Walters Shoal

HALICAL 1, HALIPRO 1

Pycnogonids material from the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, collected by French oceanographic campaigns to New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga in 1993, 1999 and 2000, is described. Of the thirteen species recorded, a new species of Colossendeis is described from Fiji and two new ammotheid species are described from New Caledonia, one in each of the genera Cilunculus and Dromedopycnon. In addition, Cilunculus scaurus, Anoplodactylus typhloides and Pycnogonum (Nulloviger) moniliferum are recorded for only the second time; the opportunity is taken to revise the description of the latter in the light of damage to som of the type specimens.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BIOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, MUSORSTOM 10

LAGON

GEMINI

Nine species of Recent brachiopods, including two new, belonging to seven genera, i.e. Basiliola beecheri, Abyssothyris wyvillei, Dallithyris pacifica n. sp., Terebratulina japonica, Terebratulina reevei, Terebratulina australis n. sp., Fallax neocaledonensis, Frenulina sanguinolenta, Amphithyris buckmani, and one unidentified rhynchonellide have been recognised in the new material from the Fiji and Wallis and Futuna Islands, collected during the French cruises MUSORSTOM 7, 10 and BORDAU 1. The species Amphithyris buckmani is reported for the first time outside its type locality in New Zealand waters. The brachiopods from Fiji, although less diversified, show affinities to the New Caledonia fauna, having five genera in common.

BORDAU 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 7

This paper describes a terebratelloid articulate brachiopod, Gyrothyris williamsi sp. nov., based on 95 specimens from seamounts on the Lord Howe Rise, Coral Sea, SW Pacific Ocean. The new species is attributed to Gyrothyris on the basis of (a) morphological and growth trajectory similarities; (b) phylogenetic analyses of an alignment of DNA sequence (similar to 2900-sites) obtained from nuclear-encoded small- and large-subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSU and LSO; and (c) the presence of a distinctive, two-part deletion in the LSU gene. It is distinguished morphologically from Gyrothyris mawsoni and its subspecies by both internal and external morphology and by its isolated geographical distribution, which extends the patchy, known range of this genus to an area some 2000 km north of its previous northern limit around New Zealand. Phylogenetic analyses of the rDNAs and of mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences (663 sites) confirm previous indications that the New Zealand endemic terebratelloid genera form a clade (Neothyris (Calloria, Gyrothyris, Terebratella), but the position of Terebratella with respect to Calloria and Gyrothyris remains weakly established. These sequences disagree inexplicably about the closeness of the relationship between Neothyris parva and N. lenticidaris. Analyses of the first sequences from Calloria variegata, a species restricted to the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, are consistent with the possibility that it originated locally, and recently, from C inconspicua. Magellania venosa from S. America/Falklands joins with Antarctic Magellaninia fragilis and M. joubini to form an rDNA clade that excludes Terebratalia as the putative sister-group of the New Zealand terebratelloid clade. The cox1(but not the rDNA) sequences of the New Zealand clade pass a test for clock-like rates of evolution, and maximum likelihood pairwise distances suggest that if genetic isolation between the ancestor of Antarctic Magellania and the last common ancestor of the New Zealand terebratelloid clade was initiated by separation of the Antarctic and New Zealand plates similar to 90 Mya, isolation from M. venosa was initiated earlier, perhaps similar to 145 Mya. However, in the simple phylogenctic reconstruction presented here from cox1 sequences, S. American and Antarctic Magellania spp. do not yield a well-supported clade, perhaps because of differences in base composition.

EBISCO

The Glypheidea is a group of lobster-like decapods that appeared in the Triassic and that was thought to be extinct until 1975, when a specimen of the species Neoglyphea inopinata was caught off the Philippines. More recently, in 2005, a specimen of another glypheid species, Laurentaeglyphea neocaledonica, was discovered near New Caledonia. Here, we construct a decapod molecular data set including the two extant glypheid species sequenced from eight nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Our study strongly shows that the two extant genera of glypheids cluster together, and further confirms the status of Glypheidea as a separate infraorder. Moreover the reptantian decapods are divided into two major groups, one including Brachyura, Anomura, and Axiidea, and the other including Astacidea, Polychelida, Achelata, and Glypheidea. Although commonly nicknamed 'Jurassic shrimps' and considered as 'living fossils', glypheids are therefore a derived decapod lineage. (C) 2010 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

