Griffinia lappacea (Rathbun, 1918)

(Figs. 25A–E, 26A, B, D, E, G–I)

Antilibinia lappacea Rathbun, 1918: 12, fig. 3, pl. 7 fig. 3.—Hale 1927: 133, fig. 133; Barnard 1950: 37.—Griffin 1966: 267.— Sakai 1976: 201.— Griffin & Tranter 1986: 70.

Pisidarum sp. Serène & Vadon, 1981:128, pl. 4F.

Griffinia lappacea. — Richer de Forges 1994: 67, figs. 3A–D, 4B, C.— Ng et al. 2008: 100.

Material examined. Solomon Sea: 1 ovigerous female (pcl 11.0 mm, pcw 7.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-9637), stn CP 4330, 06°08’S 149°12’E, 315–625 m, coll. N.O. Alis, MADEEP cruise, 6 May 2014; 2 males (pcl 13.9 mm, pcw 9.8 mm [broken carapace]; pcl 12.0 mm, pcw 8.3 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-9648), stn CP 4331, 06°07’S 149°12’E, 260 m, coll. N.O. Alis, MADEEP cruise, 6 May 2014; 1 ovigerous female (pcl 11.0 mm, pcw 8.1 mm) (MHNN-IU-2015-814), stn CP 4331, 06°07’S 149°12’E, 260 m, coll. N.O. Alis, MADEEP cruise, 6 May 2014; 1 female (pcl 7.5 mm, pcw 5.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2015-63), stn CP 4337, 06°07’S 149°17’E, 287–447 m, coll. N.O. Alis, MADEEP cruise, 7 May 2014; 1 male (pcl 13.0 mm, pcw 9.4 mm), 1 ovigerous female (pcl 10.0 mm, pcw 7.5 mm) (MNHN- IU-2011-3529), stn CP 3708, 04°58’S 145°50’E, 502–529 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 2 October 2010. Papua New Guinea: 2 ovigerous female (pcl 12.1 mm, pcw 9.0 mm; pcl 12.7 mm, pcw 8.8 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011- 2341), 1 female (MNHN-IU-2011-2299), stn CP 3721, Vitiaz Strait, 06°03’S 147°37’ E, 542–554 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 7 October 2010; 2 ovigerous females (pcl 11.1 mm, pcw 8.1 mm; pcl 11.1 mm, pcw 8.2 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-946), stn DW 3668, north of Rabaul, 04°08’S 151°58’E, 383–411 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 24 September 2010; 1 ovigerous female (pcl 11.1 mm, pcw 7.6 mm) (MHNH-IU-2014-9949), stn CP 4437, 02°23’S 150°37’E, 416–535 m, coll. N.O.Alis, KAVIENG 2014 expedition, 31August 2014; 1 ovigerous female (pcl 11.6 mm, pcw 9.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2014-19049), stn CP 4423, New Ireland, 02°20’S 150°38’E, 550–649 m, coll. N.O. Alis, KAVIENG 2014 expedition, 28 August 2014; 1 ovigerous female (pcl 12.0 mm, pcw 8.5 mm) (MNHN- IU-2011-2889), stn CP 3709, off coast of Madang, 04°58’S 145°52’E, 640–675 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 2 October 2010; 1 ovigerous female (pcl 9.9 mm, pcw 7.9 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-967), stn CP 3670, north of Rabaul, 04°06’S 151°56’E, 497–500 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 24 September 2010; 1 male (pcl 10.0 mm, pcw 7.3 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-2203), stn CP 3672, north of Rabaul, 04°04’S 151°50’E, 702–724 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 24 September 2010; 1 male (pcl 10.3 mm, pcw 7.4 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-2704), stn CP 3645, Tami Island, north of Huon, 06°44’S 147°50’E, 403–418 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 24 August 2010; 1 male (pcl 13.2 mm, pcw 9.5 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-3194), coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, leg. 4, no other data; 1 male (pcl 13.0 mm, pcw 9.6 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-1473), stn CP 3670, north of Rabaul, 04°06’S 151°56’E, 497–500 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 24 September 2010; 1 male (pcl 9.5 mm, pcw 7.6 mm) (MNHN-IU-2011-889), stn CP 3654, west of New Hanover, 02°14’S 150°16’E, 490–505 m, coll. N.O. Alis, BIOPAPUA cruise, 28 August 2010; 1 male (pcl 12.4 mm, pcw 9.0 mm) (ZRC 2018.1473), stn CP 4339, 06°10’S 149°18’E, 510–743 m, coll. MADEEP Expedition, 7 May 2014; 1 male (pcl 9.8 mm, pcw 6.7 mm), 2 females (pcl 11.5, pcw 8.4 mm; pcl 10.3 mm, pcw 7.3 mm) (ZRC 018.1474), stn CP 4444, 02°15’S 150°14’E, 417–421 m, coll. KAVIENG 2014, 1 September 2014.

