Vanni deepta Bahir & Yeo 2007

Vanni deepta Bahir & Yeo, 2007 [Golden forest crab] (Figs. 18, 19) Vanni deepta Bahir & Yeo, 2007: 344, figs. 41, 42. Vanni deepta – Klaus et al. 2014: 658, table S1 (list).— Rajesh et al. 2017: 146, fig. 28.—Pati 2020: 162 (list).— Pati & Pradhan 2020: 555836 (list). Type material examined. Holotype: male (CW 17.8 mm, CL 12.8 mm) (ZRC 2003.0233), India, Kerala State, Idukki District, Kaduwappara, on Mundakayam-Kumily, 9.55722° N, 76.96111° E, elev. 685 m a.s.l., collector and collection date unknown. Other material examined. India – Kerala State: 7 males (CW 11.9–21.5 mm, CL 9.5–15.8 mm, CH 5.3–9.3 mm, FW 4.5–7.1 mm), 3 females (CW 12.7–15.4 mm, CL 10.1–12.0 mm, CH 5.8–7.0 mm, FW 4.7–5.6 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2108), Pathanamthitta District, Ranni Forest Division, Moozhiyar, 9.291° N, 77.132° E, elev. 1138 m a.s.l., coll. Md. Jafer Palot, 31 October 2021; 2 males (CW 15.9–17.2 mm, CL 12.3–12.8 mm, CH 7.1–7.4 mm, FW 5.4– 5.9 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2169), Pathanamthitta District, Ranni Forest Division, Veluthode, 9.300° N, 77.040° E, elev. 155 m a.s.l., coll. K.A. Subramanian & R. Babu, 30 October 2021; male (CW 14.8 mm, CL 11.5 mm, CH 6.9 mm, FW 5.2 mm), female (CW 22.2 mm, CL 16.5 mm, CH 10.2 mm, FW 7.0 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2168), Pathanamthitta District, Ranni Forest Division, Pannikunnu, 9.318° N, 77.029° E, elev. 63 m a.s.l., coll. K.A. Subramanian & R. Babu, 30 October 2021. Diagnosis. Medium sized crabs (maximum CW 22.2 mm). Carapace relatively broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.3– 1.4), relatively low (CH /CW = ca. 0.4–0.5) (Fig. 18A–C, E); external orbital angle triangular, with short outer margin, ca. 2 times length of inner margin (Fig. 18A, B, E); epibranchial tooth indiscernible (Fig. 18A, B, E); male sternopleonal cavity reaching to imaginary line joining anterior part of cheliped coxae (Fig. 18D); male pleonal somite 6 subquadrate, slightly broad, proximal width ca. 1.2 times medial length, as long as telson, with gently concave lateral margins (Fig. 18D, G); male telson relatively less narrow, medial length ca. 1.1 times proximal width (Fig. 18D, G); G1 relatively stouter (Figs. 18H, I, 19A, B); G1 ultimate article relatively slenderer, straight, relatively longer, ca. 0.3 times length of penultimate article (Figs. 18H, I, 19A, B); G1 penultimate article with distal portion relatively less narrow than basal portion, outer margin gently sinuous, basally concave (Figs. 18H, I, 19A, B); G2 slightly longer than G1, ca. 1.1 times G1 length, ultimate article long, ca. 0.4 times length of penultimate article (Figs. 18J, 19C); vulvae subovate, relatively large, occupying ca. 0.5 times length of s6, located relatively close to s5/s6 (Fig. 18K). Remarks. Vanni deepta can be differentiated from the known congeners by the gently concave lateral margins of the male pleonal somite 6 (Fig. 18D, G) (versus male pleonal somite 6 with the strongly concave lateral margins; Figs. 14C, E, 16C, H, 20D, G). This species can be also distinguished from the morphologically close V. gracilis sp. nov. mainly by the relatively stouter ultimate and penultimate articles of the G1 (Figs. 18H, I, 19A, B) (versus G1 ultimate and penultimate articles relatively slenderer; Fig. 17A, B). Ecological notes. Vanni deepta is typically found inhabiting areas under stones and in moist soil, adjacent to streams (Bahir & Yeo 2007). The species can be found at lower as well as higher elevations (63–1138 m a.s.l.). Geographical distribution. Vanni deepta appears to be restricted to the southern Western Ghats in the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala, southern India (Bahir & Yeo 2007; present study) (Fig. 1B).