Pentacheles validus A. Milne Edwards, 1880

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

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).

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).