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On species of genus Byblis Boeck, 1971 (Amphilochidea, Ampeliscidae) reported from India with the description of one new species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2024

Dimple Thacker ,
Alan A. Myers  and
Jigneshkumar N. Trivedi Open the ORCID record for Jigneshkumar N. Trivedi [Opens in a new window]
Dimple Thacker
Affiliation:
Animal Taxonomy and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Life sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, 384265, Gujarat, India
Alan A. Myers
Affiliation:
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork Enterprise Centre, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland
Jigneshkumar N. Trivedi*
Affiliation:
Animal Taxonomy and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Life sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, 384265, Gujarat, India
*
Corresponding author: Jigneshkumar N. Trivedi; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

In the present study species of the genus Byblis Boeck, 1871, found in India are discussed. Previously, two species of the genus Byblis: B. daleyi (Giles, 1890b) and B. lepta (Giles, 1890a) were recorded from India. The taxonomy and world distribution of the two previously reported species is discussed in the study. Additionally, a new species Byblis kachchhensis sp. nov. is also described based on the specimens collected from Gujarat state, India. This new species is differentiated from its closely related species B. calisto Imbach, 1967 by having large eyes placed very close to each other and entire telson.

Keywords

KachchhLunimuddy shorenew species
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 104 , 2024 , e115
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Introduction

Gujarat State, located on India's western side, has the longest coastline in the country, spanning about 1600 km (Trivedi et al., Reference Trivedi, Trivedi, Soni, Purohit and Vachhrajani2015a). It has diverse marine habitats like sandy shores, rocky shores, mudflats, coral reefs, mangroves and estuaries, which collectively sustain a vast range of crustaceans (Gosavi et al., Reference Gosavi, Trivedi, Trivedi and Vachhrajani2017). Many studies regarding diversity of various groups of crustaceans such as brachyurans, anomurans and stomatopods occurring on coastal areas of Gujarat state have been carried out (Trivedi et al., Reference Trivedi, Soni and Vachhrajani2015b, Reference Trivedi, Ahyong, Vachhrajani and Kumar2020; Trivedi and Vachhrajani, Reference Trivedi and Vachhrajani2017; Gosavi et al, Reference Gosavi, Purohit, Mitra, Patel, Vachhrajani and Trivedi2021; Patel et al., Reference Patel, Padate, Osawa, Tiwari, Vachhrajani and Trivedi2022). However, the diversity of amphipods occurring on the Gujarat coast are quite unknown (Myers et al., Reference Myers, Trivedi, Gosavi and Vachhrajani2017, Reference Myers, Trivedi, Gosavi and Vachhrajani2018; Gaikwad and Sautya, Reference Gaikwad and Sautya2022; Thacker et al., Reference Thacker, Myers and Trivedi2023a, Reference Thacker, Myers and Trivedi2023b, Reference Thacker, Patel, Myers, Guerra-García, Zeidler and Trivedi2023c). This study focuses on specimens from the genus Byblis Boeck, Reference Boeck1871, collected from Gujarat State, India.

Boeck (Reference Boeck1871) established a new genus, Byblis, on the basis of samples of Ampelisca gaimardii Krøyer, 1846 [now Byblis gaimardii (Krøyer, 1846)] collected from various locations including Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. Boeck (Reference Boeck1871) differentiated Byblis from other genera in having following characters: having mandibular palp article 3 shortest, article 2 narrow, and pereopod 7 basis downwards and dilated posteriorly. Byblis species exhibit a global distribution, spanning from intertidal zones to the deep sea (Bellan-Santini and Dauvin, Reference Bellan-Santini and Dauvin1993). Members of Byblis are detritivores and tube dwellers (Dickinson, Reference Dickinson1983). There are more than 79 species of genus Byblis reported worldwide, among them only 2 species were reported from India till now: Byblis daleyi (Giles, Reference Giles1890b) and Byblis lepta (Giles, Reference Giles1890a) (Thacker et al., Reference Thacker, Patel, Myers, Guerra-García, Zeidler and Trivedi2023c; Horton et al., Reference Horton, Lowry, De Broyer, Bellan-Santini, Copilas-Ciocianu, Corbari, Costello, Daneliya, Dauvin, Fišer, Gasca, Grabowski, Guerra-García, Hendrycks, Hughes, Jaume, Jazdzewski, Kim, King, Krapp-Schickel, LeCroy, Lörz, Mamos, Senna, Serejo, Souza-Filho, Tandberg, Thomas, Thurston, Vader, Väinölä, Valls Domedel, Vonk, White and Zeidler2024). Here, we have described a new species, Byblis kachchhensis sp. nov., on the basis of specimens collected from Gujarat, India.

