Neocallichirus horneri Sakai, 1988

Poore, Gary C. B., 2023, New records and one new species of Callichiridae (Crustacea, Axiidea) from the Indo-West Pacific, with keys to species of Corallianassa, Lepidophthalmus and Neocallichirus, Memoirs of Museum Victoria (Mem. Mus. Vic.) 82, pp. 71-95 : 86

Neocallichirus horneri Sakai, 1988

Figure 9c–f

Neocallichirus horneri Sakai, 1988: 65–66 , figs 7, 8.— Sakai,

2011: 458 (synonymy).

Material examined. Australia, NT, Nightcliff , NTMAG Cr 000846 (holotype female, 13 mm). West Shoal Bay, NTMAG Cr2048 (paratype male, 14 mm) .

Diagnosis. Antenna peduncle exceeding antennule peduncle by one-third of article 5. Eyestalk distal lobes triangular, rounded, diverging. Major cheliped merus lower margin evenly convex, smooth (female); gape simple; fixed finger cutting edge denticulate over most of length; dactylus cutting edge with tooth (often molar-like) one-third way along, separated by notch from distal blade (female). Pereopod 3 propodus with proximally directed lobe of lower margin clearly protruding beyond lower margin of carpus. Uropodal endopod posterior margin moderately oblique, angle with anterior margin about 30°. Telson clearly tapering from subproximal width to rounded corner between well-defined posterolateral margin and convex-straight posterior margin. Maximum cl. 14 mm.

Distribution. Sahul Shelf (known only from type locality: Australia, NT, Darwin).

Remarks. Sakai’s (1988) observations of the type specimens were confirmed by re-examination. The male paratype has a simply notched pleopod 1 apex and is a juvenile (fig. 9e; adults in this genus have a deeply notched apex), as is the female of similar size. Sakai (1988) likened the species to N. indica (now N. jousseaumei ) noting the absence of denticles on the lobe of the eyestalk. These are absent in juveniles. The propodus of pereopod 3 does not align with the lower margin of the carpus as it does in N. jousseaumei (cf. fig. 9d with Dworschak, 2011b figures). Sakai (1988) did not compare N. horneri with N. calmani , a common and widespread Indo-West Pacific species with many similarities (see Dworschak, 2018). The propodus of maxilliped 3 is wider and more rectangular in N. horneri , but without adult chelipeds few further differences can be identified. The species is known only from types.