Pseudopaguristes laurentae (Morgan & Forest, 1991)

Paguristes laurentae Morgan & Forest, 1991: 678, figs 12, 13.

Paguristes brachytes Komai, 1999: 3, figs 1-4.

Pseudopaguristes gracilis Rahayu, 2005: 28, figs 10, 11.

Pseudopaguristes laurentae – Rahayu 2005: 25. — McLaughlin in press.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Madagascar. 15°19.1’S, 46°11.8’E, 400 m, 7.XI.1972, 1 ♀ (2.9 mm). — 15°18.3’S, 46°10.3’E,

500-550 m, 8.XI.1972, 1 ♂ (2.8 mm). — 15°19.0’S, 46°11.8’E, 405 m, 8.XI.1972, 2 ♂♂ (2.8 and 3.0 mm); 1 ♀ (2.2 mm). — 12°40.0’S, 48°18.0’E, 205- 185 m, 1.VIII.1973, 3 ♂♂ (1.8-2.4 mm); 2 ♀♀ (2.2 and 2.4 mm). — 12°38.5’S, 48°16.0’E, 240 m, 11.X.1974, 2 ♀♀ (both 1.4 mm); 1 ♀ ovig. (2.2 mm). — 12°19.0’S, 48°27’E, 250 m, coll. G. Cotellato, 1 ♂ (1.2 mm).

Mozambique Channel. West of Glorieuses Islands, Bentheddi Expedition, stn DR 8, 11°29.2’S, 47°18.2’E, 250 m, 19.III.1977, 1 ♀ (1.5 mm) ; 2 ♂♂ (1.8 and 2.0 mm). — North east of Mozambique Channel, West of Glorieuses Islands, Bentheddi Expedition, stn DR 8,12°29.2’S, 47°18.2’E, 250 m, 19.III.1977, 1 ♂ (1.8 mm) ; 1 ♀ (2.2 mm); 1 ovig. ♀ (2.0 mm). — North east of Mozambique Channel, West of Grandes Glorieuses, stn F 98, 11°35.5’S, 47°16.5’E, 280-460 m, 7.IV.1977, 1 ♂ (3.0 mm) .

La Réunion. Marion Dufresne, MD 32, stn DS 142, 20°50’S, 55°38’E, 480-675 m, 3.IX.1982, 1 ♂ (1.2 mm).

DISTRIBUTION. — Sagami-nada,Torishima, Kii peninsula, Japan ; South Sulawesi, Madura Bay and Kai Islands in Indonesia ; eastern Australia to Southwest Australia, from Rottnest Island, north to the vicinity of Point Cloates, Western Australia, and herein recorded from Madagascar ; 121- 675 m.

REMARKS

Most of the specimens used in this study are smaller than the holotype of P. laurentae . Variations were observed in the number and size of spines on the antennal peduncles and chelipeds. The antennal peduncles of the present specimens have more spines on the fifth segment (two or three spines mesially), and the ventrodistal angle of the third segment sometimes terminates in an acute bifid spine, whereas in the type there is one spine on the fifth segment, and the ventrodistal angle of the third segment terminates in a acute spine. The mesial faces of the dactyls of the chelipeds each has a row of tuberculate spines along the midline or near the dorsal margin, whereas the type has a row of low protuberances.