Materials and methods

Specimens were collected by sediment-sieve method from the muddy shore of Luni (22°50′09″N 69°49′40″E), located on the Gulf of Kachchh in Gujarat state, India, in sediments surrounded by mangrove plantations. After collection, specimens were first kept in plastic container filled with 5% formaldehyde and rose bengal dye solution. Thereafter, specimens were brought to the laboratory and were transferred to 70% alcohol. Dissection of different body parts was carried out using a stereomicroscope (Metlab PST-901) for species-level identification. Photographs of various body parts were captured using a DSLR camera (Nikon D5200, attached with T ring and extension tube) attached to the microscope. The detailed illustrations were prepared by tracing the photographs in the Inkscape (an open-source vector graphics editor) software, following the method proposed by Coleman (Reference Coleman2006). Specimens are deposited in the Zoological Reference Collection, Department of Life-sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan (LFSC.ZRC).

Systematics

Suborder Amphilochidea Boeck, Reference Boeck1871
Infraorder Lysianassida Dana, 1849
Parvorder Synopiidira Dana, 1852
Superfamily Synopioidea Dana, 1852
Family Ampeliscidae Krøyer, Reference Krøyer1842
Genus Byblis Boeck, Reference Boeck1871
Byblis daleyi (Giles, 1980)
Ampelisca daleyi Giles, Reference Giles1890b: 66, pl. II, fig. 3.
Byblis daleyi Thacker et al., Reference Thacker, Myers and Trivedi2023c: 36.

Diagnosis. Head ventral margin oblique to head dorsal margin. Antenna 1 reaching distal end of the peduncle article 4 of antenna 2. Eyes situated far apart from each other. Telson deeply cleft.

Remarks. This species was first described by Giles (Reference Giles1890b) as Ampelisca daleyi (now Byblis daleyi) on the basis of a single female specimen measuring 11 mm, collected from the depth of around 13 meters off the coast of Chennai, India. Till now, no additional records of this species have been reported beyond the original description. Therefore, it is currently considered endemic to the coast of Chennai, India.

Byblis lepta (Giles, 1980)
Ampelisca lepta Giles, Reference Giles1890a: 223, pls. VIII & IX; Delia Valle, 1893: 894.
Byblis lepta Stebbing, Reference Stebbing1906: 115; Barnard, Reference Barnard1937: 151; Nayar, Reference Nayar1959: 2, pl. 2, figs. 30–34; Nayar, Reference Nayar1966: 139, fig. 5a; Thacker et al., Reference Thacker, Myers and Trivedi2023c: 36.

Diagnosis. Antenna 1 as long as peduncle of antenna 2. Eyes placed close to each other. Mandible accessory setal row with 5 setae. Pereopod 4 stoutest and longest among all. Telson cleft till half of its length.

Remarks. This species was first described by Giles (Reference Giles1890a) as Ampelisca lepta (now Byblis lepta) on the basis of samples collected from the depth of around 196 meters near Swatch of No Ground, Bangladesh. Till now this species has been found from various locations including Bangladesh (Giles, Reference Giles1890a), India (Nayar, Reference Nayar1959; Reference Nayar1966), Gulf of Oman and Maldives (Barnard, Reference Barnard1937).

Byblis kachchhensis sp. nov.
(Figures 1–3)

Type material. Holotype female, 5 mm, Luni (22°50′09″N 69°49′40″E), depth 25 m, bottom mud and sand. 16 January, 2024, coll. D.R. Thacker, LFSC.ZRC-218. Paratypes, 8 females, 4–5 mm, same data as holotype, LFSC.ZRC-219.

Figure 1. Byblis kachchhensis sp nov., female holotype 5 mm, (LFSC.ZRC-218), Luni, Gujarat, India.

Figure 2. Byblis kachchhensis sp nov., female holotype 5 mm: (LFSC.ZRC-218): (A) head; (B, C) antennae 1–2; (D) labrum; (E) maxilliped; (F, G) maxillae 1–2; (H) mandible; (I) epimera 1–3; (J) urosomites 1–3; (K–M) uropods 1–3. Scale- 0.25 mm.

Figure 3. Byblis kachchhensis sp nov., female holotype 5 mm: (LFSC.ZRC-218): (A, B) gnathopods 1–2; (C–G) pereopods 3–7; (H) telson. Sacle- 0.5 mm.

Type locality. Luni coast (22°50′09″N 69°49′40″E), mangrove plantation, muddy shore, Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat state, India.

Etymology. This species is named after Kachchh district, India where the type locality of the new species is located. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Head ventral margin subparallel to dorsal margin. Eyes large, situated close to each other. Antenna 2 is as long as half of the body length. Dactylus comparatively smaller. Telson entire.

Description. Based on holotype, female, 5 mm.

Head. Head 1.8x as long as broad, ventral margin subparallel to dorsal margin; eyes large, situated close to each other. Antenna 1 as long as antenna 2 peduncle; flagellum with 8 articles. Antenna 2 0.46x as long as body length, peduncular article 4 1.2x as long as article 5, flagellum 16 articulate. Labrum somewhat triangular with apical row of small setae. Maxilla 1 inner plate with one plumose seta, outer plate with 8 serrated spines, palp 2 articulate; article 2 with several epical setae and 3 marginal plumose setae. Maxilla 2 inner plate with 2 plumose setae on inner margin; outer plate broader than inner plate. Mandible with 6 dentate incisors; 5 dentate lacinia mobilis; accessory setal row with 5 setae, palp 3 articulate, article 2 1.3x as long as article 3. Maxilliped inner plate short with 6 apical plumose setae; outer plate large with a row of robust setae; palp 4 articulate.

