Lissoporcellana quadrilobata (Miers, 1884)

(Fig. 4 A–C)

Porcellana streptochirus White, 1847: 64 (nomen nudum).

Porcellana quadrilobata Miers, 1884: 276, pl. 30, fig. D (type locality: Port Denison, Queensland).

Porcellana gaekwari Southwell, 1909: 112, figs. 1–3 of plate (type locality: Challai Paar, Gulf of Mannar)

Aliaporcellana quadrilobata .— Nakasone & Miyake, 1969: 24, figs. 2, 3.

Lissoporcellana quadrilobata .— Haig, 1978b: 712; 1981: 279, fig. 2; 1992: 306, fig. 3.

Lissoporcellana paraquadrilobata Yang & Sun, 1992: 205, 213, figs. 11, 12 (type locality: Guangxi Province, China) (new synonymy).

Material examined. New Caledonia. Touho Channel, lagoon, 56 m, 7. Sept. 1993, 1 ovig. female CL 4.4 mm. Koumac, channel, lagoon, 55–60 m, 7 Oct. 1993, 1 male CL 4.4 mm. Nouville, lagoon, 18–20 m, tube of Eunicidae, coll. P. Bouchet, 1 Apr. 1993, 3 males CL 4.8–5.6 mm, 2 females CL 5.1, 6.2 mm, 4 ovig. females CL 4.3–5.4 mm. Dumbéa Bay, lagoon, 22°13.38’S, 166°22.17’E, 20 m, coll. G. Bargibant, 30 Nov. 1995, 1 male CL 5.1 mm, 5 ovig. females CL 3.8–6.2 mm.

Remarks. The specimens examined have variations in the shape and armature of the median lobe of the rostrum (Fig. 4 A–C). The median notch is shallowly concave (Fig. 4 C), or comparatively deep and V- or Ushaped (Fig. 4 A, B). The spines on the notch vary in size and number.

Yang & Sun (1992) described a new species, L. paraquadrilobata, from Guangxi Province in China. This species was said to be closely allied to L. quadrilobata, but distinguished by having the antennal peduncle with the second segment armed with a sharp spine on the posterior margin and third segment bearing four tubercles on the anterior margin, and chela with a row of teeth on the distal half of the extensor margin and four or five stronger spines near the extensor margin. However, the armature of the antennal peduncle and chela seems to be ineffective in distinguishing the two species because these characters vary in specimens examined of L. quadrilobata . Therefore, L. paraquadrilobata should be considered a synonym of L. quadrilobata .

Distribution. From the Persian Gulf, east coast of Africa and throughout the Indian Ocean to the Malay Peninsula, thence north to the Izu Islands, and south to Queensland, Australia; shallow water to about 128 m, in association with Alcyonacea (Haig 1981b; Kato & Okuno 2001).