Philocheras obliquus ( Fulton & Grant, 1902 )

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 : 179

2. Philocheras obliquus ( Fulton & Grant, 1902)

Pontophilus obliquus Fulton & Grant, 1902: 63 , pl. X, fig. 1 (type locality: off Shoreham, Western Port, Victoria, Australia).— De Man 1920: 261 (key).

Philocheras obliquus . — Poore, 2004: 140, fig. 36i. — Komai, 2008: 395 (list).— Philocheras obliquus Taylor, 2010: 166 , fig. 4.— Taylor & Komai, 2011: 4, fig. 4.

Material examined. Western Australia: 1 female, CL 2.3 mm, Dampier Archipelago Expedition, Dolphin Island, 20°30.25′S, 116°49.34′E, stn. DA 1/98/11, intertidal sand flat with patches of sponge and scattered rocks, rising to a narrow beach backed by a narrow mangrove of Avicennia marina , coll.: M. Hewitt et al., date: 21 Oct 1998, WAM reg. no . C25709; 1 ovig. female (CL= 3.9 mm), Western Australia, 32°15.9′S, 115°27.91′E, depth: 34.2 m, coll.: R.W. George, date: 29/06/1977, WAM reg. no. c40385.

Queensland: 2 ovig. females (CL=3.0– 3.1 mm), 5 females (CL= 2.3–2.9 mm), Tangalooma, station F64, further detailed information unavailable, depth: 34.2 m, coll.: R. Rose, date: 10 Jul 1972, WAM reg. no.C40386.

Distribution. Previously known from: Victoria, Southern Australia, and Tasmania ( Fulton & Grant, 1902; Poore, 2004; Taylor, 2010; Taylor & Komai, 2011); the present records: Queensland and Western Australia; subtidal and shelf sediments, 0–34.2 m.

Remarks. The present material agrees well with the descriptions and illustrations of Fulton & Grant (1902) and Poore (2004), including middorsal carina with anterior and posterior halves, each defined anteriorly by tooth; submedian tooth strong and oblique; dorsolateral carina unarmed; hepatic spine present; lateral carina without teeth. This is the first report of this species from Western Australia and Queensland.