Austrolibinia gracilipes (Miers, 1879)

(Fig. 6D–E)

Material examined. RV Hakuhō Maru KH-72-1 cruise, sta. 29, 1 Ə (CB 12.2 × PCL 13.7 mm), 1 ovig. ♀ (8.3× 10.7 mm), 1 juv. (4.8× 6.1 mm), NSMT-Cr 30713. — Sta. 30, 1Ə (CB 11.0× PCL 9.5 mm), NSMT-Cr-30714; 1 ovig. ♀ (7.8×7.0 mm), NSMT-Cr 30715. — Sta. 32, 1 ovig. ♀ (CB 13.2 × PCL 13.0 mm), 1♀ (12.0× 11.8 mm), NSMT-Cr 30716 .

Remarks. The genus Austrolibinia was established by Griffin (1966b) for two Indo-West Pacific species of the genus Chorilibinia Lockington, 1877, and now comprised of four species, all from the Indo-West Pacific: A. andamanica (Alcock, 1895), A. capricornensis Griffin and Tranter, 1986, A. gracilipes (Miers, 1879), and A. pincerna Wagner, 1992 . Of these, the type species, A. gracilipes, is characteristic in having a long rostrum diverging only distally (Fig. 6D). The specimens of both sexes in the present collection essentially agree with the original description by Miers (1879) and the illustration of the G1 by Griffin and Tranter (1986: fig. 33c– d). It should be noted, however, that the carapace dorsal spines are not so pronounced in females as in males (Fig. 6E vs. Miers, 1879: pl. 4 fig. 4a).

Distribution. Northwestern and northeastern Australia, Kai Islands, Aru Island, Papua New Guinea; 16–115 m depth (Davie, 2002; present study). Poore et al. (2008) also recorded this species, with a photograph of the carapace, from southern Western Australia, 100 m depth.