A second species of the genus Balssia Kemp, 1922 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pontoniinae)

9 Pages·1998·2.3 MB·English

by  Alexander J Bruce

A second species
of the genus Balssia Kemp, 1922
(Crustacea, Decapoda, Pontoniinae)
Alexander J. BRUCE
Queensland Muséum, P.O. Box 3300, South Brisbane,
Queensland, 4101 (Australia)
abruce @ 3D.com .au
Bruce A. J. 1998. — A second species of the genus Balssia Kemp, 1922 (Crustacea,
Decapoda, Pontoniinae). Zoosystema 20 (4): 603-611.
KEYWORDS ABSTRACT
Balssia noeli, A new species of commensal pontoniine shrimp, Balssia noeli n.sp., from the
Crustacea,
vicinity of Banyuls, western Mediterranean, is described and illustrated. The
Decapoda,
Pontoniinae, new species is readily distinguished from B. gasti (Balss, 1921), the only
new species, other species of the genus, by irs lack of strong sculpruring on the carapace
Mediterranean Sea,
taxonomy, and abdomen. The species is associated with the gorgonians Corallium,
commensal ism. Eunicella, Gerardia and Paramuricella.
RÉSUMÉ
MOTS CLÉS Une deuxième espèce du genre Balssia Kemp, 1922 (Crustacea, Decapoda,
Balssia noeli, Pontoniinae). Une nouvelle espèce de crevette pontoniine, Balssia noeli n.sp.,
Crustacea,
provenant de la région de Banyuls, Méditerranée occidentale, est décrite et
Decapoda,
Pontoniinae, illustrée. La nouvelle espèce se distingue facilement de B. gasti, la seule autre
espèce nouvelle, espèce du genre, par la sculpture beaucoup moins accentuée de la carapace et
Méditerranée,
systématique, de l’abdomen. L’espèce est associée aux gorgones Corallium, Eunicella,
commensalisme. Gerardia et Paramuricella.
ZOOSYSTEMA • 1998 • 20(4) 603
Bruce A. J.
INTRODUCTION TYPES. — The ovigerous female holotype is deposited
in the collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire
naturelle, Paris, catalogue number MNHN-Na
A single specimen of Amphipalaemon gasti, a
13440, together with the dissected paratype female,
small shrimp associated with the precious coral, MNHN-Na 13441. A paratype is also deposited in
Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) from the the collection of the N.uiona.iJ Natuurhistotisch
Gulf ol Naples, was first described and illustratcd Muséum, Leiden, catalogue number RMN H D
4^887, and one in the Queensland Muséum,
by Heinrich Balss in 1921. Kemp (1922) reco-
Brisbane, number QM W 23107. The remaining spe¬
gnized iliat the species was a pontoniine shrimp
cimens arc also designated as paratypes.
and did not belong in the gémis Amphipalaemon
Nobili, 1901, now considered a synonym of the MessüREMENTS. — Ovigerous female holotype, cara¬
genus Anchistioides Paulson. 1875 in the family pace length 4.0 mm: carapace and rostrum 6.0 mm;
total body length (appio*.) 15.5 mm; second pereio-
Anchistioididae. The nevv genus Balssia was then
pods, major chela 1.6 mm; minor chela 1.6 mm; leng¬
designated lor its réception, The species has since
th nfovum 0.5 mm.
been reporred from a wide range ol localities on
the European coasts of rhe western Méditer- COLORATION AND HOSTS. The specimens, ail front
ranean and Adriatic Seas, Corsica, rhe Canary gorgonacean coelenterates, were annotared as follows:
from lot #1, (1) white, on Eunieella Verrill, 1869;
Islands and sonie West African localities, and
(2) violer, on ParamuriceUa Kôlliker, 1865; (3) yellow,
from a variety of host animais (Manconi tic Mori on Gerardia Lacaze-Dultriers, 1864 (zoantharian of
1990). The dtscovery of a second species in the the family Parazoanthidae); (4) red, on Corallium
western Medirerranean suggests that some of rhe Cuvier, 1826. No data available on colouration or
earlier records should be re-examined ro confirm hosts of lots #2-#3.