EBISCO

The major reef-building coral genus Acropora has never been recorded, living or fossil, from the Marquesas Islands in the central Pacific Ocean, which are characterized by limited modern reef formations. During the "Musorstom 9" cruise in 1997, investigations of marine platforms representing drowned reef systems revealed for the first time the presence of two Acropora species as fossils at seven Marquesas islands. The predominant species was Acropora valida, which was widespread in the archipelago and dated between 7.4 and 48.6 ka, providing evidence of an earlier Pacific distribution pattern broader than previously observed. It is proposed that disappearance of Acropora after 7.4 ka was linked to climatic events probably ENSO events controlling the distribution of corals and coral reefs in the eastern Pacific without excluding alternatively the effects of an increase in sea-level rise.

MUSORSTOM 9

Seamounts were often considered as‘hotspots of diversity’ and ‘centers of endemism’,but recently this opinion has been challenged. After 25 years of exploration and the work of numerous taxonomists, the Norfolk Ridge (Southwest Pacific) is probably one of the best-studied seamount chains worldwide. However,even in this intensively explored area, the richness and the geographic patterns of diversity are still poorly characterized. Among the benthic organisms,the post-mortem remains of mollusks can supplement live records to comprehensively document geographical distrbutions. Moreover, the accretionary growth of mollusk shells informs us about the lifes pan of the pelagic larva.To compare diversity and level of endemism between the Norfolk Ridge seamounts and the continental slopes of New Caledonia we used species occurrence data drawn from (i) the taxonomic literature on mollusks and (ii) a raw dataset of mainly undescribed deep-sea species of the hyperdiverse Turridae. Patterns of endemism and species richness were analyzed through quantitative indices of endemism and species richness estimates or metrics.To date, 403 gastropods and bivalves species have been recorded on the Norfolk Ridge seamounts. Of these, at least 38 species(10%) are potentially endemic to the seamounts and nearly all of 38 species have protoconchs indicating lecithotrophic larval development. Overall, our results suggest that estimates of species richness and endemism ,when sampling effort is taken into account, were not significantly different between slopes and seamounts. By including in our analyses 347 undescribed morphospecies from the Norfolk Ridge, our results also demonstratet he influence of taxonomic bias on our estimates of species richness and endemism.

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, CHALCAL 2, HALIPRO 2, LITHIST, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, SMIB 10, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 8, TERRASSES

Identification of material recently collected in French Polynesia and of specimens from museum collections shows that a total of 22 species of crabs belonging to four genera (Quadrella, Tetralia, Tetrahides, and Trapezia) of the family Trapeziidae inhabit southeastem Polynesia. One species of Trapezia is new. A relatively high number of the species of Trapezia, a total of fourteen, inhabits the region. Of these, three appear to be endemic.

SMCB

The French MUSORSTOM expeditions (now Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos), have successfully collected since 1976 rich samples of large, benthic crustaceans using oceanographic vessels to depths of about 5,000 m. The ship-based collecting techniques and gear used by these expeditions are described. These include the use of echosounders, dredging, trawling, and trapping. Also discussed are techniques for onboard specimen sorting and photography.

AURORA 2007, LUMIWAN 2008, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005

Before the present study, Plesionika rostricrescentis (Bate, 1888) and P. lophotes Chace, 1985 were the two Plesionika species unique in having a high basal rostral crest. A recently described species, P. erythrocyclus Chan & Crosnier, 1997 has a low basal rostral crest but is evidently related to P. rostricrescentis. Close examination of the abundant material collected during the MUSORSTOM expeditions and from Taiwan revealed that there are at least eight species in this ‘‘P. rostricrescentis-P. lophotes’’ species complex. These taxa are morphologically very similar but can be distinguished by their very distinctive colorations, which are often striking and consist of large circular spots. In the ‘‘P. rostricrescentis’’ group, which has the dorsal margin of the rostrum unarmed between the anteriormost tooth of the basal rostral crest and the subapical teeth, five species are recognized. Plesionika rostricrescentis is still known only by the holotype from the Kai Islands. Two new species, P. hsuehyui and P. suffusa, closely similar to P. rostricrescentis, are described. Plesionika hsuehyui is widely distributed from Taiwan to Fiji, while P. suffusa has only been found off New Caledonia. Plesionika erythrocyclus, previously known only from Taiwan and French Polynesia, occurs widely in the southern Pacific. Another new species, P. bimaculata, which closely resembles P. erythrocyclus, is distributed off New Caledonia and in adjacent areas. Three species are recognized in the ‘‘P. lophotes’’ group, which bear dorsal rostral teeth between the basal rostral crest and subapical teeth. Plesionika lophotes is restricted to the area between Japan and northwestern Australia. Two further closely similar new species, P. rufomaculata and P. scopifera are described, the former widely distributed from Okinawa to Futuna Island, the latter only off New Caledonia and Tonga. Although coloration is very important in distinguishing these species, species with similar color patterns do not necessarily belong to the same species group. Morphologically, these species are mainly separated by the height of the basal rostral crest, the number of rostral teeth, and the length of the stylocerite and the dactyli of the posterior three pereiopods. However, there is sexual dimorphism in the development of the basal rostral crest in these species, sometimes making positive identification of males and young specimens difficult.

BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, HALICAL 1, LAGON, LITHIST, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, TAIWAN 2000, TAIWAN 2001, TAIWAN 2002, VOLSMAR

We describe the first molecular and morphological analysis of extant crinoid high-level inter-relationships. Nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and a cladistically coded matrix of 30 morphological characters are presented, and analysed by phylogenetic methods. The molecular data were compiled from concatenated nuclear-encoded 18S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S rDNA, and internal transcribed spacer 2, together with part of mitochondrial 16S rDNA, and comprised 3,593 sites, of which 313 were parsimony-informative. The molecular and morphological analyses include data from the bourgueticrinid Bathycrinus; the antedonid comatulids Dorometra and Florometra; the cyrtocrinids Cyathidium, Gymnocrinus, and Holopus; the isocrinids Endoxocrinus, and two species of Metacrinus; as well as from Guillecrinus and Caledonicrinus, whose ordinal relationships are uncertain, together with morphological data from Proisocrinus. Because the molecular data include indel-rich regions, special attention was given to alignment procedure, and it was found that relatively low, gene-specific, gap penalties gave alignments from which congruent phylogenetic information was obtained from both well-aligned, indel-poor and potentially misaligned, indel-rich regions. The different sequence data partitions also gave essentially congruent results. The overall direction of evolution in the gene trees remains uncertain: an asteroid outgroup places the root on the branch adjacent to the slowly evolving isocrinids (consistent with palaeontological order of first appearances), but maximum likelihood analysis with a molecular clock places it elsewhere. Despite lineage-specific rate differences, the clock model was not excluded by a likelihood ratio test. Morphological analyses were unrooted. All analyses identified three clades, two of them generally well-supported. One well-supported clade (BCG) unites Bathycrinus and Guillecrinus with the representative (chimaeric) comatulid in a derived position, suggesting that comatulids originated from a sessile, stalked ancestor. In this connection it is noted that because the comatulid centrodorsal ossicle originates ontogenetically from the column, it is not strictly correct to describe comatulids as "unstalked" crinoids. A second, uniformly well-supported clade contains members of the Isocrinida, while the third clade contains Gymnocrinus, a well-established member of the Cyrtocrinida, together with the problematic taxon Caledonicrinus, currently classified as a bourgueticrinid. Another cyrtocrinid, Holopus, joins this clade with only weak molecular, but strong morphological support. In one morphological analysis Proisocrinus is weakly attached to the isocrinid clade. Only an unusual, divergent 18S rDNA sequence was obtained from the morphologically strange cyrtocrinid Cyathidium. Although not analysed in detail, features of this sequence suggested that it may be a PCR artefact, so that the apparently basal position of this taxon requires confirmation. If not an artefact, Cyathidium either diverged from the crinoid stem much earlier than has been recognised hitherto (i.e., it may be a Palaeozoic relic), or it has an atypically high rate of molecular evolution.

???msg.security.private???, BIOCAL, HALIPRO 2, LITHIST, NORFOLK 1

SANTO 2006

Specimens belonging to the family Lampropidae (Crustacea, Cumacea) collected during the French campaigns BATHUS-3, BIOCAL and BIOGEOCAL in waters around New Caledonia were studied. Except for some specimens belonging to the species Hemilamprops pellucidus Zimmer, 1908, the rest of material is new to science and 6 species and a genus are herein described: Bathylamprops scaber n. sp., Hemilamprops longisetae n. sp., Misceolamprops dolorsae n. gen. and n. sp., Paralamprops caudodentatus n. sp., Paralamprops crosnieri n. sp. and Platysympus pacificus n. sp.

