Pentacheles laevis Bate, 1878

Ahyong, Shane T., 2007, Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae, Zootaxa 1593, pp. 1-54 : 47-49

Pentacheles laevis Bate, 1878

( Fig. 24 B)

Pentacheles laevis Bate, 1878: 278 [type locality: Moluccas, Indonesia, 4º33’N, 127º06’E]. — Galil 2000: 291 (key), 301–305, fig. 7. — Ahyong & Brown 2002: 54 –56, 75, figs. 1A–B. — Ahyong & Chan 2004: 171 –173, figs. 1A–C, 4A.

Pentacheles gracilis Bate, 1878: 279 [type locality: off Fiji, 19º07.50’S, 178º19.35’E].

Polycheles granulatus Faxon, 1893: 197 [type locality: off Panama, 4º03’N, 81º31’E]. — Griffin & Stoddart 1995: 240, figs. 4–5.

Pentacheles beaumontii Alcock, 1894: 236 [type locality: off Colombo, Sri Lanka].

Polycheles dubius Bouvier, 1905a: 480 [type locality: off the Azores, 44º04’N, 9º81’W].

Polycheles eryoniformis Bouvier, 1905b: 644 [type locality: Madeira].

Polycheles sp. — Takeda in Amaoka et al. 1990: 357.

Material examined. Norfolk Ridge: NMNZ, 1 carapace (18.1 mm), 30°08.96’S, 167°26.86’E, 1032–1131 m, TAN0308/15 #008, 14 May 2003; NIWA 28078, 1 male (23.9 mm), 1 female (19.0 mm), 33°32.62’S, 170°04.13’E, 1270–1350 m, TAN0308/0130 #003, 1 Jun 2003.

West Norfolk Ridge: NIWA 28080, 1 ovigerous female (49.1 mm), 33°49.50’S, 166°58.80’E, 950–987 m, TAN0308/94 #021, 27 May 2003; AM P66159, 2 males (38.1–38.4 mm), 1 female (40.9 mm), 33°46.26’S, 167°19.50’E, 1017–1042 m, TAN0308/96 #006, 28 May 2003; AM P66161, 2 males (19.3–19.4 mm), 2 females (18.6–18.8 mm), 33°42.45’S, 167°27.03’E, 1451–1478, TAN0308/102 #26, 28 May 2003; AM P66163, 1 male (24.6 mm), 2 females (19.1–24.1 mm), 33°46.55’S, 167°29.28’E, 1431–1460, TAN0308/103 #016, 29 May 2003; AM P66164, 1 female (18.8 mm), 32°36.30’S, 167°47.44’E, 1008–1029 m, TAN0308/ 111 #010, 29 May 2003; NMNZ, 1 female (25.8 mm), 32°36.30’S, 167°47.44’E, 1008–1029 m, TAN0308/ 111 #010, 29 May 2003; AM P66301, 2 males (41.3–43.5 mm), 1 female (23.7 mm), 32°35.22’S, 167°47.66’E, 1021–1052 m, TAN0308/114 #005, 30 May 2003; NIWA 28054, 1 female (32.3 mm), 32°36.39’S, 167°50.59’E, 1331–1345 m, TAN0308/121 #013, 30 May 2003; AM P66303, 1 male (38.6 mm), 2 females (31.5–40.6 mm), 34°14.33’S, 168°21.18’E, 1195–1202 m, TAN0308/146 #007, 3 Jun 2003; NIWA 28057, 1 female (46.9 mm), 34°34.99’S, 168°55.54’E, 1000–1150 m, TAN0308/150 #29, 3 Jun 2003; NIWA 28053, 1 male (39.3 mm), 1 female (43.0 mm), 34°34.13’S, 168°56.48’E, 1013–1340 m, TAN0308/151 #008, 3 Jun 2003; AM P66304, 4 females (32.7–47.8 mm), 34°34.81’S, 168°57.79’E, 813–1000 m, TAN0308/155 #005, 4 Jun 2003;

NMNZ, 1 male (38.2 mm), 34°34.26’S, 168°56.23’E, 1013–1350 m, TAN0308/156 #006, 4 Jun 2003; AM P66308, 2 males (24.6–26.8 mm), 1 female (19.3 mm), 34°58.85’S, 169°29.60’E, 1288–1294 m, TAN0308/160 #020, 4 Jun 2003; AM P66309, 1 female (19.6 mm), 35°35.83’S, 169°33.43’E, 1760–1786 m, TAN0308/167 #019, 5 Jun 2003.

Lord Howe Rise: NIWA 28049, 2 males (18.6–31.2 mm), 1 female (27.7 mm), 32°26.70’S, 161°46.95’E, 1130–1147 m, TAN0308/77 #011, 25 May 2003; AM P66158, 1 female (37.2 mm), 34°12.70’S, 163°21.59’E, 1082–1120 m, TAN0308/092 #017, 27 May 2003.

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

Remarks. The specimens agree well with published accounts: the inner and outer orbital margins are armed and carapace spination (8–10: 3–5: 13–16) is within the reported range ( Galil 2000; Ahyong & Brown 2002; Ahyong & Chan 2004).

Pentacheles laevis and Polycheles enthrix appear to be the two most common polychelids in the northern Tasman Sea, though they were sympatric only at three stations on the West Norfolk Ridge (94, 96, 155). Most records of Pentacheles laevis are from depths exceeding 1000 m, whereas Polycheles enthrix was usually collected at depths shallower than 800 m.

Distribution. Worldwide, from the Indo-West Pacific, eastern Pacific, western and eastern Atlantic, including New Caledonia, Australia, and New Zealand; 212–2505 m ( Galil 2000; Ahyong & Galil 2006).

Figures

FIGURE 24. A, Pentacheles validus A. Milne Edwards, 1880, TAN 0308 / 047 (specimen not seen). B, Pentacheles laevis Bate, 1978, TAN 0308 / 044 (specimen not seen). C, Polycheles enthrix (Bate, 1878), female (44.5 mm), TAN 0308 / 81 (AM P 66155).