INTRODUCTION
The discovery of deep-sea chemosynthetic communities associated with thermally active spreading centres has had a major impact on ocean sciences in the latter half of the 20th century. Many such communities have been reported along active margins in the Atlantic Ocean (Van Dover, Reference Van Dover and Parson1995; Gebruk et al., Reference Gebruk, Galkin, Vereschaka, Moskalev and Southward1997) and Pacific Ocean (Tunnicliffe, Reference Tunnicliffe1991; Hashimoto et al., Reference Hashimoto, Ohta, Fujikura and Miura1995). Hashimoto et al. (Reference Hashimoto2001) reported the first hydrothermal vent communities in the Indian Ocean. Vent fauna consisting of shrimps Rimicaris kairei Watabe & Hashimoto, 2000, gastropods Alviniconcha sp., bythograeid crabs Austinograea rodriguezensis Tsuchida & Hashimoto, 2002, stalked barnacles Neolepas sp., deep-sea mussels Bathymodiolus marisindicus, Hashimoto, Reference Hashimoto2001, anemones Marianactis sp., and ‘scaly foot gastropods’ Warén, Bengtsson, Goffredi & Van Dover, 2003 were found to be endemic to such chemosynthetic ecosystems and molecular comparisons support affinities between Indian Ocean and western Pacific taxa (Van Dover et al., Reference Van Dover2001). The first expedition to the hydrothermal vent in Mariana Back Arc Basin took place in 1987, since then several cruises have been carried out (Hessler & Lonsdale, Reference Hessler and Lonsdale1991). Faunal communities were dominated by provannid gastropods Alviniconcha hessleri Okutani & Ohta, 1988, bythograeid crabs Austinograea williamsi Hessler & Martin, 1989, alvinocaridid shrimps Chorocaris vandoverae Martin & Hessler, 1990, barnacles Neoverruca brachylepadoformis Newman, 1989 and galatheid crabs Munidopsis marianica Williams & Baba, Reference Williams and Baba1989. Munidopsis exhibit a unique pattern of distribution and abundance in the vent fields.
The genus Munidopsis is represented by more than 150 species in the Indo-Pacific and around 70 in the Atlantic Ocean (Baba, Reference Baba2005; Macpherson, Reference Macpherson2007) with ten reported only from active hydrothermal vent systems (Williams, Reference Williams1988; Williams & Baba, Reference Williams and Baba1989; Baba & de Saint Laurent, Reference Baba and de Saint Laurent1992; Baba, Reference Baba1995, Reference Baba2005; Macpherson & Segonzac, Reference Macpherson and Segonzac2005; Cubelio, et al., Reference Cubelio, Tsuchida, Hendrickx, Kado and Watanabe2007; Macpherson, Reference Macpherson2007). Five species occur in the western Pacific: Munidopsis starmer Baba & de Saint Laurent, Reference Baba and de Saint Laurent1992; M. sonne Baba, Reference Baba1995; M. lauensis Baba & de Saint Laurent, Reference Baba and de Saint Laurent1992; M. marianica Williams & Baba, Reference Williams and Baba1989; and M. myojinensis Cubelio, Tsuchida, Hendrickx, Kado & Watanabe, Reference Cubelio, Tsuchida, Hendrickx, Kado and Watanabe2007. Mundidopsis alvisca Williams Reference Williams1988; Munidopsis sp. near M. recta Baba, Reference Baba2005 (the material reported by Van Dover et al. (1985) under M. subsquamosa Henderson, 1885 (see Baba (Reference Baba2005) and Macpherson & Baba in Desbruyères et al., Reference Desbruyères, Segonzac and Bright2006)) and M. lentigo Williams & Van Dover, Reference Williams and Van Dover1983 are reported from the east Pacific (Martin & Haney, Reference Martin and Haney2005). Mundiposis acutispina Benedict, 1902 and M. exuta Macpherson & Segonzac, Reference Macpherson and Segonzac2005 are found along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
A research cruise was planned by the Japan Agency for Marine Earth-Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) in order to study hydrothermalism and related biological communities in the Indian Ocean during February 2002 using RV ‘Yokosuka’ and the manned submersible ‘Shinkai 6500’ along the northern extremity of the Central Indian Ridge, approximately 22 km north of the Rodriguez Triple Junction. A previous cruise had been visiting Forecast Vent Field, Mariana Back Arc Basin during November–December, 1996 using RV ‘Yokosuka’ and the manned submersible ‘Shinkai 6500’. During the dives different vent organisms were collected. The present paper reports the occurrence of two new species of vent associated Munidopsis from Kairei Field (25° 19.17′ S 70° 02.40′E) and Forecast Vent Field (13° 23. 07′ N/145° 55.02′E), respectively (Figure 1).
