Spongicola andamanicus Alcock, 1901

(Figs. 3, 4)

Spongicola andamanica Alcock, 1901: 148 .— Rathbun, 1906: 901.— Bouvier, 1908: 889.— Rathbun, 1906: 901.— Bouvier, 1908: 889.— A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1909: 264.— Holthuis, 1946: 66.— Saito & Takeda, 2003: 120. Spongicola andamanicus .— Saito & Komai, 2008: 87 (with complete synonomy).— Goy, 2010: 219.— De Grave & Fransen, 2011: 251.

Material examined. New Caledonia. BIOCAL, stn CP52, 23°05.79’S, 167°46.54’E, 540–600 m, 31.VIII.1985, 1 male, 1 female ov. (MNHN-Na 11979).—BIOCAL, stn DW66, 24°55.43’S, 168°21.67’E, 505–515 m, 3.IX.1985, 1 female (MNHN-Na 11983).—BIOCAL, stn DW83, 20°35.07’S, 166°53.99’E, 460 m, 6.IX.1983, 1 male, 1 female ov., in Pheronema semiglobosum (MNHN-Na 11981).—MUSORSTOM 4, stn CP172, 19°01.20’S, 163°20’E, 275–330 m, 17.IX.1985, 1 female (MNHN-Na 11973).—MUSORSTOM 4, stn CP180, 18°56.8’S, 163°17.7’E, 440 m, 18.IX.1985, 2 females ov. (MNHN-Na 11976, MNHN-Na 11972).—MUSORSTOM 4, stn CP214, 22°53.8’S, 167°13.9’E, 425–440 m, 28.IX.1985, 1 male, in Pheronema semiglobosum (MNHN-Na 11969).—MUSORSTOM 4, CP 216, 22°59.5’S, 167°22.0’E, 490–515 m, 29.IX.1985, 1 male (MNHN-Na 11975).—MUSORSTOM 4, stn CP238, 22°13.0’S, 167°14.0’E, 500–510 m, 2.X.1986, 1 male (MNHN-Na 11977).—MUSORSTOM 5, stn DW339, 19°53.40’S, 158°37.90’E, 390–395 m, 16.X.1986, 1 female (MNHN-Na 11978).—MUSORSTOM 5, stn 348, 19°36.00’S, 158°31.70’E, 260 m, 17.X.1986, 1 female (MNHN-Na 11980).—CHACAL 2, stn DW76, 23°40.50’S, 167°45.20’E, 470 m, 30.X.1986, 2 females (1 ov.) (MNHN-Na 11971).—CHACAL 2, stn DW77, 23°38.35’S, 167°42.68’E, 435 m, 30.X.1986, 1 female ov. (MNHN-Na 11968).—CALSUB, dive 18, SW of Isle of Pines, 22°46’S, 167°20E’, 20–300 m, 9.III.1989. 1 female ov. (MNHN-NA 19970).— Loyalty Islands. MUSORSTOM 6, stn DW391, 20°47.35’S, 167°05.70’E, 390 m, 13.II.1989, 3 females ov. (MNHN-NA 16351).—MUSORSTOM 6, stn 406, 20°40.65’S, 167°06.80’E, 373 m, 15.II.1989, 1 male, 1 female ov. (MNHN-Na 11962).—MUSORSTOM 6, stn DW 487, 21°23.30’S, 167°46.40’E, 500 m, 23.II.1989, 1 female (MNHN-Na 16278).

Measurements (mm). Females, PCL: 2.5–6.3; RCL: 3.0–8.7; TL: 8.2–21.6. Males, PCL: 2.4–5.2; RCL: 3.2– 8.6; TL: 7.8–20.0. Eggs few in number (7–94); those in early stages of development averaged 0.15 × 0.17 mm, those in late stages of development averaged 1.04 × 0.98 mm.

Distribution. Andaman Sea, Hawaii, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, Madagascar, Loyalty Islands, and New Caledonia.

Coloration. Color notes accompanying specimen MNHN-Na 11968: carapace and abdomen whitish with numerous pink chromatophores; tail fan with reddish spines; eyes black; scaphocerite transparent outlined in pink; antennae transparent outlined in white; mouthparts and legs salmon pink; and third pereiopod whitish mostly with pink chromatophores and pink outline, dactylus mostly pink.

Hosts. This species has been found several times in the sponge Pheronema semiglobosum .

Remarks. This species was thoroughly described by Saito & Komai (2008) and is not redescribed here. The mouthparts are illustrated here as well as some variation in the spination of the third pereiopod (Figs. 4 B–H, 4K– M). Saito & Komai (2008) also reported on additional records of this species from New Caledonia (Jumeau Bank, Norfolk Ridge, and Banc Stylaster).