rhat they do ail refer ro Balssia gasti (Balss,
EtyMOLOiJY. — Fhe species is named in honour of
1921). The specimens are deposited in the col¬ Dr. Pierre Y. Noël, who Icindly provided the spéci¬
lection of the Muséum national d'Histoire natu¬ mens upon which this report is based.
relle, Paris (MNHN), Nationaal Natuur-
historisch Muséum, Leiden (NNM), and Description (ovigerous females, Fig. 1)
Queensland Muséum, Brisbane (QM). Small stoutly builr pontoniine shrimps of gene-
I am most grateful to Dr Pierre Noël for the rally subcylindrical body form (Fig. 1), cephalo-
opportunity to report upon these specimens. thoracic région ventrally flattened.
Carapace length (CL) refers to the post orbital
carapace length. Rostrum (Fig. 2A, C)
Slender, oval in section, without distinct carinae,
about 0.5 of carapace length, reaching to end of
intermédiare segment or middle of distal seg¬
SYSTEMATICS ment of antennular peduncle distally acute, with
three small acute teeth dorsally, proximal reeth
Family Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815 large, acute, distal tooth small, ventrally unar-
Subfamily PONTONIINAE Kingsley, 1878 med, few médian setae proximally only.
Genus Balssia Kemp, 1922
Carapace (Fig. 2A)
Balssia noeli n.sp. Swollen, globular, smooth, cervical groove feebly
(Figs 1-4) indicated, small cervical and hepatic tubercles
usually discernible, with distinct postrostral cari-
Balssia sp. - Noël 1992:64. na bearing rwo small teeth, posterior touth usual¬
ly obtuse, antertor tooth acute. small epigastric
MATERJAL EXAMINER. — Mediterrancan Sea. tooth présent or absent; orbïc well-devcloped,
Vicinity of Banyuls: 7 ovigerous $ $, 1 ovigerous $,
superior m.trgm carinate with three small acute
1 ovigerous 9 (Laboratoire Arago).
From “ancîent collections”, details of exact localities, teeth, posterior margin mconiplete, latéral border
dates, depths and collectors noc available. carinate with two subacute tubercles posteriorly,
604 ZOOSYSTEMA • 1998 • 20(4)
A second species of Balssia (Pontoniinae)
Fig. 1. — Balssia noeli n.sp., ovigerous holotype 9f Banyuls. Scale bar: 2.0 mm.
continuons with large acute dorsolaterally angled médian point, latéral posterior spines similar to
antennal spine, branchio-stegal sulcus présent dorsal spines, intermediate spines about 0.75 of
belovv latéral orbital margin, antérolatéral margin telson length, about 7.5 times longer than basal
of branchiostergite slighrly produced, rounded, width, submedian spines slender, setulose, shor-
inferior orbital angle broadly triangular. ter than intermediate spines.
Ophrhalmic somite dorsally antero-posteriorly
Abdominal segments (Fig. 2E. 1, 4K) bilobed, without pigment spot.
Smooth, thicd segment nor postetiorly produced,
non-carinate, first tbree pleura expanded, broad¬ Antennular peduncle (Fig. 2G)
ly rounded, lourth vvitb posterior margin feebly Normal, with short flagella; proximal segment
bilobed, centrally fcehly carinate laterally, fifth 1.2 times longer than broad, latéral margin
similar with uppcr lobe acutely produced, sixrh expanded, angular, produced distally with small
segment 1.6 limes length of fifth, 2.0 times lon¬ rounded lobe reaching to middle of intermediate
ger than central depth, postérolatéral angle stron- segmenr length, with large acute slender distola-
gly produced, acute, posteroventral angle teral tooth, exceeding intermediate segment
produced, subacute. length, ventromedial margin with strong tooth at
0.5 of length, intermediate and distal segments
Telson (Fig. 21) normal, subequal, combined length about 0.7 of
About 1.8 times length ol sixrh segment, about proximal segment length, intermediate segment
3.0 times longer rhan anterior width, latéral mar- with small setose latéral lobe, upper flagellum
gins straight, postetiorly convergent, with small biramous with etght proximal segments fiised,
subequal marginal latéral spines at 0.5 and 0.9 ol shorter free ramus with fout segments, with
telson length, posterior margin (Fig. 4K) 0.3 of about eighteen groups of aesthetascs, lower
anterior width, transversely truncate, without ramus short, filiform.
