New species of reef-associated squat lobster from Arabian Sea, India

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca Latreille, 1802

Order: Decapoda Latreille, 1802

Family: Galatheidae Samouelle, 1819

Galathea quadrangularis Tiwari, Padate, Cubelio & Osawa, 2024

Collection: SE Arabian Sea, west of Kollam, Kerala, 8.92°N, 76.08°E, 75 m, date NA (FORVSS 236, St. 15), Naturalist dredge.

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/SS/ANO/00148, IO/SS/ANO/00161

Description: Carapace with distinct transverse ridges; epigastric ridge medially interrupted, with 2 submedian spines; anterior protogastric, mesogastric, and anterior metagastric ridges medially interrupted; posterior protogastric ridge scale-like; mesogastric and anterior metagastric ridges not extending laterally; posterior metagastric ridge short, uninterrupted. Cardiac region with short, submedian transverse ridges. Branchial margins with 4 spines. Thoracic sternite 4 anterior margin distinctly wider than sternite 3. Pleonal somite 2 with 2 uninterrupted transverse ridges, somite 3 with only 1 uninterrupted transverse ridge anteriorly. Antennular article 1 with 3 well-developed distal spines. Antennal article 1 with distomesial spine overreaching distal margin of article 4, article 3 with distomesial spine. Mxp3 merus with 2 flexor marginal spines, proximal spine larger; extensor margin with distal spine. Cheliped fingers slightly shorter than palm.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: New species of reef-associated squat lobster from Indian waters.

Distribution: Southeastern Arabian Sea. Depth range: 75–95 m.

Distribution map:

Identified by: Shivam Tiwari

Publication: Tiwari S., Padate V.P., Cubelio S.S., Osawa M. (2024) Galatheoid squat lobsters (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from the epipelagic bottom of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, with descriptions of five new species. Zootaxa, 5501 (2): 291–314.