Pereon. Gnathopod 1 coxa longer than broad, ventral margin fringed with a row of long setae; basis rectangular, 4.5 times as long as broad, with few setae on both margins; ischium small; carpus 0.6x as long as basis, inflated medially, densely setose on posterior margin, inner margin bare; propodus oval, both margins crenated and moderately setose; dactylus long with a distal spine. Gnathopod 2 coxa subrectangular, ventral margin weakly fringed with few setae; basis 4.5x as long as broad, anterior margins with a row of setae, posterior margin with few setae on middle; carpus 0.7x as long as basis, both margins moderately setose; propodus subrectangular with crenated margins; dactylus long with apical spine.

Pereopod 3 coxa subrectangular, basis 3.0x as long as broad, anterior margin with a row of small setae; merus 0.6x as long as basis, both margins with sparse setae distally; carpus as long as ischium; propodus as long as dactylus. Pereopod 4 coxa subrectangular with posteroventral margin turning upward; basis 3.6x as long as broad, anterior margin with few setae while posterior margin with a row of setae; merus 0.7x as long as basis anterior margin with 4 setae while posterior margin with a row of setae; carpus 1.6x as long as ischium; propodus 0.7x as long as dactylus. Pereopod 5 coxa bilobed; basis anterior margin bare, posterior margin with a row of setae; carpus 1.2x as long as propodus; dactylus small, upward turned. Pereopod 6 basis with 3 robust setae on anterior margin; ischium as long as merus; carpus as long as propodus; dactylus small, upward turned. Pereopod 7 basis with a huge lobe, posterior and ventral margin with a continuous series of setae; merus as long as propodus; carpus 1.6x as long as propodus; dactylus straight, 0.29x as long as propodus.

Pleon. Epimera with rounded posterior margins. Uropod 1 peduncle 0.8x as long as outer ramus, with 4 robust setae on inner margin; inner ramus slightly shorter than outer ramus, with 3 robust setae on inner margin and 1 robust seta on the outer margin; outer ramus bare. Uropod 2 peduncle 1.4x as long as subequal rami, with 2 robust setae on the inner margin, both rami bare. Uropod 3 peduncle bare, almost half as long as outer ramus, inner ramus subequal to outer ramus, with 1 robust seta on the inner margin and 3 on the outer margin; outer ramus with 3 robust setae on the outer margin. Telson subtriangular, 1.3x as broad as long with 1 robust seta on each side, apical margin rounded.

Remarks. Byblis kachchhensis sp. nov. is the only species of the genus Byblis that has uncleft telson. Additionally, B. kachchhensis sp. nov. is closely related to B. calisto Imbach, Reference Imbach1967 by having antenna 1 subequal to peduncle of antenna 2; coxa 4 subrectangular, posteroventral corner not acutely turned upward. However, B. kachchhensis sp. nov is different from B. calisto in the following characters: head ventral margin parallel to dorsal margin, whereas in B. Calisto head ventral margin is oblique to dorsal margin; eyes placed very close to each other, while in B. calisto the eyes are small and are placed far apart; antenna 2 is as long as half of the body length, whereas in B. calisto antenna 2 is longer than one half of the body length; pereopod 7 basis moderately setose and dactylus comparatively smaller, 0.29x as long as propodus, whereas in B. calisto pereopod 7 basis is densely setose and dactylus is 0.47x as long as propodus; telson of Byblis kachchhensis sp. nov. is entire, whereas in B. calisto telson is cleft nearly to half of its length.

Identification key to adult females of Indian species of Byblis.

  1. 1. Telson cleft(2)

    • Telson uncleftByblis kachchhensis sp. nov.

  2. 2. Antenna 1 as long as antenna 2 peduncle Byblis lepta (Giles, Reference Giles1890a)

Acknowledgements

The first author extends heartfelt thanks to Idea Wild for their invaluable support in providing a Laptop and Graphic tablet, which played a crucial role in the completion of this work.

Author Contributions

DT prepared the morphological description and illustrations. AM and JNT reviewed and gave important comments on manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Financial Support

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for- profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical Standards

Not applicable.

Data Availability

All data underlying the results are available as part of the manuscript. Additional data can be shared on request.

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Figure 0

Figure 1. Byblis kachchhensissp nov., female holotype 5 mm, (LFSC.ZRC-218), Luni, Gujarat, India.

Figure 1

Figure 2. Byblis kachchhensissp nov., female holotype 5 mm: (LFSC.ZRC-218): (A) head; (B, C) antennae 1–2; (D) labrum; (E) maxilliped; (F, G) maxillae 1–2; (H) mandible; (I) epimera 1–3; (J) urosomites 1–3; (K–M) uropods 1–3. Scale- 0.25 mm.

Figure 2

Figure 3. Byblis kachchhensissp nov., female holotype 5 mm: (LFSC.ZRC-218): (A, B) gnathopods 1–2; (C–G) pereopods 3–7; (H) telson. Sacle- 0.5 mm.