ZOOSYSTEMA • 1998 • 20(4) 605

Bruce A. J.
Antenna (Fig. 2H) maxilliped (Fig. 3H) with endopod of normal
With basicerite stout, with small blunt antéro¬ form, dactylar Segment narrow, médial margin
latéral tooth; carpocerire short stout, rcaching to with numerous long serrulate spines, propodal
about half scaphocerite length, flattcncd, about segment not antero-medially produced, ischiome-
2.0 times longer than wide, flagellum short, rux and basis normal, with exopod greatly redu¬
about 2.0 limes carapace length; scaphocerite ced, not exceeding basis, lamellar, non-setose;
broad, about 1.6 times longer than central coxa stout, without médial process, epipod well-
width, latéral margin feebly convex, with small developed, triquetral, without podobranch. Third
acute distal tooth, at about 0.8 of lamellar length, maxilliped (Fig. 31) rcaching to about middle of
falling far short of anterior margin of lamella. carpocerite length, ischiomerus and basis comple¬
tely fused, jonction indicat.çd by small médial
Eye (Fig. 2F) margin notch, about 3.0 rimes longer than proxi¬
Stout, with well-pigmented globular cornea, dia- mal width, tapering distally, sparsely setose alone
meter about 0.18 ol carapace length, without distal médial margin, penultimate segment about
accessory pigment spot, stalle length subequal to 0.5 of ischiomerus-basal segment, 2.3 times lon¬
width and corneal diameter, with minute antero- ger than central width, uniform, with numerous
dorsal tubercle. serrulate spiniform setae medially, distal segment
about 0.4 of ischiumeral-basal segment length,
Mouth parts 2.4 times longer than proximal width, densely
Mandible (Fig. 3) slender, without palp; incisor spinulose medially and distally, with serrulate
process (Fig. 3C) slender, tapering, with four spines; exopod as in second maxilliped; coxa with
small acute teeth distally, central pair smaller than small non-setose médial process, broad rounded
outer teeth; molar process (Fig, 3B) slender, obli- latéral plate and rudimentary arthrobranch pré¬
quely truncate distally, with three small stout, sent.
blunt teeth and two bands of setae, Maxillula
(Fig. 3D) with feebly bilobed palp, lower lobe Thoracic stermtes (Fig. 2D)
with single short seta; upper laçinia short, subeir- Broad, first with small transverse, feebly bilobed
cular, with several short simple spines distally and canna, third widest (so chat third maxilltpeds are
numerous finely serrulate setae; lower lobe short latéral to first pereiopods in ventral view), fourth
and broad, with numerous spiniform setae distal¬ without médian process, with rounded latéral
ly and ventrally, Maxilla (Fig, 3E) wirh short lobes, posterior sternites broad, without spécial
broad, non-setose palp, media) margin sinuous, features.
