Galacantha rostrata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880

Ahyong, Shane T., 2007, Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae, Zootaxa 1593, pp. 1-54 : 4-5

Galacantha rostrata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880

( Fig. 2 C, D)

Galacantha rostrata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880: 52 [type locality: Bequia, Windward Islands, West Indies]. — Macpherson, 2007: 18 –19, fig. 10I, J.

Galacantha Talismani Filhol, 1885 : pl. 3 [type locality: Cap Ghir, N of Canary Islands]. Galacantha investigatoris Alcock & Anderson, 1894: 173 [type locality: Laccadive Sea]. Munidopsis rostrata . — Baba 1988: 161; 1994: 18. — Baba & Poore 2002: 236 –241, fig. 5. — Ahyong & Poore 2004:

56–57. — Baba 2005: 180–181, 294.

Material examined. West Norfolk Ridge: NMNZ, 1 male (31.2 mm), 1 ovigerous female (31.3+ mm; ovum diameter 2.8 mm), 35°35.83’S, 169°33.43’E, 1760–1786 m, TAN0308/167 #016, 5 Jun 2003; NIWA 28060, 2 males (26.0[pcl.]– 31.5 mm), 35°35.83’S, 169°33.43’E, 1760–1786 m, TAN0308/167 #016, 5 Jun 2003.

Colour in life. Orange overall.

Remarks. As reported by Baba & Poore (2002) for southeastern Australian material, the two spines at the anterolateral angle of the carapace in the present specimens are subequal. One male (26.0 mm pcl, Fig. 2 C, D) is atypical in lacking the rostrum entirely and the ovigerous female bears 1 or 2 minute spines behind the anterolateral spines. The specimens otherwise agree with the recent accounts from the area ( Baba & Poore 2002; Macpherson 2007). Notably, the posterior margin of the mesogastric spine in the present series is straight as in New Caledonian specimens rather than slightly convex as in West African material ( Macpherson 2007).

Distribution. Atlantic and Southern oceans, Indian Ocean, western and eastern Pacific. The Indo-West Pacific range includes Zanzibar, the Arabian Sea, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, New Caledonia, and now New Zealand; 1584–3294 m ( Ahyong & Poore 2004; Macpherson 2007).

Figures

FIGURE 2. A, B, Galacantha quiquei Macpherson, 2007, male, 20.9 + mm, TAN 0308 / 102, (AM P 73027). C, D, Galacantha rostrata A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, atypical specimen, male, 26.0 mm, TAN 0308 / 167 (NIWA 28060).