Description of a new species of Caridina H. M. Edwards from the hill streams of southern Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The paper describes a new species, Caridina mathiassi sp. nov., from the hill streams of Mahendragiri Estate, part of southern Western Ghats, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India (8o 27’ 32.27" N and 77o 23’ 32.50" E) collected during summer months of 1999 and 2000. This species is abundant and closely related to Caridina jalihali Mariappan and Richard, 2006 and Caridina gurneyi Jalihal et al., 1984. The diagnosis of the species include: shrimps of genus Caridina having a moderately long rostrum with 11-20 dorsal (4-6 post-orbital) and 2-7 ventral teeth; telson not ending in a median spine but with 4-10 spinules at distal and 3-5 pairs of spines at dorsal regions; carpus of first pereiopod deeply excavated anteriorly; fourth pereiopod with merus having 2-4, carpus having 1 large and 3-5 small spines and dactylus ending in a sharp spine and 5-7 spinules; fifth pereiopod with merus having 2-4, carpus with 1 large and sometimes 3-4 small spines and dactylus having 30-40 spinules; endopod of first pleopod with long appendix interna subterminal, curved inwards; appendix masculina double the size of appendix interna or a little longer of male second pleopod; diaeresis of uropod with 16-22 spines; size of eggs ranging from 0.53-0.61 X 0.86-1.04 mm and fecundity ranging from 122-181.