Pentacheles validus A. Milne Edwards, 1880

(Fig. 24A)

Pentacheles validus A. Milne Edwards, 1880: 65 [type locality: off Bequia, Windward Islands, West Indies]. — Galil, 2000: 291 (key), 308–311, fig. 10. — Ahyong & Brown, 2002: 56, 75, 76.

Pentacheles debilis Smith, 1884: 360 [type locality: off New England, United States of America].

Pentacheles debilis var. armatus Bouvier, 1905a: 480 [type locality: off Canary Islands].

Polycheles demani Stebbing, 1917: 28 [type locality: off Cape Point Lighthouse, South Africa].

Polycheles chilensis Sund, 1920: 226 [type locality: off Juan Fernández Islands].

Material examined. West Norfolk Ridge: AM P72219, 1 male (45.2 mm), 2 females (19.9–28.9 mm), 35°35.83’S, 169°33.43’E, 1760–1786 m, TAN0308/167 #018, 5 Jun 2003; NIWA 28050, 1 female (18.3 mm), 35°35.83’S, 169°33.43’E, 1760–1786 m, TAN0308/167 #018, 5 Jun 2003.

Lord Howe Rise: NIWA 28056, 3 males (25.3–53.5 mm), 2 females (27.8–46.5 mm), 32°03.98’S, 159°52.80’E, 1920–1934 m, TAN0308/71 #010, 24 May 2003; AM P66151, 1 male (51.8 mm), 1 female (58.7 mm), 32°11.59’S, 160°51.66’E, 1342–1361 m, TAN0308/72 #006, 24 May 2003; NMNZ, 1 male (56.8 mm), 32°25.94’S, 161°47.62’E, 1132–1197 m, TAN0308/73 #34, 24 May 2003.

Colour in life. Overall pale rose-pink. Chelipeds, walking legs and uropods crimson.

Remarks. Pentacheles validus has been reported from New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia (Galil 2000; Ahyong & Brown 2002) so its presence in the study area is expected. The carapace spination (8–9, 4–5, 29–31) agrees closely with the reported range (7–9, 4, 20–32) (Galil 2000) and (7–8, 3–4, 23–30) (Ahyong & Brown 2002).

Distribution. Worldwide, from the Indo-West Pacific, Eastern Pacific, Western and Eastern Atlantic, including New Caledonia, Australia, and New Zealand; 914–3365 m (Galil, 2000).