distal endite feebly bilobed, lobes subequal, upper
lobe wirh about ftfteen slender simple setae, lower First pereiopods (Fig. 4A, B)
lobe with about ten. proximal endite obsolète, Slender, exceeding carpocerite by chela and car-
médial margin feebly convex; scaphognathite pus, chela (Fig. 4B) slender, palm subcylindrical,
broad, about 3.4 times longer than central width. tapering slighdy distally, about 3.6 times longer
First maxilliped (Fig 3F) with short, non-setose, than wide. fingets about 0.66 of palm length,
tapering palp (Fig. 3G), about 2.3 times longer slender, with simple acute tips, cutting edges
than proximal width. basal and coxal endites entire, latéral, carpus about 1.25 times longer
completely fused, broad, about 1.9 times longer than chela, 6,5 times longer than distal width,
than wide, broadly rounded distally, médial mar¬ subcylindrical, tapering siightly proximally;
gin distally sttaight, proximally concave, fringes merus about 0-9 of carpus length, of similar
with numerous slender, feebly serrulate setae; exo- width, ischium about 0.9 of chela length, basis
pod w'ith flagellum greatly reduced, scarcely and coxa normal, coxa with small setose ventro-
exceeding caridean lobe, subcylindrical, with two medial process.
short plumose setae distally, caridean lobe large,
broadly expanded, 2.0 times longer than broad; Second pereiopods (Fig. 4C-G)
epipod large, triangular, feebly bilobed. Second Feebly developed, subequal, similar; exceeding
608 ZOOSYSTEMA • 1998 • 20(4)

Bruce A. J.
carpocerite by length of fingers; chela (Fig. 4D, provided by Balss (1921), based on a single ovi-
E) about 0.4 of carapace length, palm smooth, gerous fernale specimen, and is therefore fully
oval in section, about 1.8 limes longer than distal comparable with the présent material.
depth, fingers (Fig. 4F) subequal to palm length, Manconi & Mori (1990) State that, in B. gasti
sparsely setose, gaping slightly proximally, dacty- the carapace length ranges from 3,2 to 4.0 mm
lus slender, curved, slightly compressed, tip in ovigerous femalcs so that the rwo species are of
(Fig. 4G) with stour acute articulated tooth with similar size.
small, non-arriculaced toorh laterally. curring edge The major characters that distinguish Balssia
latéral, entire, fixed finger similar but expanded noeli from B. gasti (Balss), the only other species
proximally, cutting edge présent distaUy, entire; of the genus, are as follows; shorter rostrum, not
carpus short, stout, unarmed, 2.0 times longer well exceeding antennular peduncle, with three
than distal width, tapered proximally, subequal to smailer dorsal teeth only; a short bidentate post-
palm length; merus 1.2 times palm length, about rostral carina, with or without a small epigastric
3.0 times longer than wide. uniform, unarmed; tooth; cervical and hepatic spines reduced to
ischium subequal to palm length, unarmed, basis small rubercîes; first three abdominal terga
and coxa normal, without spécial features. without médian carinae; fourth pleuron lacking
acute rooth posteriorly; anterodorsal eyestalk
AmbuLuary pereiopods (4H-J) tubercle minute; antérolatéral tooth of proximal
Robust, third (Fig. 4H) exceeding carpocerite by segment of antennular peduncle not well excee¬
length of dactylus, dactylus (Fig. 4J) about 0.45 ding intermédiare segment; maxilla with distal
of propod length, stout, simple, acute, strongly endite feebly bilobed; fixed finger of second per-
curved, with feeblv demarcated unguis, about eiopod with proximal half only expanded.
0.5 of corpus length, 3.0 rimes longer than basal
width, corpus compressed, dorsal margin convex,
Remarks
2.0 times basal deprh, with paired sensory setae In the original description of Balssia gasti Balss
distaUy, sparse setae along dorsal margin; propod noted particularly the strong sculpturing, of the
(Fig. 41) about 0.4 of carapace length, 6.0 rimes carapace, and abdomen, with a distinct dorsal
longer than depth, uniform, slightly bowed, carina the absence of which most clearly séparâtes
without spines, sparse setae distaUy, carpus about his species from B. noeli. It is possible that the as
0.3 of propod length, 1.6 times longer than dis¬ yec unknown males of B. noeli will show a more
tal width, tapering proximally, unarmed, merus strongly sculptured appearance than the females,
0.65 of propod length, 2.6 times longer than as is known to occur in some other ornate ponto-
deep, unarmed, ischium 0.5 of propod length, niine associâtes of coelenterates such as Dasycaris
unarmed, basis and coxa normal, without spécial zanzibarica (Bruce, 1973) The différences are
features, coxa stout. Fourth and fifth pereiopods not strongly marked in B. gasti us is shown by the
similar, loutth with propod 0.8 of third propod figures in Zariquiey Alvarez (1946, fig. 111).
