Neaxius glyptocercus (von Martens, 1868)

Figures 7, 8m –r

Axius glyptocercus von Martens, 1868: 613–614 .— Haswell, 1882: 165–166.

? Axius (Neaxius) glyptocercus . — Borradaile, 1903: 537.

Axius (Neaxius) glyptocercus .— De Man, 1925a: 50–56, fig. 1.— De Man, 1925c: 4, 13.— Poore and Griffin, 1979: 236–238 (partim), figs 8a–f, k.

Neaxius glyptocercus .— Sakai, 1994: 200.— Sakai, 2011: 326–331 (partim), figs 61A, C–E, fig. 62F (pereopod 2 of holotype, mislabelled) (not figs 62A, B, E = N. capricornicus; not fig. 61B [interchanged with 62F] = N. acanthus; not figs 62C, D = N. acanthus).

Material examined. Holotype. Australia, Qld, Cape York, ZMB 2973 (described and anterior carapace figured by De Man (1925c: 50–56, fig. 1); rostrum, antenna, pereopods 2, 4, 5, pleopod 2 figured by Sakai (2011: 326–331, figs 61A, C–E, 62A, B, F).

Other material. Australia, Qld, Cape York, Fly Point, 10° 45' S, 142° 37' E, AM P.24813 (2 females, 13, 18 mm; male, 17 mm). Townsville area, 19° 16' S, 146° 49' E, AM P.16176 (male, 20 mm). Mossman, Cooya Beach, 16° 26' S, 145° 24' E, NHMW 19591 (3 females, 13.5–24.7 mm). Cannonvale Beach, near Bowen, 20° 01' S, 148° 15' E, AM P.16177 (female, 22 mm) .

NT, Darwin, Lee Point, 12° 20' S, 130° 54' E, AM P.20358 (female, 21 mm). Port Darwin, 12° 27' S, 130° 48' E, AM P.15030 (male, 19 mm). Nightcliff, Darwin, 12° 23' S, 130° 50' E, AM P.18842 (ovigerous female, 28 mm) .

Diagnosis. Carapace supra-antennal margin with anteriorly directed spine; anterolateral margin with 4 (5–7) spines, dorsalmost anteriorly directed; branchiostegite anterior margin with 2 or 3 spines cervical groove without spines along posterior margin. Telson about 1.3 times as wide as long; tapering slightly from widest point to posterior margin; anterior transverse ridge straight, curving laterally to reach lateral margin at its widest point; posterior transverse ridge situated at 0.5 distance between first transverse ridge and posterior margin, ends sharply rounded, almost overhanging; lateral margin with 0–2 marginal teeth; posterior face concave, with shallow median groove, smooth sublaterally. Antenna article 2 without upper-mesial spine, without lateral spine; scaphocerite with 1 mesial sharp spine, 1 (2) sharp ventral spine; article 4 lower margin without spines. Cheliped merus, lower margin with 3 or 4 spines, distolateral face without or rarely with 1 spine. Pereopod 2 merus, lower margin without spines. Pereopod 3 merus, lower margin without spines.

Distribution. Australia: Northern Territory, E of Darwin; Queensland, Cape York to Bowen; 10° 45' S – 20° S.

Remarks. Differences between N. glyptocercus and N. capricornicus were outlined above. The species is confined to north and north-eastern Australia. The holotype was photographed for us by C. Oliver Coleman and we were able to confirm the spination of the pereopods.