Polycheles enthrix ( Bate, 1878 )

Ahyong, Shane T., 2007, Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae, Zootaxa 1593, pp. 1-54 : 49-50

Polycheles enthrix ( Bate, 1878)

( Fig. 24 C, 25)

Willemoesia euthrix Willemoes Suhm, 1875 : xxxiii [nomen nudum].

Pentacheles enthrix Bate, 1878: 280 , pl. 13 figs. 1–3 [type locality: Fiji, restricted by lectotype designation (see Ahyong & Brown 2002)].

Pentacheles euthrix . — Bate 1888: 149 –154, figs. 14–27, 33–36, pl. 17.

Polycheles euthrix . — Griffin & Stoddart 1995: 239 [part].

Polycheles enthrix . — Galil 2000: 322 –325, fig. 16 [part]. — Ahyong & Brown 2002: 65, 75, 77, fig. 7C, D.

Material examined. Norfolk Ridge: NMNZ, 2 males (15.9–37.5 mm), 1 female (37.3 mm), off Norfolk Island, 28°51.21’S, 167°42.53’E, 690–812 m, TAN0308/029 #009, 15 May 2003; NIWA 28079, 1 female (18.8 mm), TAN0308/40 #49; 26°25.28’S, 167°11.26’E, 714–756 m, TAN0308/40 #49, 17 May 2003; NIWA 28051, 2 males (26.1–39.5 mm), 1 female (14.3 mm), 26°25.94’S, 167°10.87’E, 750–774 m, TAN0308/043 #32, 18 May 2003.

West Norfolk Ridge: NMNZ, 1 male (11.9 mm), 2 females (26.7–38.3 mm), 33°49.50’S, 166°58.80’E, 950–987 m, TAN0308/94 #021, 27 May 2003; NMNZ, 3 males (29.5–31.7 mm), 5 females (45.2–58.1 mm), 33°49.24’S, 167°03.35’E, 805–938 m, TAN0308/95 #007, 27 May 2003; AM P66160, 2 females (33.2–47.3 mm), 33°46.26’S, 167°19.50’E, 1017–1042 m, TAN0308/096 #007, 28 May 2003; AM P66305, 1 female (51.4 mm), 34°34.81’S, 168°57.79’E, 813–1000 m, TAN0308/155 #006, 4 Jun 2003; AM P66307, 1 male (38.3 mm), 35°08.12’S, 169°28.37’E, 868–872 m, TAN0308/159 #015, 4 Jun 2003.

Lord Howe Rise: AM P66153, 3 females (41.6–58.8 mm), 32°41.80’S, 162°33.47’E, 855–874 m, TAN0308/079 #007, 25 May 2003; AM P66154, 2 males (36.8–48.5 mm), 10 females (44.9–60.6 mm), 32°42.50’S, 162°33.86’E, 850–872 m, TAN0308/080 #005, 25 May 2003; AM P66155, 6 males (26.0– 42.7 mm), 20 females (20.9–66.7 mm), 34°01.95’S, 162°35.96’E, 780–818 m, TAN0308/81 #009, 25 May 2003; AM P66156, 5 males (21.6–35.8 mm), 8 females (15.6–51.7 mm), 34°12.44’S, 162°39.50’E, 758–760 m, TAN0308/82 #003, 26 May 2003; AM P66157, 2 females (51.1–52.4 mm), 34°11.83’S, 162°37.10’E, 761– 765 m, TAN0308/83 #001, 26 May 2003; NIWA 28052, 3 males (26.5–30.7 mm), 11 females (26.4–58.3 mm), 34°12.18’S, 162°41.18’E, 748–772 m, TAN0308/89 #005, 26 May 2003.

Colour in life. Overall red.

Remarks. The present specimens of P. e n t h r i x agree well with recent accounts ( Galil 2000; Ahyong & Brown 2002). Lateral carapace spination is 8–10: 3–4: 12–17, and the antrorse tooth on the abdominal tergite 5 is pointed in adult females, blunt in adult males. The spination of the anterior carapace margin flanking the rostral spines varies allometrically. The inner orbital spine and a second similar spine are always present, but the additional smaller marginal spines vary in length and number according to body size. Nevertheless, a row of small spines is always present in addition to the two larger spines, distinguishing P. e n t h r i x from the northwestern Pacific species, P. amemiyai Yokoya, 1933 , which bears only two spines on either side of the rostral spines.

Distribution. Fiji to New Zealand, and Australia; 229–1152 m ( Ahyong & Brown 2002).

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).