Upogebia felderi A. B. Williams 1993

Upogebia felderi

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—U.S.A.: Texas: USLZ 3515, 1 (paratype), Calhoun Co., Port O’Connor, shoreline of bay, yabby pump, D. Felder and J. Staton, 3 Aug 1990.

Mexico: Tamaulipas: USLZ 3017, 2 (paratypes, 1 with bopyrid, Progebiophilus upogebiae (Hay) and attached ), Barra del Tordo, mouth of Río Carrizal, oyster covered beaches near grass beds, shallow water and intertidal, D.L. Felder, R. Tinin, N. Rabalais et al., USL 7FF III-B, 14 Jun 1978; USLZ 3018, 1 (paratype), same, on edges and just inshore of Thalassia bed, 0–0.5 m in estuary about 500 m from mouth, between village and dune line, yabby pump, photo voucher, 14 Jun 1978; USLZ 3019, 11 ,7 (2 ovig., 1 bearing bopyrid, USNM 251431 and USNM 251433 taken from original number of specimens in lot, remainder are paratypes), same, inshore of grass beds, yabby pump, D.L. Felder and R. Tinnin, sta 6, 24 May 1982; USLZ 3020, 1 juv. (paratype), same, 12–15 m deep on rocky ledges among muddy dead bryozoans, D.L. Felder and N. Rabalais, 17 Aug 1979; USLZ 3021, 3 ,2 (1 ovig.) (paratypes), same, D.L. Felder and N. Rabalais, 25 May 1982; USLZ 3498, 1 ,4 ovig. (USNM 251430 and USNM 251432 taken from original number of specimens in lot, remainder are paratypes), Barra del Tordo, mangrove mud flat and beach shore near seagrass flats, yabby pump, 32 ppt, D.L. Felder and party, USL TFE91-1, 31 Mar 1991; USNM 251430, 1 with oviducal openings (holotype), from USLZ 3498; USNM 251431, 1 ovig. (allotype), from USLZ 3019; USNM 251432, 1 ,3 ovig. (paratypes), from USLZ 3498; USNM 251433, 3 ,2 (paratypes), from USLZ 3019.

DIAGNOSIS.—Rostrum often with anteriorly projecting spine terminating ventral row of spines. Projections to either side of rostrum ending in moderate spine. Postocular spine present. Abdominal sternites unarmed. T subrectangular. Carpus of cheliped with 2 very strong spines below mesiodorsal spine on anteromesial margin. Merus of P2 with proximal mesioventral spine and 1 subdistal dorsal spine; merus of P3 with ventrolateral cluster of spines; merus of P4 spineless.

DESCRIPTION.—Rostrum triangular, slightly broader at base than long, slightly downturned; median ventral keel often bearing variably developed spines, anteriormost usually projecting forward, usually exceeding eyestalks in normal position by — their length; dorsal pair of subapical spines followed on each side by 2–4 often asymmetrically arranged spines; middorsal area spineless; posteriorly divergent lateral ridge bearing crest of about 12 spines, strongest in middle of row and decreasing in size posteriorly, anterior spines lateral to rostrum hidden in dense setae. Shoulder paralleling cervical groove bearing 1 or 2 spines below intersection with thalassinidean line. Postocular spine present.

Abdominal sternites unarmed.

T with distal margin slightly biarcuate and sometimes bearing obsolescent median spine; transverse proximal ridge confluent with lateral ridges unspined.

Eyestalk stout, deepest at about midlength, convex ventrally, almost straight dorsal side sometimes bearing 1 or 2 small spines, 1 or 2 spines on mesial basal flange; prominent terminal cornea narrrower than diameter of stalk and directed ventrolaterally.

A1 peduncle reaching to beyond midlength of terminal article of A2 peduncle, its proximal 2 articles together about equal in length to terminal article, proximal article without small distoventral angle mesially.

A2 peduncle with about its length extending beyond tip of rostrum; article 1 either spineless ventrally, or bearing a spine; article 2 bearing strong subdistal ventral spine; scale moderate, oval.

Mxp3 bearing epipod.

Epistomial projection rather broad in lateral view, bearing 1 strong spine at distodorsal corner.