Map showing the locality from where the new species were collected.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The material reported on here was collected by JAMSTEC. Measurements of specimens, given in millimetres (mm), indicate the carapace length including the rostrum. Type specimens were deposited in the National Science Museum, Tokyo (NSMT) and paratypes in JAMSTEC.
SYSTEMATICS
Munidopsis laticorpus sp. nov. holotype female. (A), carapace and abdominal segment, dorsal view; (B), lateral view; (C), right P1, lateral; (D), right P2, lateral; (E), dactylus of P2, lateral; (F), endopod of right third maxilliped; (G), antennal peduncle and antennular basal article, ventral; (H), posterior part of abdomen with telson; and (I), thoracic; sternum. Scale: A, B, C, D, F, H = 5 mm, E, G = 2 mm.
Type material
Holotype: 1F, 31.45 mm, (NSMT–Cr 16876), ‘Shinkai 6500’, dive 6 k # 664, Kairei Field, Indian Ocean 25°19.24′ S, 70° 2.40′ E, 2422 m, 23 February, 2002.
Paratypes: 2M, 26.70 mm, 23.61 mm, (JAMSTEC 046769, 046770), ‘Shinkai 6500’, dive 6k # 665, Kairei Field, Indian ocean 25°19.25′ S 70° 2.39′ E, 2435 m, 24 February, 2002.
Description
Carapace excluding rostrum 1.2 times as long as broad, moderately arched from side to side, anterior and posterior cervical groove distinct, mid-cervical groove dividing carapace almost equally into anterior and posterior halves, cardiac region strongly elevated. Rostrum 0.2–0.2 times the length of remaining carapace, triangular, strongly upturned at tip, lateral margin with fine serrations. Frontal margin strongly oblique without antennal spine and anterolateral spine. Gastric region highly dilated, with transverse rugae feebly tuberculate, two longer anterior rugae on epigastric region. Anterior branchial region with rugae, lateral margin with a distinct long and strong anterior spine, often followed by minute teeth. Posterior branchial region with interrupted rugae more pronounced than those on anterior branchial region. Posterior margin concave, preceded by highly elevated sub-marginal ridge. Pterygostomian flap with obliquely interrupted rugae, more distinct posteriorly, projecting anteriorly below antennal peduncle, anterodorsal margin minutely serrated and angular tip minutely spinous or serrated.
Abdomen unarmed; second to fourth segments, rather rounded transverse ridge about mid-length, preceded by a distinct concave trough on second segment, weaker on third and fourth segments, posterior half of each tergite with medially interrupted shallow transverse furrow; fifth and sixth segments smooth, tergite of latter without posterolateral flap. Telson composed of 12 plates, length–width ratio 0.85, posterolateral margin strongly convergent posteriorly.
Eyes moderate in size; well exposed smoothly ovate cornea cupped within broad-based ocular peduncle extended anteriorly into long and acute spine, directed laterally and accompanied by smaller mesioventral spine, peduncles immovable.
Basal segment of antennular peduncle, exclusive of spines, somewhat longer than broader, distolateral inflation bearing tubercular processes, often developed into small spine, dorsal to well developed distolateral spine; crenulated scalloped ventrodistal margin ending mesially into tubercles. Antennal peduncle having basal segment with well developed sharp and flat distomesial spine and smaller distolateral spines; second segment with moderate distolateral spine, third and fourth segments unarmed.