BATHUS 3, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL

La campagne franco-indonésienne KARUBAR, faite à bord du navire de recherche indonésien "Baruna Jaya I", s'est déroulée dans l'est de l'indonésie, en mer de Banda et d'Arafura, au large des îles Kai et Tanimbar. Les prospections ont porté sur la faune bathyale. Quatre-vingt-onze dragages et chalutages, à des profondeurs comprises entre 200 et 1200m, ont été effectués.

KARUBAR

It is shown that the demosponge Corallistes sp. (Tetractinomorpha, Lithistida, Corallistidae) collected in the Coral Sea, contains corallistin A (1), the second example, of a free porphyrin from a living organism. The compound proved to be active against the Kb cell line. In contrast with the geoporphyrins which do not bear any O-atom corallistin A (1) carries two carboxylic groups.

SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4

During our ongoing program of searching for new bioactive molecules from new-caledonian marine invertebrates, the opportunities occured recently to examine a "living fossil" crinoid Gymnocrinus richeri, discovered by B. Richer de Forges at 520m depth. In vivo this crinoid is saffron yellow with the stalk darker and tentacles dark yellow-green inside. A few minutes after collecting, outside the water, it turns readily dark-green. The green pigments, extractable with methanol, turned violet on very mild acidification. In this communication the structure of five violet pigments, which constitute a novel group of brominated phenanthroperylenequinones, will be discussed. These pigments have interesting stereochemical features, i.e. the axial chirality generated by the phenanthroperylenequinone system forced into a non planar helical shape. The assignment of the stereochemistry based on CD, NMR data and correlation with natural occuring perylenequinones will he presented. There is also considered the possible relationship between the violet pigments and the native yellow and green ones. A second "living fossil" organism from New Caledonia which we had the opportunity to examine is the starfish species Tremaster novae caledoniae collected at 530m depth off Nouméa. This organism contains a group of unusual steroids in which one hydroxyl group is sulphated, one is acetylated and a third one is esterified with glucose-I-phosphate. The results of the chemical investigation of the sponge Jereicopsis graphidiophora (new genus) and Erylus sp. collected at ca. 500m depth off Nouméa, will he also presented. While the 3B- hydroxy steroids were totally absent, the extracts of J. graphidiophora contain unique 38- hydroxy steroids. L'wo of them combine the unique 38- methoxyl group with a rare secostructure. The polar extracts of Erylus sp. contain two terpenoid oligoglycosides. Sequential analysis of the oligosaccharide portions was achieved by modern 2D-NMR techniques.

SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6

Echinolatus n. gen. is described for four species, E. bullatum (Balss, 1923), from the Juan Fernandez Islands off Chile, E. caledonicum (Moosa, 1996) from New Caledonia, E. proximum n. sp. from French Polynesia, and E. poorei n. sp. from the Great Australian Bight and southern Victoria. The first two species had been previously attributed to Nectocarcinus A. Milne Edwards, 1860. Echinolatus is characterised by a subhexagonal carapace, a quadrilobate front, at least the last pair of anterolateral carapace teeth, and usually others, bearing spinules or spiniform denticles on the anterior margins, the chelipeds having the carpus armed with a long pointed tooth at its anterointernal angle which also has a smaller strong tooth basally. E. bullatum is redescribed.

BENTHAUS, NORFOLK 2

1. The composition of sterol mixture from the “living fossil” crinoid Gymnocrinus richeri collected off Nouméa (New Caledonia) was investigated. The free 3P-OH sterol mixture was found to contain 14 components, A: and ring saturated stanols, identified .by GC-MS. 3. Cholest-4-en-3-one, cholesta-1, 4-dien-3-one (this latter firstly isolated from a marine source), 5cr-8a-epidioxy sterols, and 5a-ergosta-7,22-diene-3/?,5,6j-triowl ere also present, their characterization being accomplished by EI-MS and ‘H-NMR. The methanol extract also contained sterol sulphates, which were identified by GC-MS after solvolysis to remove the sulphate group.