Chelipeds with coxa in male bearing small spine on mesiodistal margin. Ventral margin of ischium usually bearing 1 strong spine, occasionally 2, and sometimes asymmetrically 1 and 2 on either side. Merus with row of 4–6 strong spines on ventral margin, distal ones sometimes diminishing in length, subdistal dorsal spine reaching level of postocular spine. Carpus trigonal, shallow longitudinal groove laterally, strong spine at anterior ventrolateral corner preceded by 1–4 spines (sometimes worn or suppressed); mesiodorsal crest of 4–6 nearly uniform moderate spines leading to prominent spine on anterior margin, short strong dorsal spine or pair of unequal spines near articulation with merus partly obscured by setae; 2–3 (rarely 0) strong spines on anterodorsal margin mesial to articulation with propodus; strong spine near middle of anteromesial margin, nearly equal or stronger spine dorsal to it, and very strong spine near distoventral corner. Chl about 1.9 times chh in male, about 2.5 times in female; spineless dorsal ridge, with erect dorsal spine or pair of spines near its proximal end; mesiodorsal row of strong spines, more erect proximally than distally and sometimes irregular in size and position, those on female variable in size and becoming diminished distally; strong spine below lateral dactylar condyle, reinforced distal margin below mesial dactylar condyle bearing spine and 3–4 rounded spines below it in fully adult male, less well developed in female and immature male; mesial palmar surface bearing arched upper row of obsolescent spines and well-developed setae, ventral keel bearing row of 3–4 spines proximal to base of fixed finger, low transversely arcuate beaded ridge near proximomesial corner. Fixed finger shorter than dacty1 and more slender, continuing contour of lower margin of palm, though slightly bowed ventrally, and tapering to strong rounded tip in male, with slender acute tip in female, about 5 variable small teeth on proximal prehensile edge. Dactyl tip in male corneous, preceded on prehensile edge by tooth at length opposing tip of fixed finger, then crest of about 5 closely crowded rounded teeth ending proximally in larger tooth at proximal of length (sometimes only few large teeth in this row), and toothless section basally; arched extensor surface bearing central row of closely crowded beaded granules or spines, largest proximally and becoming obsolete distally, flanked on each side by longitudinal ridge, groove, and row of dense setae; files of beaded granules on mesial and submesial surfaces; corneous tip in female preceded by slightly curved prehensile edge, strong tooth at l/2 length opposing tip of fixed finger, section proximal to this bearing variable small- to moderate-size teeth, occasionally a moderate tooth at length, and toothless section basally.

P2 reaching about to distal of palm; carpus with distodorsal spine and acute or obsolescent subdistal ventral spine; merus with slender subdistal dorsal spine and strong proximal mesioventral spine; coxa with 2 acute spines of variable strength on mesial aspect. Merus of P3 with cluster of spines and spiniform granules ventrolaterally on proximal , and strong distodorsal spine; coxa with low spine lateral to gonopore and minute spine on distomesial margin. P4 usually with spineless merus, rarely with 2 tiny lateral spines near ischium.

U with small spine on protopod above base of mesial ramus; mesial rib of lateral ramus bearing an obsolete spine proximally; distal margin of rami bearing granules or minute spines.

MEASUREMENTS (in mm).—Holotype , acl 8.6, cl 12.5, chl 7.4, chh 4.0; allotype , same, 9.9, 14.4, 6.8, 2.7.

COLOR.—Light yellowish white dorsally on rostrum, spiny anterior gastric field chelipeds, and second legs, but shadowy light gray band on distal part of cheliped merus; lighter yellowish white on branchiostegites and central anterior part of telson; darker yellowish on abdominal tergites I-II, and posterolateral parts of tergite VI; thoracic dorsum delimited by cephalic groove and lineae thalassinicae suffused with grayish, still darker gray with olive cast on central part of abdominal tergites III-V and anterior part of tergite VI; legs 4–5 with dorsally exposed articles moderate gray; uropods, sides, and distal part of telson gray. (From color transparency of specimen photographed at mouth of RÍo Carrizal, Barra del Tordo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, by D.L. Felder, May 1982.)

KNOWN RANGE.—Confined to the material examined. The Rio Carrizal estuary was characterized by Rabalais et al. (1989).