Dicranodromia ovata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, by monotypy; gender feminine).

As the number of species has increased and more material has been examined since the revision by Guinot (1995), a revised key to Dicranodromia is provided below for the Indo-West Pacific species. To date, there are no shared species between the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific.

Japan: 1 ♀ with 1 megalops (15.9 × 20.2 mm), Sagami Bay, from aquarium trade, 8 Apr. 2015 (ZRC 2017.1214, COI sequence: OK351331); 1 ovigerous ♀ (14.5 × 19.2 mm), 35°32.51'N, 139°54.74'E, Futttsu, Kanaya, Chiba Prefecture, 200–250 m, 19 Sep. 2007 (ZRC 2021.0469, COI sequence: OK351333); 1♂ (10.3 × 8.5 mm), station 29, 34°40.21'N, 139°18.62'E, SW of Izu-Ohshima Island, Izu Islands, 289-307 m, TRV Shin’yo-maru, 2002 research cruise, coll. T. Komai, 24 Oct. 2002 (CBM-ZC 16572, COI sequence: OK351332).

This species is well known (for synonymy and records, see Guinot 1995; Ikeda 1998) but may be a species complex, and specimens from outside the type locality in Japan all need to be rechecked (see Guinot 1995; Ng and McLay 2005).

One female specimen (ZRC 2017.1214) was imported to Singapore via the aquarium trade in early April 2015. On 8 April, the specimen was obtained by Paul YC Ng and observed to have between 10–20 large eggs under the pleon with the eyes just visible. It was kept in a cold-water aquarium (ca. 15–20°C) with other crustacean and fish species. On 18 April, he noted that several eggs had been released into the aquarium (Fig. 1D) which appeared ready to hatch, and that some of the egg membranes had ruptured revealing what appeared to be a dead first zoeal stage (Fig. 1E). One specimen, however, was apparently a freshly hatched and dead megalopa (Fig. 1F). He observed the first free-crawling megalopa on the female specimen on 24 April (Fig. 1B, G). Unfortunately, no larvae except one megalopa was preserved (PYC Ng, personal communication).

Figure 1. 

Dicranodromia doederleini Ortmann, 1892, ♀ (15.9 × 20.2 mm) (ZRC 2017.1214), Japan A colour in life (26 April 2015) B ventral surface showing megalopa (arrow) (26 April 2015) C frontal view showing megalopa crawling on chela (arrow) and larvae under pleon (24 April 2015) D fresh eyed egg (not preserved, 18 April 2015) E first zoea (not preserved, 18 April 2015) F freshly hatched megalopa (not preserved, 18 April 2015) G dorsal view of free moving megalops (26 April 2015). Photographs: PYC Ng.

Figure 2. 

Dicranodromia doederleini Ortmann, 1892, ovigerous ♀ (14.5 × 19.2 mm) (ZRC 2021.0469), Japan A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C left third maxilliped D frontal view of cephalothorax E epistome, antennules, antennae and orbits.

Figure 3. 

Dicranodromia doederleini Ortmann, 1892, ovigerous ♀ (14.5 × 19.2 mm) (ZRC 2021.0469), Japan A left chela B left P3 C right P3 dactylus D left P5 E left P5 propodus and dactylus F left P4 propodus and dactylus G anterior thoracic sternum and spermatheca H posterior thoracic sternum showing spermatheca and female gonopores.

The observations above on the eggs and megalopa of D. doederleini provide some clarity on the larval development in the genus. While it is known the eggs are large and the development is abbreviated, it is not sure of the eggs hatch into an advanced zoeal stage or directly into megalopa. Caustier (1895) was the first to report on the first zoea of Dicranodromia ovata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, from the Atlantic but he based this on unhatched embryos and unfortunately, the description was brief, and no figures were provided. Martin (1991) found a specimen of D. felderi Martin, 1990 from the western Atlantic, which had well-developed eggs and removed some embryos. On the basis of these, he described what he regarded was the first zoea. Guinot (1995: 105) reported that a specimen of D. nagaii from Japan had about 20 megalopae under the pleon and suggested the eggs hatched directly into this stage. The eggs of D. doederleini are full of yolk, and even the “first zoea” observed are of the lecitotrophic type, with yolk sacs and appendages, which are poorly or not setose (Fig. 1E). They are very similar to the condition observed or the dromiid Cryptodromia pileifera Alcock, 1900 which has only one lecitrophic first zoeal stage before the megalopa (Tan et al. 1986). In Cryptodromia pileifera, however, the zoea is still able to swim and move around in the water column although it only lasts two days before metamorphosing. For the specimen of D. doederleini that was kept in the aquarium, it would appear that if it was natural, the young would develop into an advanced zoeal stage while still inside the egg membrane, and break free only after it metamorphoses into the megalopa. The transition between the “first zoea” and megalopa, however, is clearly very short, perhaps a day or less. The condition for Dicranodromia is thus probably similar to that of eubrachyuran marine crabs, some other podotreme crabs and various enbrachyurans like the epialtids Paranaxia serpulifera (Guérin, 1832) and P. keesingi Hosie & Hara, 2016 (Rathbun 1914, 1924; Morgan 1987; Hosie and Hara 2016), and the pilumnids Pilumnus novaezealandiae Filhol, 1885 and P. lumpinus Bennett, 1964 (cf. Wear 1967); taxa which undergo direct development.

