AI Article Synopsis
- A new genus and species called Caligoplagusia okinawa has been identified within the Plagusiidae family, based on male and female specimens found in a semi-submerged marine cave in Okinawa, Japan.
- This new genus resembles Euchirograpsus and Miersiograpsus but has distinct features like a unique carapace shape and specific tooth arrangements on its body parts.
- Caligoplagusia okinawa shows typical adaptations for cave life, including pale coloration, reduced eyes, elongated antennae, and long legs, marking it as the first cave-dwelling species in its family.
Article Abstract
Caligoplagusia okinawa n. gen. & n. sp., assigned to the brachyuran family Plagusiidae Dana, 1851 is described on the basis of a male and a female specimens collected from a semi-submerged marine cave on the limestone shore of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. The new monotypic genus is most similar to Euchirograpsus H. Milne Edwards, 1853 and Miersiograpsus Trkay, 1978 in that the frontal margin lacks a deep sublateral cleft adjacent to the orbit, but differs significantly by its subhexagonal carapace shape, the anterolateral margin of the carapace with three teeth including the external orbital tooth, the anterior margin of ambulatory meri each armed with a row of large teeth, and the greatly reduced eyes. The pale body colour, reduced eyes, the very elongate antennal flagellum, and long ambulatory legs are all typical brachyuran adaptations to living in cave environments. This is the first cave-dwelling species of the family Plagusiidae.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5410.3.8 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!