Palaniana convexa Z 2025, comb. nov.

Palaniana convexa (Roux, 1931) comb. nov. [Roux’s Palani crab] (Figs. 7–9) Paratelphusa (Barytelphusa) pollicaris convexa Roux, 1931: 49. Travancoriana convexa – Bahir & Yeo 2007: 321, figs. 11–13.— Pati & Sharma 2013: 281 (list, in key).—Pati et al. 2014: 656, pl. 1 figs. 10–12, pl. 3 figs. 7–9 (part).— Rajesh et al. 2017: 144, fig. 22.—Pati 2020: 162 (list).— Pati & Pradhan 2020: 555836 (list).— Sruthi & Thirunavukkarasu 2022: 460 (list). Not Paratelphusa (Barytelphusa) pollicaris – Roux 1931: 48. Not Travancoriana pollicaris – Bott 1970a: 336; 1970b: 41, pl. 4 figs. 42–44, pl. 26 fig. 21.— Klaus et al. 2014: table S1 (list). Type material. Lectotype: male (CW 51.2 mm, CL 37.8 mm) (MHNG, uncatalogued), India, Tamil Nadu State, Dindigul District, Palani, Thandikudi, 10.310° N, 77.643° E, elev. 1500 m a.s.l., coll. J. Carl, 26 April 1927. Other material examined. India – Kerala State: male (CW 25.2 mm, CL 19.2 mm, CH 10.3 mm, FW 7.8 mm) (ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9182), Idukki District, Munnar, Kadalar Shola, 10.1420° N, 77.0576° E, elev. 1738 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 22 September 2014; 2 males (CW 12.7–27.7 mm, CL 9.1–20.8 mm, CH 5.0– 11.7 mm, FW 4.3–7.7 mm), female (CW 29.2 mm, CL 21.5 mm, CH 11.8 mm, FW 8.0 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.611), Idukki District, Eravikulam National Park, Meenathotti, gravel bank, 10.16049° N, 77.01072° E, elev. 1708 m a.s.l., coll. R. M. Sharma, 27 February 1995; 2 males (CW 17.5–23.2 mm, CL 13.5–18.2 mm, CH 7.5–9.8 mm, FW 5.2–6.4 mm), female (CW 21.4 mm, CL 16.7 mm, CH 8.9 mm, FW 6.2 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2361), Idukki District, Marayoor Forest Division, Nagamala Shola, 10.290° N, 77.135° E, elev. 1724 m a.s.l., coll. Md. Jafer Palot, 14 March 2023; 2 males (CW 15.5–22.3 mm, CL 12.0– 17.3 mm, CH 6.3–9.5 mm, FW 4.9–6.8 mm) (ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9887), Palakkad District, Nelliyampathi, Thoothampara, 10.44920° N, 76.71545° E, elev. 693 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 1 March 2017; male (CW 35.4 mm, CL 26.9 mm, CH 15.3 mm, FW 9.8 mm) (ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9892), Palakkad District, Nelliyampathi, Victoria, 10.47275° N, 76.68265° E, elev. 980 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 27 February 2017; male (CW 16.5 mm, CL 13.2 mm, CH 7.0 mm, FW 5.2 mm), 3 females (CW 16.2–17.2 mm, CL 12.9–13.6 mm, CH 6.7–7.1 mm, FW 5.2–5.4 mm) (ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9890), Palakkad District, Nelliyampathi, Pothumala, 10.508° N, 76.683° E, elev. 977 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 2 March 2017; male (CW 26.7 mm, CL 20.7 mm, CH 10.8 mm, FW 7.5 mm) (ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9153), Pathanamthitta District, Gavi, 9.43585° N, 77.16577° E, elev. 1190 m a.s.l., coll. P.M. Sureshan, 5 September 2015. – Tamil Nadu State: male (CW 14.1 mm, CL 11.0 mm, CH 5.4 mm, FW 4.2 mm), 3 females (CW 9.9–21.9 mm, CL 8.1–16.9 mm, CH 4.1–8.5 mm, FW 3.2–5.9 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2155), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper Manalaru, 9.583° N, 77.335° E, elev. 1664 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 27 June 2019; male, juvenile (ZSI-WRC C.2341), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnamannur Range, Upper Manalar, Vattaparai, 9.584° N, 77.331° E, elev. 1666 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 4 March 2019; 2 females (CW 18.4–26.6 mm, CL 14.3–20.5 mm, CH 7.0– 11.1 mm, FW 5.1–6.9 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2156), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Vattaparai, 9.585° N, 77.331° E, elev. 1662 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 27 June 2019; male, juvenile (ZSI-WRC C.2338), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper Manalar, stream near Suruli Colony, 9.589° N, 77.342° E, elev. 1536 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 17 September 2016; male (CW 38.7 mm, CL 28.4 mm, CH 15.3 mm, FW 10.0 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2157), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Venniyaru Forest, 9.615° N, 77.330° E, elev. 1536 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 28 June 2019; 3 males (CW 8.5–20.9 mm, CL 7.0– 15.8 mm, CH 3.3–8.0 mm, FW 2.9–6.3 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2340), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Highwavys, shola forest near Forest Rest House, 9.638° N, 77.358° E, elev. 1540 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 3 March 2019; 3 males (CW 21.7–26.5 mm, CL 17.4–20.6 mm, CH 8.6–10.9 mm, FW 6.1–7.5 mm), 2 females (CW 11.9–16.8 mm, CL 9.7–13.4 mm, CH 4.2–6.8 mm, FW 3.7–5.0 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2158), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mannoothu, Kadana Estate, 9.692° N, 77.401° E, elev. 1541 m a.s.l., coll. R. Venkitesan et al., 29 June 2019; 4 males, juveniles (ZSI-WRC C.2339), Theni District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, stream near Kadana Estate, 9.698° N, 