Key to the species of Munida from the Western and Central Indian Ocean

Note: we have included all species of the genus occurring in the Western Indo-Pacific region as defined by Spalding et al. (2007).

1. Three or four spines on lateral margins of carapace behind cervical groove .................................... 2

– Five spines on lateral margins of carapace behind cervical groove .................................................. 7

2. Lateral parts of fifth to seventh thoracic sternites with distinct carinae ............................................ 3

– Lateral parts of fifth to seventh thoracic sternites without distinct carinae ...................................... 4

3. Second abdominal somite with spines on anterior border ................................ M. cristulata sp. nov.

– Abdominal somites unarmed ................................ M. muscae Macpherson & de Saint Laurent, 2002

4. Lateral parts of posterior thoracic sternites with granules ................................................................ 5

– Lateral parts of posterior thoracic sternites without granules ............................................................ 6

5. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 longer than distolateral .................... M. barbeti Galil, 1999

– Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 shorter than distolateral ................ M. tetracantha sp. nov.

6. Abdominal somites unarmed or with spines on each lateral extremity of anterior ridge on second somite ................................................................................................................ M. sentai Baba, 1986

– Second abdominal somite with median pair of spines or with spines along anterior ridge of second somite ................................................................................................. M. nesiotes Macpherson, 1999

7. Lateral parts of seventh thoracic sternites with small granules ......................................................... 8

– Lateral parts of seventh thoracic sternites without small granules ..................................................... 9

8. Extensor margin of merus of Mxp3 with distal spine. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 longer than distolateral ........................................................................ M. limula Macpherson & Baba, 1993

– Extensor margin of merus of Mxp3 unarmed. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 slightly shorter than distolateral ......................................................................................... M. euripa sp. nov.

9. Abdominal somites unarmed or with spines on each side of anterior ridge on second tergite ........ 10

– Second abdominal somite with median pair of spines or with spines along anterior ridge of second tergite .............................................................................................................................................. 17

10. Eyes small, corneas barely wider than eyestalk. Maximum corneal diameter less than ¼ distance between bases of anterolateral spines .................................. M. comorina Alcock & Anderson, 1899

– Eyes large, corneas dilated. Maximum corneal diameter equal to or greater than ¼ distance between bases of anterolateral spines ............................................................................................................ 11

11. Distal spines of antennular article 1 of different sizes ....................................................................... 12

– Distal spines of antennular article 1 subequal .................................................................................. 15

12. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 shorter than distolateral spine .............................................. ............................................................................................ M. antonbruuni (Tirmizi & Javed, 1980)

– Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 longer than distolateral .................................................. 13

13. Frontal margin oblique. First anterolateral spine of carapace small, slightly larger than first lateral branchial spine ....................................................... M. foresti Macpherson & de Saint Laurent, 2002

– Frontal margin transverse. First anterolateral spine of carapace small, more than twice size of first lateral branchial spine ...................................................................................................................... 14

14. Dactylus of walking legs with spines along entire fleXor margin .................... M. mesembria sp. nov.

– Dactylus of walking legs unarmed on distal third of fleXor margin .................... M. austrina sp. nov.

15. Third segment of antennal peduncle unarmed ........................................... M. roshanei Tirmizi, 1966

– Third segment of antennal peduncle with distolateral spine ........................................................... 16

16. P1 fingers shorter than palm .......................................................... M. arabica Tirmizi & Javed, 1992

– P1 fingers longer than palm .......................................................... M. janetae Tirmizi & Javed, 1992

17. Eyes small, corneas barely wider than eyestalk. Maximum corneal diameter less than ¼ distance between bases of anterolateral spines .................................................... M. typhle Macpherson, 1994

18. Fourth abdominal somite with spines on anterior border ................ M. babai Tirmizi & Javed, 1976 – Fourth abdominal somite unarmed .................................................................................................. 19

19. Abdominal somites 2 and 3 with spines on anterior border ............................................................ 20

– Spines only on abdominal somite 2 ................................................................................................. 21