Philippines: l ♂ (12.3 × 16.6 mm), station CP2396, 9°36.3'N, 123°42.0'E, Maribohoc Bay, Panglao, Bohol, Visayas, 609–673 m, PANGLAO 2005 Expedition, coll. MV DA-BFAR, 31 May 2005 (ZRC 2007.0105); l ♀ (28.1 × 34.2 mm), station CP2363, 9°06.0'N, 123°25.0'E, Bohol and Sulu Seas, 437–439 m, PANGLAO 2005 Expedition, coll. MV DA-BFAR, 26 May 2005 (ZRC 2007.0106, COI sequence: OK331337).

Ng and Naruse (2007: 49) commented that the largest female they examined (28.1 × 34.2 mm, ZRC 2007.0106) has the carapace relatively more inflated with the posterolateral margin distinctly convex and the external orbital tooth more anteriorly directed when compared to smaller males. In addition, this female specimen is also relatively more hirsute (Fig. 4A, C, D versus Fig. 6A–C). We see a similar pattern of variation in D. erinaceus sp. nov., where the smaller males are less swollen and with less setae overall when compared to larger females (Fig. 16A, B versus Fig. 13A, B). In D. karubar, the exorbital tooth varies in the angle its directed outwards (Figs 8B, C, 10B). As such, the differences observed for the specimens of D. martini examined here are regarded as intraspecific and/or size related.

Figure 4. 

Dicranodromia martini Guinot, 1995, ♀ (28.1 v 34.2 mm) (ZRC 2007.0106), Philippines A overall view B right third maxilliped C dorsal view of carapace D anterior part of carapace (right side denuded) E frontal view of cephalothorax.

Figure 5. 

Dicranodromia martini Guinot, 1995, ♀ (28.1 × 34.2 mm) (ZRC 2007.0106), Philippines A epistome, antennules, antennae and orbits B left chela C right P3 D right P5 E right P5 dactylus F right P4 G telson H posterior thoracic sternum showing spermatheca and female gonopores.

Figure 6. 

Dicranodromia martini Guinot, 1995, ♂ (12.3 × 16.6 mm) (ZRC 2007.0105), Philippines A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C anterior part of carapace (partially denuded) D male telson.

Figure 7. 

Colour in life. A,B Dicranodromia karubar Guinot, 1993, ♂ (28.7 × 34.7 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java C D. karubar Guinot, 1993, ovigerous ♀ (30.1 × 35.5 mm) (ZRC 2020.0349), Java D D. karubar Guinot, 1993, ovigerous ♀ (24.8 × 31.5 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java E D. erinaceus sp. nov., holotype ♀ (14.0 × 18.0 mm) (NTOU B00126), Taiwan F D. erinaceus sp. nov., paratype ♂ (6.9 × 9.5 mm) (ZRC 2021.0084), Taiwan. Photographs: T.-Y. Chan.

Indonesia: 1 ♂ (28.7 × 34.7 mm), 3 ovigerous ♀♀ (24.8 × 31.5 mm, 27.1 × 33.4 mm, 27.6 × 33.8 mm), station CP39, 8°15.885'S, 109°10.163'E – 8°16.060'S, 109°10.944'E, 528–637 m, substrate partially muddy, plenty of glass sponges, echinoderms, polychaeta, galatheids, fishes, sea anemone, gastropods and bivalves, south of Cilacap, south Java, Indian Ocean, South Java Deep Sea cruise, coll. beam trawl, 30 Mar. 2020 (ZRC 2020.0348); 1 ovigerous ♀ (30.1 × 35.5 mm), station CP51, 7°04.874'S, 106°25.396'E – 7°05.348'S, 106°25.044'E, 569–657 m, substrate coarse sand, mud and some plastic trash, small crabs, ophiuroids, stalk crinoids, chitons, limpets and sea daisies on fallen bamboo, Pelabuhanratu Bay, south Java, Indian Ocean, South Java Deep Sea cruise, coll. beam trawl, 2 Apr. 2020 (ZRC 2020.0349, COI sequence: OK331336).