Third maxilliped with relatively broad endopod. Ischium nearly or barely half as long as merus when measured in midlateral line, mesial ridge with 23–24 denticles. Merus with two groups of small spines on proximal half, and a small spine at distodorsal margin. Dactylus ending in rounded distal margin with brush of setae, distal end almost reaching the proximal end of ischium when folded. Sternite 3 relatively broad, occasionally divided by mid-longitudinal groove into left and right parts; anterior margin bearing 2 lobes distinctively tuberculate, anterolateral angle ending in blunt but distinct process on each side.
Epipods absent from all pereiopods.
Chelipeds (P1) 1.4 times as long as post-orbital carapace length with well developed setose rugosites, ischium with a small distodorsal spine, merus 2.2 times as long as carpus when measured in dorsal mid-line, bearing 3 long and strong terminal spines with additional and 2–3 strong spines distoventrally, with obsolescent tubercular processes, carpus with a long mesial marginal spine at the widest portion often with additional tubercular processes distolaterally. Fingers longer than palm (up to 1.6 in female and 1.7 in males), propodus with 2 strong and 3 weak distoventral spines, ventral surface tuberculate, fingers slightly curved, opposable margins of fingers fitting together, inner side forming a spooned shaped cavity, closely fit cutting edges, the latter with very fine teeth, bearing tuffs of setae, tips close fitting, spooned; fixed finger without denticulate carina on distolateral surface.
Pereiopods 2–4 (P2–4) relatively long and slender, P2 almost fully reaching the end of P1, merus strong rugosites turning into tubercular processes, a strong spine at terminal end. Carpus with distinct spine on disto dorsal corner with highly tuberculate ridge parallel to dorsal margin. Propodus without any spines, 1.5 times as long as dactylus, obliquely flattish dorsal surface bordered laterally by rounded longitudinal ridge often bearing row of scale like tubercles, ventrodistally with pair of slender movable spines flanking distomedian groove. Dactylus somewhat uniformly tapering to end, flexor margin nearly straight with 13–14 teeth, each accompanied by seta like spine, corneous terminal claw strongly curving down.
Eggs few, diameter 2.41 mm.
Variation
The material we examined indicates that the holotype female is larger than paratype males. Telson is narrower in paratypes. P2 is longer than P1 in females whereas it is almost the same length as P1 in males. These variations are related to sexual dimorphism.
Colour
Carapace and appendages light brown, eyes pale orange.
Etymology
From the Latin, referring to the broad body.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality, Kairei Vent Field in Indian Ocean at a depth of 2422–2435 m.
Remarks
The new species belongs to the Orophorhynchus group of Alcock, which is characterized by P1 (cheliped) being shorter than the body, P2 fully reaching the end of the P1 and eye peduncles fixed, extending beyond the cornea with a mesial spine. Munidopsis laticorpus sp. nov. is distinguishable by unarmed dorsal carapace surface with rugae becoming more prominent towards posterior side, oblique frontal margin with no antennal and anterolateral spine, upturned triangular rostrum, absence of denticulate carina on distolateral surface of fixed finger of cheliped and absence of epipods on pereiopods. It is most closely related to Munidopsis lauensis Baba & de Saint Laurent, Reference Baba and de Saint Laurent1992, from South Pacific vent sites, in the unarmed dorsal surface of carapace, absence of epipods on the pereiopods and transverse posteriomedian margin of 6th abdominal segment. However, the rostrum of the new species is broad triangular, straight in profile and strongly upturned at the tip, whereas in M. lauensis it is narrow triangular and nearly straight or feebly upcurved in profile. The eyespine in M. laticorpus is longer and directed almost laterally, whereas in M. lauensis eyespine is smaller and almost directed straightforward. Absence of antennal and anterolateral spine on frontal margin is another character which separates the new species from M. lauensis. Furthermore, P2–4 dactyli in M. laticorpus are stout with terminal corneous claw strongly curved, whereas in M. lauensis, P2–4 dactyli are gradually narrowed distally with terminal corneous claw gently curved. Mundiopsis laticorpus also resembles M. ceratophthalmus Alcock, 1901 from the Andaman Sea, in the unarmed dorsal surface, absence of epipods on pereiopods and in spooned fingers of chelipeds. However, in Alcock's species, the eyespine is much longer and slender, more than half the length of rostrum and its basal portion relatively narrow and the new species differ in spination of cheliped and walking legs from M. ceratophthalmus.
