Galathea inflata Potts, 1915

(Fig. 117 F)

Galathea inflata Potts, 1915: 85, pl. 1, fig. 7 (Torres Strait, on Comanthus timorensis).— Baba, 1979b: 649, fig. 2 (Banda Island, Gorong Island and Marsegu Island, subtidal).— Wu et al., 1998: 92, figs 10, 12G (Taiwan).— Fujita & Baba, 1999: 115, fig. 2 (Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, 4.4–28 m, associated with crinoids).— Fujita et al., 2001: 112, figs 1–12 (larvae) (Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, subtidal, associated with Comaster schlegeli).— Kato & Okuno, 2001: 87, with fig. (Hachijo Island, Izu Islands, Japan, 10 m).— Davie, 2002: 61 (no record).— Kawamoto & Okuno, 2003: 95, unnumbered fig. (Kume Island, Ryukyu Islands, 8 m, on crinoid).— Kawamoto & Okuno, 2006: 95, unnumbered fig. (Kume Island, Ryukyu Islands, 8 m, associated with crinoid).— Baba & Fujita, 2008: 52, fig. 5 (Ryuku Islands, 6.7–8.0 m).—Baba et al., 2008: 70 (compilation).— Baba et al., 2009: 113, figs. 92–93 (Taiwan).

Dubious identification:

Galathea inflata .— Baba, 1969c: 33, figs 1–2 (Amami-oshima Island, Ryukyu Islands, subtidal).

Material examined. Philippines. Dumaran Channel, NE Palawan, 2–3 m, 1 May 1985: 1 M 3.6 mm, 1 ov. F 3.9 mm (MNHN-IU-2013-8341).

Papua New Guinea. PAPUA NIUGINI, Stn PR43, 05°15.5'S, 145°49.1'E, 0 m, 16 November 2012: 1 ov. F 6.3 mm (MNHN-IU-2013-509).—Stn PR97, 05°12.4'S, 145°49'E, 0 m, 24 November 2012: 1 F 2.8 mm (MNHN-IU- 2013-831).—Stn PB16, 05°04.7'S, 145°48.8'E, 5 m, 30 December 2012: 1 M 2.0 mm, 1 ov. F 2.6 mm (MNHN-IU- 2013-660).

New Caledonia. Lifou Island. LIFOU, Stn 1432, 20°53.5'S, 167°02.7'E, 12-32 m, 04/07/ 21 November 2000: 1 ov. F 5.0 mm (MNHN-IU-2013-8342).

Remarks. The specimens agree quite well the descriptions and illustrations of previous authors (see synonymy). In a few specimens the epipods are present on P1 and P2 only (usually on P1–3).

The genetic divergences among G. inflata and other species are higher than 13.1% ( G. ternatensis De Man, 1902) (COI), and 10.6% ( G. pubescens Stimpson, 1858) (16S rRNA) (Tab. 2).

Distribution. Previous records from Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Taiwan, Indonesia (Banda, Gorong and Marsegu Island), and Torres Strait; subtidal to 10 m). Present material from the Philippines and Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia (Lifou Island); 0– 32 m.