Valamunida Klompmaker and Robins 2019

Genus Valamunida Klompmaker and Robins nov.

ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2BA78BB3-34F8-4686-8C5CF70F0416A041

Type species: Valamunida haeggi Klompmaker and Robins sp. nov.; by monotypy, see below.

Etymology: From the Norse völva, an ancient seeress who carried a wand, similar to the rostrum on this galatheoid and - munida referring to the family name.

Diagnosis. —As for the type species by monotypy.

Remarks.—The new genus is placed within the Munididae based on a combination of tubercles and spines on the anterior carapace and its lateral margins, the trifid rostrum, and the (bases of) spines at the outer orbital angle. These characters are typical for most Munididae, but this combination of characters is not typical for other galatheoid families (Ahyong et al. 2010).

Valamunida Klompmaker and Robins gen. nov. is established on the basis of a combination of the tubercular ornamentation across the epibranchial and hepatic regions, more transversely elongate transverse ridges on the posterior carapace, an epigastric region with varied ornamentation, lack of a strong, forwardly-oriented spine on the mesogastric region, and a strongly depressed intestinal region posteriorly. Valamunida Klompmaker and Robins gen. nov. differs from all 25 known munidid genera. Tubercular ornamentation on the epibranchial and hepatic regions is uncommon in munidids and can only be found in the fossil genera Juracrista Robins, Feldmann, and Schweitzer, 2012 and Protomunida Beurlen, 1930, whereas it is also present in modern Babamunida Cabezas, Macpherson, and Machordom, 2008, Bathymunida Balss, 1914, Hendersonida Cabezas and Macpherson, 2014, Heteronida Baba and de Saint Laurent, 1996, Paramunida Baba, 1988, Plesionida Baba and de Saint Laurent, 1996, and Tasmanida Ahyong, 2007. All other genera do not exhibit these previously elaborated features and most of them also lack a strongly depressed posterior part of the intestinal region. From the leftover genera, Babamunida, Juracrista, and Protomunida exhibit only rows of tubercles/spines on the epigastric regions, lacking a much stronger spine. They also lack a strongly depressed posterior part of the intestinal region. Unlike the new genus, Bathymunida, Heteronida, and Tasmanida bear a strong mesogastric spine, as does the type species of Plesionida. Plesionida, Paramunida, and Hendersonida have a much more granular, spinose to tubercular posterior carapace than Valamunida Klompmaker and Robins gen. nov. with its transverse ridges. Paramunida and Hendersonida also lack the depression in the intestinal region.