Munidopsis gracilis sp. nov. holotype female. (A) carapace and abdominal segment, dorsal view; (B) lateral view; (C) right P1, lateral; (D) right P2, lateral; (E) dactylus of P2, lateral; (F) antennal peduncle and antennular basal article, ventral; (G) thoracic sternum; (H) endopod of right third maxilliped; and (I) telson. Scale: A, B, C, D, G, H & I = 5 mm; E & F = 2 mm.
(A) Munidopsis laticorpus sp. nov. holotype female, 31.45 mm; and B. Munidopsis gracilis sp. nov. holotype female, 24.23 mm.
Type material
Holotype: 1F, 24.23 mm, (NSMT–Cr 16875) ‘Shinkai 6500’, dive 6 k # 354, Forecast Vent Field, Mariana Back Arc Basin, 13° 23. 07′ N/145° 55.02′E, 1450 m, 1 December 1996.
Description
Carapace exclusive of rostrum distinctly longer than broader, moderately arched, anterior and posterior cervical groove distinct, transverse depression in anterior part of cardiac region. Rostrum 0.17 times long as carapace length, horizontal, narrow triangular, lateral margin with fine serrations, distinct dorsal carina merging into gastric region. Slightly raised concave frontal margin sweeping to strong antennal spine followed by shorter acute spine adjacent to it, following to strongly spined anterolateral angle. Gastric region somewhat dilated with transverse rugae occasionally feebly tuberculate, often obsolescent but moderate spine on either side of mid-line, lateral to each other variably developed small spines. Anterior branchial region bearing rugae, lateral margin with distinct strong anterior spine followed by 4 successively diminishing lateral spines and scattered moderate tubercles dorsally. Posterior branchial region with a strong lateral spine followed by 1 (right) or 2 (left) spines and rugose with tendency to being transversely continuous across central part of cardiac region. Pterygostomian flap with obliquely interrupted rugae, more distinct posteriorly, anteriorly ending in triangular margin with a slender spine.
Abdomen unarmed, transverse ridge of somites 2 and 3 smooth, preceded by concave trough more distinct on 2nd segment, segments 4, 5 and 6 smooth, posteriomedian margin of the posteriomost segment transverse. Telson divided into 8 plates, length–width ratio 0.80, posterolateral plate markedly convergent with a fringe of long coarse setae.
Eyes small, well exposed, almost round cornea cupped within broad-based movable ocular peduncle extending into a strong and long mesiodorsal spine directed laterally, 0.7 times length of rostrum, ornamented with three or four irregular spines, short lateral spines near base of cornea, accompanied by smaller acute mesioventral spine.
Basal article of antennular peduncle, exclusive of spine, longer than broader, slender dorsolateral carina distally continued into a long spine, dorsal to distolateral spine; separated by a groove bordering inflated lateral surface bearing small tubercles or spines, scalloped ventrodistal margin ending mesially in small but often prominent spine. Antennal peduncle having basal segment with well developed long ventral spine and smaller distolateral spine, 2nd segment with sharp distolateral spine, 3rd segment longer than broader with serrate distal margin, 4th segment with scalloped distal margin.
Third maxilliped, ischium shorter than merus bearing mesial crest armed with finely uniform evenly spaced 20 corneous tipped spines, merus with a few (3 strong) spines along flexor margin and small spine at distodorsal margin, dactyl ending in rounded distal margin with brush of setae. Tip of dactylus almost reaching the proximal end of ischium when folded.
Epipods absent from pereiopods.
