Vercoia gibbosa Baker, 1904

Han, Qingxi & Keesing, John K., 2018, A new species of Philocheras (Decapoda: Caridea: Crangonidae) from Western Australia, with a key to all species of this genus worldwide, Zootaxa 4382 (1), pp. 175-184 : 182

4. Vercoia gibbosa Baker, 1904

Vercoia gibbosa Baker, 1904: 158 , pl. 31 (type locality: South Australia).— De Man, 1920: 257 (listed).— Balss, 1921: 17, fig. 9.— Holthuis, 1955: 134, fig. 96.— Burukovsky, 1974: 87 (key), fig. 163.— Duris, 1992: 1439, figs. 1–6.— Holthuis, 1993: 302, fig. 301.— Kim & Fujita, 2004: 2021 (key).— Poore, 2004: 141, fig. 36d.

Material examined. Western Australia: 1 female, CL 1.5 mm, Booker Rocks, Jurien Bay, 30°20.12′S, 115°02.42′E, collected on 0.25 m 2 rock, SCUBA, depth: 5.0 – 6.9 m, coll.: Sampey A., Expedition: SRFME WAM Central West Coast Biodiversity Survey, date: 28 Apr 2005, WAM reg. no. C70202.

Distribution. Previously known from SA, QLD of Australia and Marshall Islands ( Baker, 1904; Duris, 1992; Poore, 2004); the present record: WA of Australia; caught on coral rubble and poorly sorted sand, and the known bathymetric range varies from 3–54 meters.

Remarks. Vercoia is a rare genus with only four species found and dozens of specimens collected worldwide so far. Vercoia gibbosa Baker, 1904 was previously known only from southern and eastern Australia. However, this is the first record from northwestern Australia. This specimen agrees with the description of Duris (1992), including the presence of distinct concavity on the anterolateral margin of the supraorbital expansion of the rostrum, posterior part of carapace with compressed lateral carinae, median carina on third to fifth pleonal somites, distolateral spine on the uropodal exopod, entire anterior expansion of hepatic carina, and with ischium of the second pereopod unarmed on distoventral corner.