Galathea whiteleggii Grant & McCulloch, 1906

Dong, Chao & Li, Xinzheng, 2010, Reports of Galathea Fabricius, 1793 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from Chinese waters, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 2687, pp. 1-28 : 22-23

Galathea whiteleggii Grant & McCulloch, 1906

( Fig. 14 )

Galathea whiteleggii Grant & McCulloch, 1906: 45 , pl. 4, figs 2, 2a (type locality: off Wata Mooli, Australia, 99–108 m). — McNeill 1968: 33. — Haig 1973: 278, fig. 2g. — Poore 2004: 232, fig. 63h. — Baba 2005: 245. — Baba et al. 2008: 81.

Galathea whiteleggei . — Tirmizi & Javed 1993: 57, fig. 25.

Material examined. South China Sea. MBM069801, 1 male (3.5 mm), St. 6077, 20°5΄N, 113°E, CN K64B- 19, 67 m, sandy mud, AT, 7 Jul.1959; MBM069817, 13 males (1.6–3.2 mm), 4 females (1.5–2.8 mm), 7 ovigerous females (2.1–3.1 mm), St. 6107, 19°5΄N, 112°E, CN K147B-7, 92 m, muddy sand, AT, 4 Apr.1960; MBM069819, 1 male (2.7 mm), St. 6662, 20°N, 113°5΄E, CN R30A- 1, 104.8 m, muddy sand, 11 Jul.1957; MBM069822, 1 male (2.5 mm), St. 6066, 20°30΄N, 113°30΄E, CN K72B-5, muddy sand, AT, 14 Jul.1959. Hainan Island: MBM 150372, 1 ovigerous female (3.1 mm), Ganlin, Yulin Harbor, 1 Feb.1959. Nansha Islands: MBM 150168, 1 male (2.8 mm), CN 93NS76-10; MBM 150189, 2 females (2.5, 2.5 mm), St. 41, 5º30.42΄N, 108º29.29΄E, CN SSB6-15, 93 m, 18 Sep.1994; MBM 150234, 1 ovigerous female (2.8 mm), St. 55, CN SSBVIII5-19, 46 m, muddy sand, 8 Jun.1996.

Distribution. Previously known from South Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Wattamolla, Australia; 22–108 m ( Baba et al. 2008 indicated the depth record of 2417 m by Tirmizi & Javed (1993) is questionable). Now also known from South China Sea; 46–104.8 m.

Remarks. The specimens agree with the previous descriptions of the species. This is the first record for the species from the Chinese waters.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Galathea whiteleggii Grant & McCulloch, 1906, MBM 069801, male 3.54 mm. A, carapace and abdomen, dorsal view; B, left cephalic region, showing antennular and antennal peduncles, ventral view; C, endopod of right Mxp 3, distal segments omitted, lateral view; D, left P 1, dorsal view; E, right P 2, lateral view; F, right P 3, lateral view; G, right P 4, lateral view; H, sternal plastron; I, pterygostomian flap. Scales = 1 mm.