Mendoza et al. (2021) recently recorded D. karubar from southern Java, over 1000 km from its type locality in the Moluccas. The specimens, however, agree very well with the descriptions and figures of Guinot (1995) and they are clearly conspecific.

Guinot (1995: 215) noted that the rostrum of this species is at most a tubercle, which is in conformity with the present material. The merus, carpus and dactylus were described as unarmed by Guinot (1995), but the P5 propodus actually has one or two spines on the outer surface, which are hard to see as the dense plumose setae obscure them. In some specimens, the P5 dactylus has a prominent spine on the extensor margin (Fig. 10D), but as reported by Ng and Naruse (2007), it is absent in others (Fig. 9G, H). The form of the exorbital tooth varies to some degree. In the female specimens, the tooth is clearly directed anteriorly (Fig. 8B, C) but in the male, it is pointed obliquely laterally (Fig. 10B).

Figure 8. 

Dicranodromia karubar Guinot, 1993, ♀ (27.1 × 33.4 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C anterior right part of carapace (denuded) D frontal view of cephalothorax.

Figure 9. 

Dicranodromia karubar Guinot, 1993. A–H, J ♀ (27.1 × 33.4 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java I ♀ (27.6 × 33.8 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java A epistome, antennules, antennae and orbits B left third maxilliped C right chela (denuded) D right P3 (denuded) E right P3 dactylus (denuded) F right P5 (denuded) G right P5 propodus and dactylus (partially denuded) H right P4 propodus and dactylus (partially denuded) I telson J posterior thoracic sternum showing spermatheca and female gonopores.

Figure 10. 

Dicranodromia karubar Guinot, 1993. A–C ♂ (28.7 × 34.7 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java D ♀ (27.6 × 33.8 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C telson D left P5 propodus and dactylus.

Figure 11. 

A–C Dicranodromia martini Guinot, 1995, ♂ (12.3 × 16.6 mm) (ZRC 2007.0105), Philippines D–F D. karubar Guinot, 1993, ♂ (28.7 × 34.7 mm) (ZRC 2020.0348), Java A,D left G1 (ventral view) B,E left G1 (dorsal view) C,F left G2. Setae for all structures not figured. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

The setae on D. karubar are unusual in that they are plumose at the distal part (Guinot 1995: fig. 16D). When the animals are freshly collected, the setae lock together to form a dense coat, which traps fine mud and completely obscure the carapace and pereiopod surfaces and margins (Fig. 7A). After the specimen is cleaned gently with a brush and the sediment removed, the surfaces and margins become more visible with the distal plumose parts no longer meshed together. The margins of the pereiopods, however, are still partially obscured as the setae there are denser (Fig. 7B, C). In the form of the setae, D. karubar is most similar to D. baffini from the Indian Ocean, although the tomentum of the latter species is relatively less dense (cf. Padate et al. 2020: fig. 2a).

Dicranodromia karubar can easily be separated from D. baffini by its proportionately broader carapace (Figs 8B, 10B) (versus relatively narrower and longer in D. baffini; cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 13, Padate et al. 2020: fig. 2a); the antero- and posterolateral margins almost smooth, except sometimes for a few scattered granules (Figs 8B, 10B) (versus lined with granules and spinules in D. baffini; cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 13, Padate et al. 2020: fig. 2a); and the subdistal lobe on the outer margin of the endopod curved and beak-like (Fig. 11D, E) (versus lobe rounded in D. baffini; cf. Padate et al. 2020: fig. 2g, i). Based on the figures of Gordon (1950), Guinot (1995: fig. 16C) commented that the structure of the spermatheca was different in the two species, but we do not discern any major differences since both species possess an unusual and prominent comma-shaped tubercle on each side of sternite 7, with the spermatheca at the base of this tubercle (Fig. 9J). The spermathecal structure in the D. baffini from the Andamans (cf. Padate et al. 2020: fig. 2j) is almost identical to the condition observed in D. karubar (Fig. 9J). Alcock and Anderson (1899: 8) described the structure as “sternal grooves of the female end, without tubercles, at the level of the openings of the oviducts”, which does not match the description and figures of Gordon (1950: 205, text-fig. 1) and Padate et al. (2020: fig. 2j). As noted by Padate et al. (2020: 3), the condition observed by Alcock and Anderson (1899) may be because their specimen was a juvenile.

