The Dulichiella complex

Once LeCroy (2000) redescribed Dulichiella appendiculata (Say, 1818) from near the type locality (LeCroy, pers. comm.), it was clear that material from Australia did not belong to that species. Ledoyer (1986) gave an excellent summary of the problems associated with available names for species of Dulichiella . Based on this information we were able to locate and borrow material of D. appendiculata (Say, 1818), St Catherines Island, Georgia, USA, D. fresnelii (Audouin, 1826), Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal and D. anisochir (Kroyer, 1845) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dana’s types are lost and his species ( Dulichiella validus (Dana, 1852), Singapore; Dulichiella setipes (Dana, 1852), Rio de Janeiro; Dulichiella pilosus (Dana, 1852), Rio de Janeiro) are only identifiable at generic level. Comparison of our material with these species showed that D. australis is a valid species and that an undescribed species ( D. pacifica n.sp.) occurred in northeastern Australia, the southwest Pacific and the South China Sea.A separate paper (Lowry & Springthorpe, in prep.) revises Dulichiella on a world-wide basis.