Remarks. Lee et al. (2013: 3, fig. 1A) identified a series of specimens from Papua New Guinea as G. takedai Richer de Forges & Ng, 2012, extending the range of the species to off Luzon in the Philippines. Together with the present material, we have re-examined all this material and now believe that they should all be referred to G. lappacea instead. The two species are close, but highly diagnostic of the latter taxon are the very long and inward curving hepatic spines, which reach well beyond the orbits (Rathbun 1918: 12, pl. 7 fig. 3; Richer de Forges 1994: fig. 3A–C). Griffinia lappacea has been reported from southern Australia (type locality) as well as the Northwest Shelf, Kai Islands (Indonesia) and Philippines (Serène & Vadon 1984; Richer de Forges 1994). Serène & Vadon (1984: 128, pl. 4F) had reported their specimen from northwest Mindoro in western Philippines as “ Pisidarum sp.” but Richer de Forges (1994: 67) noted that this should be G. lappacea instead.

The specimens on hand show that the strength and length of the hepatic spine is very variable, being short in some specimens (Fig. 25C, E; Lee et al. 2013: fig. 1A) to distinctly longer (Fig. 25A, B, D). Comparisons with the type material of G. takedai shows several clear differences between the two species not observed before. Griffinia lappacea differs in almost always having a row of four strong tubercles on the inner part of the pterygostomial ridge, which are either distinct or basally fused to various degrees (Fig. 26A, B). In one small subadult female (pcl 7.5 mm, pcw 5.4 mm, MNHN-IU-2015-63), the left pterygostomial ridge had three tubercles but the right side had four tubercles, the first being small. This character is very consistent in all the specimens examined. In G. takedai, this pterygostomial ridge is defined by a row of four more elongate dentiform tubercles, with an additional median tubercle posterior to the row (Fig. 26C). In addition, we note that the hepatic spine of G. lappacea is always more anteriorly directed, even if short (Fig. 25A–E) whereas in G. takedai, the hepatic spine is always directed more obliquely laterally (Fig. 25F; Richer de Forges & Ng 2012: figs. 1, 2A). In G. lappacea, the posterior margin of the lobiform outer margin of the carpus of the male cheliped is almost always expanded and distinctly auriculiform (Fig. 25A–E); but in G. takedai, the structure is more symmetrical in shape and the posterior margin is rounded (Fig. 25F). When specimens of similar sizes are compared, the ambulatory meri of G. lappacea are also proportionately longer and more slender (Fig. 26D, E) compared to those of G. takedai (Fig. 26F; Richer de Forges & Ng 2012: fig. 3C). Significantly, the G1 of G. lappacea is also more sinuous in general shape, with the tapering distal part relatively longer (Fig. 26H–I); in G. takedai, the G1 is straighter with the distal part shorter (Fig. 26J–L; Richer de Forges & Ng 2012: fig. 4A, B).