Dicranodromia karubar is known thus far only from the Moluccas and eastern part of the Indian Ocean while D. baffini has been recorded from western India, Maldives and Andamans (Alcock 1899, 1901; Gordon 1950; Padate et al. 2020).

All the females of D. karubar collected from the south Javan cruise were ovigerous, the eggs being bright red in life, in a prominent brood pouch (Fig. 7D). One female specimen (27.6 × 33.8 mm, ZRC 2020.0348) had 362 eggs, each about 2.5 mm in diameter.

Philippines: holotype ovigerous ♀ (broken, 10.8 × 14.2 mm), Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol, Visayas, in tangle nets, ca. 200–300 m, coll. local shell fishermen, 2 Mar. 2004 (ZRC 2005.0094).

The broken holotype female was re-examined and some characters need to be added or amended from Ng and McLay (2005). Ng and Naruse (2007: fig. 3c) had already noted that the P5 dactylus has a distinct spine on the extensor margin (Fig. 12F, G); but in addition, the P5 propodus has three spines on the outer surface (Fig. 12G). The P2 and P3 meri were described being unarmed but this is not correct. The extensor margin has low spines while the flexor margin has a row of slender spines partially covered by the dense stiff setae (Fig. 12D). In addition, the basal antennal article is relatively short with the anteroexternal tooth long and subequal in length to the article (Fig. 12C). In addition, the epistome of this species is unusual in that the distal part is strongly spinose, with the median lateral part possessing a sharp anteriorly directed tooth; and the rostrum consists of two lateral and one median slender spinules (Fig. 12B, C). The merus of the third maxilliped is distinctive, being strongly spinose, with the inner margin lined with strong spines; the exopod is essentially unarmed (Fig. 12I).

Figure 12. 

Dicranodromia danielae Ng & McLay, 2005, holotype ovigerous ♀ (broken, 10.8 × 14.2 mm) (ZRC 2005.0094), Philippines A dorsal view of carapace B frontal region showing rostrum C epistome, antennules, antennae and orbits D right chela E right P3 F left P5 G left P5 propodus and dactylus H left P4 propodus and dactylus I right third maxilliped.

Some of the characters of D. danielae resemble the male specimen 9.7 × 14.0 mm from Uraga Strait in Japan (35°4.833'N, 139°38.3'E) which Guinot (1995: 207, fig. 11b) referred to “Dicranodromia aff. doederleini”. She described the carapace, proepistome, antennae, antennules, buccal frame, ventral surfaces and merus of the third maxilliped are being more spiny than typical D. doederleini even though the outer surface of the chela was smooth. The more spinous features of the specimen (notably the ventral surfaces, antennae, epistome and third maxillipeds), resemble the condition in D. danielae, but whether the flexor margin of the pereiopods of the specimen was also spinous was not stated. In addition, the carapace of D. danielae is less spinous compared to that figured by Guinot (1995: fig. 11b) for her “Dicranodromia aff. doederleini”. It would appear that this Japanese specimen is a species close to, but probably different from, D. danielae.

TAIWAN: holotype ♀ (14.0 × 18.0 mm), station CP4091, 22°14'N, 119°59'E, among numerous mud tubes, off small Liu-Qiu Island, southeast Taiwan, 974–994 m, coll. N.O. Ocean Researcher 1, 27 May 2013 (NTOU B00126); paratypes 2 ♀♀ (13.2 × 17.6 mm, 13.8 × 18.5 mm), same data as holotype (ZRC 2020.0467, COI sequence: OK351335); 1 ♂ (6.9 × 9.5 mm), station CP4212, 22^°18.34'N, 119^°59.51'E, southwestern Taiwan, 961–1008 m, coll. T.-Y. Chan, 15 Nov. 2020 (ZRC 2021.0084, COI sequence: OK331334); 1 ♂ (8.2 × 12.5 mm), station CP4212, 22^°18.34'N, 119^°59.51'E, southwestern Taiwan, 961–1008 m, coll. T.-Y. Chan, 15 Nov. 2020 (ZRC 2021.0085). Others: 1 ♀ (7.5 × 11.1 mm, carapace badly damaged), 24°26.9'N, 122°18.1'E, Taiwan, 638–824 m, coll. R/V “Fishery Researcher 1”, 4 August 2000 (NTOU B00127).