20. Parahepatic spine present on each side. Abdominal somite 3 with 3–4 spines. P2–4 dactyli with easily recognizable, movable spines on fleXor margin ......................................................................... ............................................................................... M. shaula Macpherson & de Saint Laurent, 2002

– No parahepatic spines. Abdominal somite 3 with 2 spines. P2–4 dactyli with very fine, movable spines on fleXor margin ........................................................................... M. vigiliarum Alcock, 1901

21. Extensor margin of 3 Mxp merus with distal spine ......................................................................... 22

– Extensor margin of 3 Mxp merus unarmed ..................................................................................... 27

22. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 clearly shorter than distolateral ...................................... 23

– Distal spines of antennular article 1 subequal or distomesial spine longer than distolateral ........... 25

23. Distomesial spine on antennal article 2 clearly overreaching antennal peduncle ................................ .................................................................................................. M. dispar Macpherson & Baba, 1993

– Distomesial spine on antennal article 2 clearly not reaching distal end of antennal peduncle ......... 24

24. Rostrum with longitudinal dorsal carina ............................................................ M. stomifera sp. nov.

– Rostrum smooth, without longitudinal dorsal carina .............................................. M. micra sp. nov.

25. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 longer than distolateral ..................... M. latior Baba, 2005

– Distal spines of antennular article 1 subequal .................................................................................. 26

26. Fourth to seventh thoracic sternites with numerous striae. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 overeaching antennal peduncle ............................................... M. eudora Macpherson & Baba, 1993

– Fourth to seventh thoracic sternites with few striae. Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 not reaching end of antennal peduncle ......................................... M. sphinx Macpherson & Baba, 1993

27. Frontal margins oblique ................................................................................................................... 28

– Frontal margins transverse .............................................................................................................. 30

28. Dactylus of walking legs unarmed on distal part of fleXor margin ............................ M. hoda sp. nov.

– Dactylus of walking legs with spines along entire fleXor margin .................................................... 29

29. Distomesial spine on antennal article 2 overreaching antennal peduncle. Lateral margins of carapace straight .......................................................................................................... M. africana Balss, 1913

– Distomesial spine on antennal article 2 not overreaching antennal peduncle. Lateral margins of carapace moderately convex .................................. M. spicae Macpherson & de Saint Laurent, 2002

30. Dactylus of walking legs short and stout, about half propodus length ................................................ ........................................................................................................... M. insularis Macpherson, 1999

– Dactylus of walking legs long and slender, as long as or slightly shorter than propodus length ........ 31

31. Distomesial spine of antennal article 1 reaching end of article 2. Eyes moderately large, corneas wider than eyestalk. MaXimum corneal diameter about ⅓ distance between bases of anterolateral spines ............................................................................................................................................... 32

– Distomesial spine of antennal article 1 not reaching end of article 2. Eyes small, corneas barely wider than eyestalk. Maximum corneal diameter less than ¼ distance between bases of anterolateral spines ............................................................................................................................................... 35

32. Distal spines of antennular article 1 subequal ...................................... M. andamanica Alcock, 1894

– Distomesial spine of antennular article 1 smaller than distolateral ................................................. 33

33. Carapace with some protogastric spines. P1 movable finger with only one basal spine on lateral border. P2 merus 5 times carpus length ................................................. M. rubiesi Macpherson, 1991

– Carapace without protogastric spines. P1 movable finger with several spines along lateral border. P2 merus 3 times carpus length ............................................................................................................ 34

34. Dorsal surface of carapace with numerous scale-like ridges between main transverse ridges ............ ............................................................................................................... M. dissita Macpherson, 1999

– Dorsal surface of carapace with few scale-like ridges between main transverse ridges ...................... ........................................................................... M. benguela de Saint Laurent & Macpherson, 1988

35. P1 fiXed finger unarmed on proXimal half of mesial border ............................. M. remota Baba, 1990

– P1 fiXed finger with strong spine on proXimal half of mesial border ........... M. microps Alcock, 1894