77.401° E, elev. 1453 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 18 September 2016. Diagnosis. As for new genus. Remarks. Palaniana convexa comb. nov. was formerly reported as Paratelphusa (Barytelphusa) pollicaris by Roux (1931: 48) and as Travancoriana pollicaris by Bott (1970a: 336; 1970b: 41, pl. 4 figs. 42–44, pl. 26 fig. 21) and Klaus et al. (2014: table S1), which is now regarded as Pa. convexa comb. nov. (see remarks for Po. pollicaris comb. nov.). The records of the species from the Kodagu district of Karnataka and Kollam district of Kerala by Pati et al. (2014) appear to be misidentification of the specimens; the remaining specimens examined by Pati et al. (2014), however, belong to Pa. convexa comb. nov. Ecological notes. Palaniana convexa comb. nov. is generally found in high mountains (elevation up to 1738 m a.s.l.) (Bahir & Yeo 2007; present study); it is also recorded from an elevation as low as 600 m a.s.l. (present study). The species is known to occupy small and shallow streams, especially underneath boulders, in addition to paddy fields and muddy canals (Bahir & Yeo 2007). Geographical distribution. As for new genus. Genus Anamudiana gen. nov. (Figs. 10, 11) Type species. Travancoriana granulata Pati & Sharma, 2013, by present designation; gender of genus feminine. Diagnosis. Large sized crabs (maximum CW 44.4 mm). Carapace relatively broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.2–1.4), relatively low (CH /CW = ca. 0.3–0.4), with moderately convex lateral margins; frontal medial triangle incomplete, lateral margins indiscernible; postorbital cristae well-developed, reaching lateral margins of carapace; external orbital angle broadly triangular, with long outer margin, ca. 4 times length of inner margin; epibranchial tooth low, located at same level of postorbital cristae; epistome posterior margin with well-developed, semicircular medial tooth and gently sinuous lateral lobes (Fig. 10A, B). Maxilliped 3 with well-developed flagellum on exopod (Fig. 10C). Chelipeds relatively slender in adult males (see Pati & Sharma 2013: figs. 2A–C, 3E). Ambulatory legs relatively stout, shorter, glabrous (Fig. 10A; see Pati & Sharma 2013: fig. 2A, C). Male s2/s3 distinct as narrow groove, reaching edge of sternum; male s3/s4 distinct as deep, complete groove, reaching edge of sternum (Fig. 10D). Male sternopleonal cavity relatively shorter, reaching to imaginary line joining medial part of cheliped coxae (Fig. 10D). Male pleon relatively narrow, with strongly concave lateral margins; pleonal somite 6 subquadrate, relatively broad, proximal width ca. 1.5 times medial length (Fig. 10D, E). G1 relatively slender; ultimate article conical, relatively slender, relatively short, ca. 0.25 times length of penultimate article; penultimate article moderately stout (Fig. 11A, B). G2 longer than G1, ca. 1.2 times G1 length; ultimate article long, ca. 0.4 times length of penultimate article (Fig. 10C). Vulvae relatively widely located from each other (VD/SW = ca. 0.3) (Fig. 10F). Etymology. Crabs of the new genus are found in the high mountains of the southern Western Ghats of India. The genus name is thus derived from Anamudi, the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The gender of this genus is feminine. Remarks. Anamudiana gen. nov. comprises only one species, A. granulata (Pati & Sharma, 2013) comb. nov., which was described as T. granulata by Pati & Sharma (2013). The new genus can be differentiated from Travancoriana s. str. by the characters in the male chelipeds, male s2/s3, male sternopleonal cavity, male pleonal somite 6, and G1 ultimate article (see remarks for Travancoriana). From other gecarcinucid genera of southern India, Anamudiana gen. nov. can be distinguished by the following morphological characters: the relatively low carapace (CH /CW = ca. 0.3–0.4) (Fig. 10B); the well-developed postorbital cristae reaching the lateral margins of the carapace (Fig. 10A); the broadly triangular external orbital angle, with a long outer margin, ca. 4 times the length of the inner margin (Fig. 10A); the low epibranchial tooth located at the same level of the postorbital cristae (Fig. 10A); the well-developed flagellum on the exopod of the maxilliped 3 (Fig. 10C); the deep, complete groove of the male s3/s4 reaching the edge of the sternum (Fig. 10D); the relatively shorter male sternopleonal cavity, reaching to the imaginary line joining the medial part of the cheliped coxae (Fig. 10D); the relatively narrow male pleon, with the strongly concave lateral margins (Fig. 10D, E); the subquadrate and relatively broad male pleonal somite 6 with proximal width ca. 1.5 times the medial length (Fig. 10D, E); the relatively slender and short G1 ultimate article, ca. 0.25 times the length of the penultimate article (Fig. 11A, B); the relatively stouter G1 penultimate article (Fig. 11A, B); the longer G2 as compared to the G1 (Fig. 11); and the relatively widely located vulvae (VD/SW = ca. 0.3) (Fig. 10F). Geographical distribution. Anamudiana gen. nov. is known only from the southern Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala, southern India, where it is endemic (Pati & Sharma 2013) (Fig. 1A).