Carapace longitudinally subovate, widest across intestinal-mesobranchial regions; dorsal surface prominently convex, lateral surfaces covered with numerous spinules, those on median part relatively lower, sometimes granular, with short stiff setae, denser on lateral parts but not obscuring margins; short stiff setae present on pereiopods, thoracic sternum and pleon but not obscuring surface or margins. Branchiocardiac groove distinct, curving medially anteriorly. Each pseudorostral lobe triangular, inner margin straight, outer margin gently convex, directed anteriorly, inner margin with two or three spinules; exorbital tooth spiniform, directed obliquely laterally, anterior margin with two or three spinules; supraorbital margin separated from external orbital tooth by shallow concave cleft, posterior part with three spines; infraorbital margin with prominent triangular lobe, posterior margin with spinules, just visible in dorsal view. Rostrum present as one or two longer spinules in small specimens, barely discernible or just visible as a sharp granule in larger specimens. Epistome covered with spinules on anterior half; posterior half gently upturned, with median fissure, surface not covered with spinules, posterior margin entire. Basal antennal article subquadrate; surfaces covered by spinules and granules; anteroexternal tooth short. Eyes with short peduncle. Third maxilliped relatively narrow; merus subovate with low anterointernal lobe, slightly shorter than ischium; ischium subtrapezoidal, distal half wider than proximal part with inner margin convex; palp (carpus, propodus, dactylus) long, reaching to median part of ischium when folded; exopod with proximal third widest, outer margin with low sharp granules on proximal third. Chelipeds densely covered with stiff setae on most parts; merus and carpus with outer surface and margins lined with spinules and granules; palm relatively short, outer surface and margins covered with numerous sharp granules; fingers thick, wide, occluding surface hollowed; pollex with deep U-shaped depression distally. P2 and P3 relatively long, P3 longer than P2; merus with low tooth on distal extensor margin, length to width ratio of P2 and P3 merus 5.2 and 4.5, respectively; proximal part of extensor margin with low spinules, flexor margin with numerous spinules; propodus almost straight, unarmed, length to width ratio of P2 and P3 propodus 6.7 and 8.0, respectively; dactylus sickle-shaped, flexor margin lined with 15 or 16 spines, terminating in strongly incurved claw, propodus about twice length of dactylus. P4 stouter, shorter than P5; length to width ratio of P4 and P5 merus 3.5 and 5.0, respectively; proximal part of extensor margin of merus with low spinules, flexor margin with numerous spinules; P4 and P5 propodus without median spinules on outer surface, length to width ratio of P4 and P5 propodus 3.5 and 4.7, respectively, distal margin fringed by sharp spines bracketing dactylus; dactylus claw-like, strongly incurved, extensor margin unarmed, flexor margin unarmed or with two weak spines. Thoracic sternite 7 with strong transverse ridge from posterior inner part of female gonopore, lateral part raised, forming triangular tubercle, curving posteriorly to join oblique ridge formed by sternites 7 and 8 with distinct groove between them that leads to spermathecal aperture at centre of triangular tubercle. Male and female pleons with six free somites and telson; male telson distinctly subovate; female telson wide, triangular, with gently sinuous margins. G1 stout, endopod distally covered by dense long setae, subdistal part of outer margin with two lobes, proximal lobe larger, prominent; G2 endopod gradually tapering to sharp tip.

Figure 13. 

Dicranodromia erinaceus sp. nov., holotype ♀ (14.0 × 18.0 mm) (NTOU B00126), Taiwan A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C front and anterior part of carapace D left orbit and first anterolateral spine.

Figure 14. 

Dicranodromia erinaceus sp. nov., holotype ♀ (14.0 × 18.0 mm) (NTOU B00126), Taiwan A ventral view of cephalothorax B left third maxilliped C frontal view of cephalothorax D epistome, antennules, antennae and orbits E dorsal view of right chela F left chela.

Figure 15. 

Dicranodromia erinaceus sp. nov. A–E holotype ♀ (14.0 × 18.0 mm) (NTOU B00126), Taiwan F paratype ♀ (13.8 × 18.5 mm) (ZRC 2020.0467), Taiwan A right P3 B right P5 C right P5 propodus and dactylus D right P4 propodus and dactylus E anterior thoracic sternum and spermatheca F posterior thoracic sternum showing spermatheca and female gonopores.

Figure 16. 

Dicranodromia erinaceus sp. nov., paratype ♂ (8.2 × 12.5 mm) (ZRC 2021.0085), Taiwan A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C pleon D anterior thoracic sternum and G1s in situ.

None of the specimens examined had a spine or spinule on the extensor margin of the P5 dactylus; and outer surface of the P5 propodus was also unarmed (Fig. 21E). Most of the flexor margins of the dactylus were not armed with obvious spines or spinules, although two or three stout setae may be present.