Chelipeds (P1) with dense setaetion, 1.9 times as long as postorbital carapace length, with many spines and fewer rugosites tending to arrange in longitudinal tracts. Ischium with mesial row of 5 acute spines and merus exceeding rostrum bearing a row of 8 mesial spines, terminal one being strongest, and 7 spines laterally, carpus with long spines mesially and laterally, palm with 4 spines mesially and laterally with strong tubercles. Fingers somewhat longer than palm with intermeshing teeth, spooned, closely fitting each other when closed.
Pereiopods 2–4 (P2–4) long and slender, P2 reaching almost to tip of P1, P3–4 reaching to base of dactyl on preceding leg. Merus with 6–7 spines mesially and laterally with spiny tubercles, carpi with longitudinal dorsal and lateral rib, each ending in spines, propodus thin with longitudinal and lateral rib with a spine on lateral side, almost 2.2 times as long as dactylus, dactyl slender, acute corneous tip preceded by row of 11 spines on prehensile edge.
Eggs few, principal axis measuring 2.4 × 2.6 mm.
Colour
Carapace and appendages are entirely white, eyes light yellow.
Etymology
From the Latin gracilis, slender, in reference to the thin and slender walking legs. The name is considered as a substantive in apposition.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality, Forecast Vent Field, Mariana Back Arc Basin at a depth of 1450 m.
Remarks
Munidopsis gracilis sp. nov. strongly resembles Munidopsis marianica Williams & Baba, Reference Williams and Baba1989. However, lack of epipods on the chelipeds, shape of rostrum and erectness of eye spines immediately separates Munidopsis gracilis from M. marianica. Munidopsis marianica features a strongly produced posteriomedian margin of the 6th abdominal somite overreaching its lateral lobes while Munidopsis gracilis features a transverse posteriomedian margin of the 6th abdominal somite. The main eyespine of Munidopsis gracilis is long almost reaching to 3/4th of rostrum whereas for M. marianica it is not so. Furthermore, Munidopsis gracilis characterizes a very long rostrum with lateral serrations, whereas these serrations are present only at distal end of rostrum in M. marianica. Spination of carapace and absence of epipods on cheliped links Munidopsis gracilis to M. starmer Baba & de Saint Laurent, Reference Baba and de Saint Laurent1992. However, both the species can easily be distinguished by length and ornamentation of eyespine, shape of 6th abdominal segment and spination of cheliped and walking legs. Munidopsis starmer is characterized by a protruded rounded posterolateral flap of 6th abdominal segment, distinctly overreaching its posteromedian margin, whereas it is transverse in M. gracilis. Eyespine is small compared to rostral length in M. starmer, whereas eyespine of Munidopsis gracilis is long almost reaching to 3/4th of rostrum.
HABITT AND ECOLOGY OF KAIREI FIELD
Chimney complexes characterized Kairei Field, including black smokers, the largest of which was over about 10 m high. Biological communities were distributed in a 40 m by 80 m field around the knolls between depths of 2420 m and 2450 m. Maximum temperature from an active black smoker was 360°C and pH 3.4 (Hashimoto et al., Reference Van Dover2001).
Swarms of densely packed shrimps, Rimicaris kairei were seen directly in the hot venting chimneys. Crowded beds of actinians, Marianactis sp., provannid gastropods Alviniconcha sp., bythograeid crabs Austinograea rodriguezensis, stalked barnacles Neolepas sp., deep-sea mussels Bathymodiolus marisindicus and ‘scaly foot gastropods’ dominated the communities. Zoarcid fish were seen swimming in the vicinity of the chimneys. Moulted exuvia of Rimicaris kairei were thickly accumulated in the slope. 5–6 individuals of Munidopsis were seen slowly crawling among sea anemones and stalked barnacles in the bare rock. They were found little distant from the chimneys, probably avoiding the predation from bythograeid crabs.