length, fifth subequal to third. Balssia gasti was first found in association with the
precious coral Corallium tubrum (L., 1758), an
Uropod (Fig. 2J, 4L)
alcyonacean host. Most subséquent records hâve
With protopodite with small blunt postérolatéral
been from this host. There hâve also been a num-
lobe; exopod broad, about 2.1 times longer than
ber of records from other hosts, reviewed by
wide, latéral margin convex, unarmed, with small
Manconi & Mort (1990), including several from
acute distal tooth (Fig. 4L) with larger mobile
gorgonians. including species of F.unicella,
spinule medially; endopod reaching to distal end
Gerardia, Lopbogorgia Milne Edwards, 1857, and
of exopod, about 2.8 times longer than wide.
ParamuriceUa. [’ossibly somc of these should be
Ova very numerous, small. referted to B. noeli. Mori et al. (1994) hâve confir-
med that their material, from Sardinia and asso-
Systematic: position ciated with the gorgonian host Paramuricella
A well-illustrated account of Balssia gasti was clavata (Risso, 1826), belonged to Balss’ species
610 ZOOSYSTEMA • 1998 • 20(4)
A second species of Balssia (Pontoniinae)
sensu stricto, so rhcrc is no doubt that B. gasti can REFERENCES
occur vvith both alcyonacean and gorgonian hosts.
The associations reported with sponge hosts
(Ledoyer 1968) secm likely to bave been of acci¬ Balss H. 1921. — Ueber eine neue Pontoniide aus
dem Golf von Neapel. Mitteilungen aus der
dentai origin due to the cxigcndes of collection
Zoologiscben Station zu Neapel 22 ( 15): 523-526.
ntethods. Hovvever, the possibility ol associations
Bruce A. J. 1973- — Notes on some Indo-Pacific
with sponges should be furthcr investigated before Pontoniinae, XXIV Dasycaris zanzibarica n.sp.
its exclusion. The sélection of host animais of from the western Indian Ôcean. with remarks on
B. noeli otherwise overlaps significandy with that other species of rhe genus Dasycaris Kemp. 1922
(Decapoda Narantia). Crustaceana 24 (3): 247-260.
of B. gasti, but further collections may show that
Duffy J. E. 1996. — Species boundarics, spécialisa¬
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The spedmen illuscrated by Noël (1985) shows a shrintp. Biological Journal oftbe Linnean Society 58:
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pace and may therefore belong to the présent spe¬
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Knowlton N. & Keller B. D. 1985. — Two more
nian host, and may hâve formed part of the mate-
sibling species of alpheid shrimps associated with
rial upon which the présent study is based (P. Y.
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nidae) in the western Mediterranean Sea. Crustace-
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a wide variety of different host types may well Crustacea Decapoda de France et des principales
consist of several sibling species. Knowlton autres espèces d'Europe. Collections patrimoines
naturels 9, Secrétariat de la Faune et de la Flore,
(1993) and Dufly (1996) consider that diversity
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris :
in the relevant taxa is probably several times
1-145.
greater than presently recognized and that this is Zariquiey Alvarez R. 1946. — Crustâceos Decâpodos
correlated with a high degree ofhost specificity. Mcditerraneos. Instituto Espanol de Estudios
Mediterrdneos 2: 1-181.
Acknowledgements
This study was facilitated by the support of the Submitted on 6Augustl997;
Australian Biological Resources Survey. accepted on 29 January 1998.
ZOOSYSTEMA • 1998 • 20(4) 611