The species is named after the hedgehog, Erinaceus, alluding to the spiny appearance of the carapace and legs. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Dicranodromia erinaceus sp. nov. belongs to the same group of species as D. spinulosa and D. delli in its spinose carapace surface and pereiopods, slender and spiniform exorbital tooth, and an acutely triangular suborbital tooth. Dicranodromia erinaceus is most similar to D. delli from New Zealand but can be distinguished by the ischium of the third maxilliped being relatively shorter and wider especially at the distal half (Fig. 14B) (versus more slender and rectangular in D. delli, cf. Ahyong 2008: fig. 4C); proportionately shorter P2 and P3 (e.g., P3 merus 4.5× longer than wide, propodus 8.0× longer than wide, Figs 13A, 15A) (versus P3 merus 6.6× longer than wide, propodus 11.1× longer than wide in D. delli, cf. Ahyong 2008: fig. 2A, 3D); the proportionately shorter and stouter P4 and P5 (e.g., P5 merus just reaches the branchiocardiac groove in dorsal position, Figs 13A, 15B) (versus longer and more slender, extending beyond branchiocardiac groove in dorsal position in D. delli, cf. Ahyong 2008: fig. 2A, B); the relatively stouter palm (Fig. 14F) (versus more slender in D. delli, cf. Ahyong 2008: fig. 3B); and the proportionately wider female telson (Fig. 14A) (versus less wide in D. delli, cf. Ahyong 2008: fig. 3C). The holotype and only known specimen of D. delli, an ovigerous female 15.5 × 19.0 mm from Nukuliau Seamount in New Zealand, is comparable in size to the ovigerous female holotype of D. erinaceus (14.0 × 18.0 mm) so the differences are not size-related. The characters of P2–P5 and third maxilliped are also obvious in the smaller female paratype of D. erinaceus as well as in the smaller male paratypes.

Compared to D. spinulosa, D. erinaceus can be separated by the carapace being proportionately wider (Figs 13B, 16B) (versus carapace transversely narrower in D. spinulosa, cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 21a; Ahyong 2008: fig. 1C); the median dorsal surface of the carapace covered with low sharp granules (Figs 13B, 16B) (versus covered with spinules in D. spinulosa, cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 21a; Ahyong 2008: fig. 1C); the submarginal surface of the posterior margin of the epistome is unarmed (Fig. 14C, D) (versus area armed with short spines in D. spinulosa, cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 22B); the ischium of the third maxilliped relatively shorter and wider especially at the distal half (Fig. 14B) (versus more slender and rectangular in D. spinulata, cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 21c); the relatively longer P2 and P3 (e.g., P3 propodus 8.0× longer than wide, Figs 13A, 15A) (versus P3 propodus less than 7× longer than wide), the P2 and P3 propodus twice the length of the dactylus (Fig. 15A) (versus 1.7× in D. spinulosa; Guinot 1995: fig. 21a; Ahyong 2008: fig. 1C); and the male telson subovate in shape (Fig. 16C) (versus triangular in D. spinulosa, cf. Guinot 1995: figs 21c, 25D). Dicranodromia spinulosa was described from three males and one female from New Caledonia, the holotype female being 7.5 × 11.0 mm; a size comparable to that of the male specimens of D. erinaceus we examined.

Ho et al. (2004) recorded D. doederleini from Taiwan from one badly damaged female specimen from northeastern Taiwan (see also Ahyong et al. 2009). The specimen is now referred to D. erinaceus.

Philippines: Holotype ♀ (19.6 × 26.4 mm), ca. 5°24'N, 125°22.5'E, Balut Island, Sarangani Islands, Davao Occidental Province, south of Mindanao Island, coll. tangle nets, local fishermen, 26 Nov. 2017 (ZRC 2018.0161); Paratype ♂ (15.2 × 21.0 mm), same location as holotype, coll. tangle nets, local fishermen, 2017 (ZRC 2018.0095).

