Caridina iriana, Cai, 2025

Cai, Yixiong, 2025, Validation of two species of Caridina (Decapoda: Atyidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 5660 (2), pp. 290-292 : 290-291

Caridina iriana sp. nov.

Caridina iriana Cai, 2025: 25 , figs. 12, 13. [unavailable]

Material examined. Holotype: Ovigerous female, cl 4.4 mm, QM W 24129 , Mawati River estuary near Timika , southern Papua, Indonesia, station S 760m, freshwater riverine tidal zone, 4°48 S 137°08 E, by electrofishing, coll. Timika Environmental Laboratory, 11 November 1995 . Paratypes: 1 female, cl 4.2 mm, QM 24129 , same data as holotype ; 1 male, cl 3.6 mm, 1 female, cl 4.8 mm, 1 ovigerous female, cl 4.4 mm, ZRC 2025.0073 , same data as holotype. Others: 1 female, cl 5.0 mm, RMNH, Misool Island , West Papua, Indonesia, coll. A. Z. Beehje, 21 September 1948 ; 1 male, cl 3.5 mm, RMNH, Waitama River , Misool Island, West Papua, M. A. Lieftiuck, 1–6 October 1948 ; 1 male, cl 3.6 mm, RMNH 705 , creek near Kampong Ambai , Ambai Island, Papua, Indonesia, 22 February 1955 .

Description. Rostrum straight, reaching middle of second segment of antennular peduncle or to end of this segment, rostral formula: 1–5(2–4) +9–11/0–6(2–4). Antennal spine fused with inferior orbital angle; pterygostomial margin rounded.

Sixth abdominal somite 0.43 times as long as carapace, 1.3 times as long as fifth somite, shorter than telson. Telson 2.3 times as long as wide, terminating in a projection, with five pairs of dorsal spinules and one pair of dorsolateral spinules; distal end with one pair of spines and about 3–4 pairs of plumose setae, lateral pair of spines distinctly shorter than intermediate pairs of setae, distal margin broadly rounded. Preanal carina high, without spine.

Anterior end of eye reaching 0.7–0.8 length of basal segment of antennular peduncle. Antennular peduncle 0.47 times as long as carapace; anterolateral angle of basal segment reaching 0.20 length of the second segment. Stylocerite reaching 0.7 length of basal segment of antennular peduncle. Scaphocerite 2.8 times as long as wide.

Palp of first maxilliped ending in a finger-like projection. Third maxilliped reaching to end of antennular peduncle, with ultimate segment slightly shorter than penultimate segment.

Epipods well developed on first four pereiopods. First pereiopod reaching to distal end of basal segment of antennular peduncle; merus 2.7 times as long as broad, longer than carpus; carpus excavated anteriorly, shorter than chela, 1.1 times as long as high; chela 2.3 times as long as broad; fingers slightly longer than palm. Second pereiopod reaching end of antennular peduncle; merus as long as carpus, 4.1 times as long as broad; carpus 1.3 times as long as chela, 4.5 times as long as high; chela 2.8 times as long as broad; fingers 1.8 times as long as palm. Third pereiopod reaching beyond end of scaphocerite by 1/4 of its propodus length, propodus 8.1 times as long as broad, 4.1 times as long as dactylus; dactylus 2.6 times as long as wide (spines included), terminating in one claw, with five accessory spines on flexor margin. Fifth pereiopod reaching to end of second segment of antennular peduncle, propodus 11 times as long as broad, 3.8 times as long as dactylus, dactylus 4.2 times as long as wide (spinules included), terminating in one elongated claw, with 68 spinules on its flexor margin.

Endopod of male first pleopod sub-triangular, reaching 0.3 length of exopod, appendix interna reaching beyond distal end of endopod by most of its length. Appendix masculina of male second pleopod reaching 0.6 length of endopod.

Uropodal diaeresis with 21 movable spinules.

Eggs 0.40 × 0.25 mm in diameter.

Etymology. The species is named after its type locality and the currently known distribution range of Irian Jaya, (now Papua), Indonesia; used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Please refer to Cai (2025) for detailed figures, habitat, distribution and morphological comparison of Caridina iriana to its congeners.