Hiplyra longimana (A. Milne Edwards, 1874) n. comb.

(Fig. 8A, B)

Philyra longimana A. Milne Edwards, 1874: 43, pl. 2 fig. 4.

Philyra platycheira – McNeill & Ward 1930: 368, fig. 1.

Philyra platychira – Tyndale-Biscoe & George 1962: 75, fig. 4.9.

Philyra platycheir – Davie 2002: 274.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: New Caledonia. Coll. E. Marie, 1 ♂ cl 9.9 mm (MNHN 200) .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. Grand Récif sud, stn 407, 22°40’S, 167°23’E, 24 m, 23.I.1985, coll. B. Richer de Forges, 13 ♂♂ cl 9.1-17.0 mm, 16 ♀♀ 9.1-11.1 mm (MNHN B 21183).

Australia. NW Australia, coll. Mrs B. Grey, 2 ♂♂ cl 16.5 mm, 1 damaged (NHM 1931.5.15.44-45). — Queensland, Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic I., Townsville, 2 m, V.1973, id. R. W. George, 4 ♂♂ cl 12.5-15.2 mm, 1 ♀ cl 12.5 mm, 1 ovig. ♀ cl 11.3 mm (WAM C 38270). — Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, 4. VII.1975, coll. J. Scott, 5 ♂♂ cl 9.7-16.9 mm, 5 ♀♀ cl 11.2-13.2 mm (WAM C 38271).

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia, Australia.

DESCRIPTION

Dorsal surface of carapace minutely granulate anteriorly; branchial, gastric regions prominently granulate. Hepatic, intestinal regions tumescent. Branchio-cardiac grooves deeply cut. Front with shallow median cleavage. Anterior margin of epistome medially notched. Anterior margin of efferent channel straight, separated from beaded lateral margin by deep incision, lateral margin nearly reaching as far forward as anterior margin. Upper and lower margins of subhepatic facet beaded. Lateral margin of carapace posteriorly to subhepatic facet closely beaded, granules smaller posteriorly. Epimeral surface minutely granulate; epimeral margin minutely beaded. Sternal plates prominently granulate anteriorly. Anterior margin of abdominal sulcus prominently granulate. Fused male abdominal segments 2-6 bearing proximally granulate basal knobs; telson not proximally swollen. Cheliped merus nearly as long as carapace in male, slender; its surface minutely granulate, bearing perliform granules anteriorly. Lower margin of propodus granulate; granulate line proximally on interior surface; upper margin minutely granulate. Dactyl shorter than upper margin of propodus, sickle-shaped. Pollex bearing two nearly effaced denticles distally. Male first pleopod with minute apical process.

REMARKS

Alphonse Milne Edwards (1874: 43) noted that his New Caledonian specimens, though similar to De Haan’s Japanese Philyra platycheir, differ in having their anterolateral margin “moins échancrés en arrière de la région gastrique, par son front plus avancé et par les fines granulations qui couvrent les parties saillantes de la carapace”. In addition, H. longimana n. comb. differs from H. platycheir n. comb. in the form of the lateral margin of its efferent channel, in its granulate upper margin of subhepatic facet, shorter cheliped dactyl, and in lacking the triangular blade distally on its pollex.