DISCUSSION
Munidopsis comprise an important element of macrofauna of reducing habitats such as hydrothermal vent, cold seep, whale carcass and decomposing wood in deep-sea (Williams & Van Dover, Reference Williams and Van Dover1983; Williams, Reference Williams1988; Williams & Baba, Reference Williams and Baba1989; Baba, Reference Baba2005; Macpherson & Segonzac, Reference Macpherson and Segonzac2005; Macpherson, Reference Macpherson2007). Munidopsis laticorpus sp. nov. becomes the first vent associated Munidopsis to be described from Kairei Field, Central Indian Ridge (25° 19.17′ S 70° 02.40′E) and Munidopsis gracilis sp. nov., the second from Forecast Vent Field, Mariana Back Arc Basin, west Pacific (13° 23. 07′ N/145° 55.02′E). This increases the number of vent associated Munidopsis to 16, including the newly identified undescribed species; three species from Hatoma Knoll, Okinawa Trough and one species from Brothers Seamount, Kermadec Volcanic Arc (Cubelio et al., Reference Cubelio, Tsuchida and Watanabein press).
Munidopsis exhibits a rather variable pattern of abundance in vent fields. In west Pacific vent sites such as, DESMOS and PACMANUS in Manus Basin, and north-west Eifuku Seamount in Mariana Volcanic Arc, Munidopsis are very abundant (Tunnicliffe, Reference Tunnicliffe1991; Cubelio et al., Reference Cubelio, Tsuchida, Hendrickx, Kado and Watanabe2007), whereas in the vent fields such as Mariana Back Arc Basin and Kairei Field, they are not so abundant. This might be related to the abundance of predators on galatheid crabs. Munidopsis seem to be very slow and inactive animals and could be easily preyed upon by predators such as bythograeid crabs. Hence it could be possible that in vent fields, such as Mariana Back Arc Basin and Kairei Field, where the bythograeid crabs are abundant, Munidopsis are found to inhabit areas distant from the active venting chimneys, probably avoiding the predation. Environmental conditions also play an important role in controlling the distribution of vent animals (Tunnicliffe, Reference Tunnicliffe1991; Van Dover, Reference Van Dover2000). In the DESMOS site, pH of the vent fluid is found to be 1.5, which is the lowest to be reported from any vent field (Van Dover, Reference Van Dover2000). Most of the vent animals, including the predators might try to avoid such low pH, but Munidopsis are found to be very abundant in the DESMOS site (Tunnicliffe, Reference Tunnicliffe1991; Baba & de Saint Laurent, Reference Baba and de Saint Laurent1992). Presumably they could adapt themselves and survive in these unusual environments. These factors could be one of the reasons for the variable patterns of abundance of vent associated Munidopsis in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The present description of vent associated Munidopsis in the Indian Ocean indicates that Munidopsis distribution extends to hydrothermal vents of all the three major oceans. This study supports the evidence of the global distribution of common chemosynthetic genera via the active spreading ridges of the Indian Ocean. In addition to the Munidopsis gracilis sp. nov., described herein from Forecast Vent Field, two other species, M. marianica and M. myojinensis from the north-western Eifuku Seamount, Mariana Volcanic Arc have also been reported. Hence, it could be assumed that there is a very wide distribution of Munidopsis between the Back Arc and Volcanic Arc of west Pacific vent fields despite the difference in depth and distance.
Geographical affinities of Kairei, with Pacific and Atlantic vent taxa have been analysed by Van Dover et al. (Reference Van Dover2001) and demonstrated a strong evolutionary link to Pacific vent taxa. Ongoing phylogenetic studies should greatly increase our understanding about the complex evolutionary history and diversity of this group.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the captain and the crews of the RV ‘Yokosuka’ and the operation team of the manned submersible ‘Shinkai 6500’ for their skilful effort in the collection of specimens. Cordial thanks are extended to Dr Michel E. Hendrickx, Laboratorio de Invertebrados Bentonicos, Unidad Academica Mazatlan, Mexico for reviewing a draft of the manuscript and giving valuable suggestions. This research was supported partly by funding from a Sasagawa Scientific Research Grant from the Japan Science Society.