Carapace longitudinally subquadrate, widest across intestinal-mesobranchial regions; dorsal surface gently convex, lateral surfaces covered with low spinules, median part smooth, margins with scattered short stiff setae, not obscuring margins; short stiff setae present on pereiopods, thoracic sternum and pleon but not obscuring surface or margins. Branchiocardiac groove distinct, curving medially anteriorly. Each pseudorostral lobe triangular, inner margin straight, outer margin gently convex, directed anteriorly, inner margin entire; exorbital tooth dentiform, directed obliquely laterally, anterior margin with two or three spinules; supraorbital margin separated from external orbital tooth by shallow concave cleft, posterior part with five or six spinules; infraorbital margin with large dorsoventrally flattened lobe which is dentiform to linguiform, larger than exorbital tooth, distal part with spine, anterior margin with two spinules, prominently visible in dorsal view. Rostrum present as one sharp granule. Epistome covered with scattered granules on anterior half; posterior half gently upturned, with median fissure, surface not covered with spinules, posterior margin gently convex, median part entire, lateral part gently serrate. Basal antennal article subquadrate; surfaces covered by spinules and granules; anteroexternal tooth short. Eyes with long peduncle. Third maxilliped relatively narrow; merus subovate with low anterointernal lobe, shorter than ischium; ischium subtrapezoidal, distal half slightly wider than proximal part; palp (carpus, propodus, dactylus) long, reaching to median part of ischium when folded; exopod with proximal third widest. Chelipeds covered with stiff setae on most parts; merus and carpus with margins uneven or lined with granules; palm relatively short, subdorsal and subventral margins with low sharp granules, median part smooth; fingers thick, wide, occluding surface hollowed; pollex with deep U-shaped depression distally. P2 and P3 relatively short, P3 longer than P2; merus with low tooth on distal extensor margin, length to width ratio of P2 and P3 merus 4.2 and 3.9, respectively; margins unarmed; propodus almost straight, unarmed, length to width ratio of P2 and P3 propodus 5.2 and 6.4, respectively; dactylus curved, flexor margin lined with 8 or 9 spines, terminating in strongly gently curved claw, propodus about 2.4× length of dactylus. P4 stouter, shorter than P5; length to width ratio of P4 and P5 merus 2.4 and 3.4, respectively; margins of merus unarmed; P4 and P5 propodus with submedian spinule on distal third of outer surface, length to width ratio of P4 and P5 propodus 2.3 and 3.6, respectively, distal margin fringed by sharp spines bracketing dactylus; dactylus claw-like, strongly incurved, extensor margin with median spine or absent, flexor margin with 2–4 spines. Thoracic sternite 7 with low transverse ridge from posterior inner part of female gonopore, lateral part high, forming triangular tubercle, curving posteriorly to join oblique ridge formed by posterior part of sternite 7, just before suture with sternite 8, groove between sternites 7 and 8 curve to join spermathecal aperture at base of triangular tubercle. Male and female pleons with 6 free somites and telson; male telson distinctly elongate, triangular with gently convex lateral margins; female telson triangular, with gently convex margins. G1 stout, endopod distally covered by dense long setae, subdistal part of outer margin with two lobes, the distal one being more prominent; G2 endopod gradually tapering to sharp tip.

In the holotype female, the left P5 dactylus has a prominent spine on the extensor margin (Fig. 21I), but there is none on the right side (Fig. 21H). The P5 dactyli of the paratype male are armed a spinule on the extensor margin. Both specimens possess the spine on the outer surface of the P5 propodus (Fig. 21H, I).

The species is named after the Latin robusta for stout, alluding to the stocky appearance of the species.

The most diagnostic character of D. robusta sp. nov. is the large dorsoventrally flattened infraorbital tooth, which is dentiform to linguiform, clearly visible in dorsal view, and distinctly larger than the exorbital tooth (Figs 17B–D, 20B). No other Indo-West Pacific species of Dicranodromia has such a large and wide infraorbital tooth. The long anteroexternal tooth on the basal antennal article allies D. robusta with D. martini (cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 20B), D. baffini (cf. Alcock 1899: pl. 2 fig. 1a; Alcock 1901: pl. 1 fig. 1a), D. danielae (cf. Ng and McLay 2005: fig. 3A, B) and D. chenae (cf. Ng and Naruse 2007: fig. 5b) but the structure of the infraorbital tooth easily distinguishes it from them.

Figure 17. 

Dicranodromia robusta sp. nov., holotype ♀ (19.6 × 26.4 mm) (ZRC 2018.0161), Philippines A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C front and anterior part of carapace D right front, orbit and first anterolateral spine

Figure 18. 

Dicranodromia robusta sp. nov., holotype ♀ (19.6 × 26.4 mm) (ZRC 2018.0161), Philippines A ventral view of cephalothorax B left third maxilliped C frontal view of cephalothorax D epistome, antennules, antennae and orbits E dorsal view of left chela F left chela.

Figure 19. 

Dicranodromia robusta sp. nov., holotype ♀ (19.6 × 26.4 mm) (ZRC 2018.0161), Philippines A right P3 B right P5 C right P5 propodus and dactylus D left P4 propodus and dactylus E anterior thoracic sternum and spermatheca F posterior thoracic sternum showing spermatheca.

