Resolution of the identity of Pinnotheres latipes Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846 and description of a new species of Viridotheres Manning, 1996 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae): two symbionts of bivalve molluscs

Abstract

Abstract Pinnotherid crabs are well known as obligate associates of other marine invertebrates, frequently bivalve molluscs. Knowledge of the Australian pinnotherid crab fauna is expanded by description of a new species of Viridotheres Manning, 1996, representing the first record of the genus from Western Australia. The new species of Viridotheres is most similar to V. gracilis (Bürger, 1895) from the Philippines and V. takedai Ahyong, Komai & Watanabe, 2012 from Japan, but is unique in the genus in the elongated maxilliped 3 palp that distinctly overreaches the propodal apex. The identity of the poorly known northern Australian species, Pinnotheres latipes Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846, originally described from the Northern Territory, is resolved by designation of a neotype that places the species in the genus Nepinnotheres Manning, 1993. Nepinnotheres latipescomb. nov. is widespread in northern Australia and commonly hosted by the bivalve mollusc Pinna Linnaeus, 1758. Previous Australian records of Nepinnotheres cardii (Bürger, 1895) and N. edwardsi (De Man, 1888) from Australia are referable to N. latipes. Nepinnotheres latipes is one of only five known pinnotherids having androgynous males. Few pinnotherids are known from males, so estimating the extent of androgyny in Pinnotheridae must await discovery of males of additional species.