for the initial depth of up to 5 meterS followed by clay. Water temperature in the well waS 26±1°C.

Distribution. Currently only known from the type locality in Puthiyatheru, Kannur DiStrict, Kerala State, Southern India. It iS not known whether the SpecieS occurS in adjoining wellS or iS further diStributed in the aquifer.

Systematic remarks. See under Eurindicus gen. nov.