The carapace shape of D. robusta is distinctly more quadrate (Figs 17A, B, 20A, B) than the more pyriform D. martini described from the Philippines (cf. Figs 4A, C, 6A, B; Guinot 1995: fig. 19b; Ng and Naruse 2007: fig. 1a–c); the posterior margin of the epistome is entire (Fig. 18C) (versus margin gently crenulate in subventral view in D. martini, cf. Guinot 1995: fig. 20B); P2 and P3 are prominently shorter with the dactylus especially short (e.g., P3 merus 3.9× longer than broad, propodus 6.4× longer than broad, Fig. 19A) (versus P3 merus 7.0× longer than broad, propodus 7.2× longer than broad in D. martini, cf. Figs 4A, 5C, 6A; Guinot 1995: figs 19a, e, 20C); P4 and P5 are much shorter (e.g., P4 merus just reaching branchiocardiac groove when folded dorsally, Figs 17A, 19B, 20A) (versus P4 merus long, reaching beyond branchiocardiac groove when folded dorsally in D. martini, cf. Figs 4A, 5D, 6A; Guinot 1995: fig. 19a); and the male telson is lingulate (Fig. 20C) (versus more elongate in D. martini, cf. Fig. 6D; Guinot 1995: fig. 19c).

Figure 20. 

Dicranodromia robusta sp. nov., paratype ♂ (15.2 × 21.0 mm) (ZRC 2018.0095), Philippines A overall view B dorsal view of carapace C pleon D anterior thoracic sternum and G1s in situ.

Compared to D. baffini from the Indian Ocean, D. robusta has a more quadrate carapace (Figs 17A, B, 20A, B) (versus more pyriform in D. baffini, cf. Alcock 1899: pl. 2 fig. 1a; Guinot 1995: fig. 13; Padate et al. 2020: fig. 2a); and the P2 and P3 dactylus is distinctly shorter (Figs 19A, 21G) (versus longer in D. baffini, cf. Alcock 1899: pl. 2 fig. 1a; Guinot 1995: fig. 13). With regards to the relatively shorter P2 and P3 dactyli, D. robusta resembles D. chenae, described from a single large ovigerous female from the central Philippines. Dicranodromia robusta, however, can easily be distinguished in having the outer margin of the pseudorostral lobe is almost straight and the structure is directed anteriorly (Figs 17B–D, 20B) (versus outer margin of the pseudorostral lobe is distinctly convex with the structure gradually curved inwards towards the median in D. chenae, cf. Ng and Naruse 2007: fig. 5A); the ischium of the third maxilliped is short and rectangular (Fig. 18B) (versus distinctly longer and more slender in D. chenae, cf. Ng and Naruse 2007: fig. 5b); the female telson is relatively more elongate (Fig. 18A) (versus proportionately wider and shorter in D. chenae, cf. Ng and Naruse 2007: fig. 2b); and the spermatheca is on the prominently raised part around the suture between sternites 7 and 8 and ends at the centre of the triangular tubercle on sternite 6 (Fig. 19F) (versus spermatheca is not prominently raised and ends at the base of the triangular tubercle in D. chenae, cf. Ng and Naruse 2007: fig. 8).

Figure 21. 

A Dicranodromia erinaceus sp. nov., holotype ♀ (14.0 × 18.0 mm) (NTOU B00126), Taiwan B, D–F, K–M D. erinaceus sp. nov., paratype ♂ (8.2 × 12.5 mm) (ZRC 2021.0085), Taiwan C, G–J, N–P D. robusta sp. nov., paratype ♂ (15.2 × 21.0 mm) (ZRC 2018.0095), Philippines A–C right anterior part of carapace (setae removed or not drawn) D right P3 propodus and dactylus E right P5 propodus and dactylus F right P4 propodus and dactylus G right P3 propodus and dactylus H right P5 propodus and dactylus I left P5 propodus and dactylus J left P4 propodus and dactylus K, N left G1 (ventral view) L, O left G1 (dorsal view) M, P left G2. Setae for all structures not figured. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Dicranodromia robusta can be separated from D. danielae in having the exorbital tooth distinctly triangular to linguiform (Figs 17B–D, 21C) (versus subtrapezoidal in D. danielae, cf. Fig. 12A, B; Ng and McLay 2005: figs 1B, 4A); the posterior margin of the epistome is entire (Fig. 18C) (versus clearly serrate in D. danielae, cf. Fig. 12C; Ng and McLay 2005: fig. 4C); the median part of the outer surface of the chela is granular (Fig. 18E, F) (versus smooth in D. danielae, cf. Fig. 12D; Ng and McLay 2005: fig. 3A, B); and P2–P5 are all proportionately longer with the flexor margins of the meri not spinate (Figs 17A, 19A, 20A) (versus relatively shorter in D. danielae with the meri of P2 and P3 distinctly spinate, cf. Fig. 12E, F; Ng and McLay 2005: fig. 1A).