CALSUB

Five novel brominated phenanthroperylenequinone pigments, gymnochromes A-D (1-4) and isogymnochrome D (5), were isolated from the stalked crinoid Gymnocrinus richeri. The structures of the compounds were inferred from their spectra (IR, UV-vis, H-1 and C-13 NMR, FABMS). The presence of both bulky hydroxy groups at positions 10 and 11 and side chains at positions 3 and 4 causes sufficient crowding to force the octacyclic phenanthroperylenequinone system into a nonplanar helical shape. This helicity generates axial chirality in the molecules. The presence of chiral carbon atoms in the side chains gives rise to diastereomers. The absolute configurations of the chiral carbons and the axial chirality of the natural pigments was inferred from CD and NMR data and by correlations made with cercosporin and other naturally occurring perylenequinones. The configurations assigned to the chiral carbons in the side chains of compounds 4 and 5 were confirmed by the results of the application of Horeau's method of kinetic resolution.

CHALCAL 2

Le benthos profond récolté tout d'abord lors des campagnes océanographiques MUSORSTOM IV (1) et CHALCAL (2), puis lors des campagnes de récoltes SMlB (1986, 1987, 1989) s'est avéré être extrèmement riche en invertébrés divers dont beaucoup sont nouveaux. L'abondance et l'originalité de cette faune nous a conduit à étudier une cinquantaine d'organismes recoltés entre 200 et 700m: éponges (40), échinodermes (1 O), alcyonaires (2), madréporaires (1).

CHALCAL 1, MUSORSTOM 4

In 2005, the EBISCO oceanographic campaign collected numerous large ostracods in the Coral Sea, off southwest New Caledonia. These ostracods belong to a new species, Azygocypridina brynmawria, and differ from the morphologically similar Azygocypridina Iowryi in the color of the soft parts and details of the morphology of the second antenna, furca, and terminal tooth of the seventh limb, as determined by light microscopy and scanning electron rnicroscopy (SEM). Included is a discussion of the unique color and locality of these organisms.

EBISCO

A new genus of a deep-sea ascomycete with one new species, Alisea longicolla, is described based on analyses of 18S and 28S rDNA sequences and morphological characters. A. longicolla was found together with oceanitis scuticella, on small twigs and sugar cane debris trawled from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off Vanuatu Islands. Molecular and morphological characters indicate that both fungi are members of Holosphaeriaceae. Within this family, O. scuticella is phylogenetically related to Ascosalsum and shares similar ascospore morphology and appendage ontogeny. The genus Ascosalsum is considered congeneric with Oceanitis and Ascosalsum cincinnatulum, Ascosalsum unicaudatum and Ascosalsum viscidulum are transferred to Oceanitis, an earlier generic name. (C) 2009 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BOA0

Il existe de nombreux monts sous-marins à l'intérieur de la Z.E.E de Nouvelle Calédonie. Certains d'entre eux ont déjà fait l'objet d'une cartographie simplifiée et de deux campagnes exploratoires de chalutage, l'une japonaise en 1980, l'autre française (ORSTOM) en 1986. Au cours de ces campagnes, les prélèvements furent réalisés entre 220 et 690 m de profondeur, de jour et de nuit, avec des chaluts de dimensions différentes. Les captures rapportées à la surface de fond échantillonnée varièrent de 8 à 1429 kg/hectare en fonction de la taille de l'engin, de la profondeur et de l'heure du prélèvement. Les pêches de nuit s'avérèrent beaucoup plus productives que celles de jour. Au-delà de 500 m, la composition spécifique de l'ichtyofaune changeait totalement. Une évaluation très grossière permet d'estimer à plusieurs milliers de tonnes de poissons par an la P.M.S de la totalité de la Z.E.E. Une cartographie détaillée de la zone mériterait d'être réalisée pour servir de base à des prospections halieutiques plus poussées.

CHALCAL 2

CALSUB

HALIPRO 1

The exploratory bottorn trawling survey HALIPRO 2 was carried out from 4 to 28 November 1996 on board the New Zealand research vessel Tangaroa of NIWA (National Institut ofWater and Atrnospheric Research Ltd). It was aimed at identification of deep fishery resources over the Norfolk Ridge and the southern part of the Loyalty Ridge. This zone, the area of which is 73000 square km, was previously rnapped during the seabed rnapping survey ZoNéCo 1. A trawl similar to the one used by the New Zealand commercial deep bottom fishing boats was used. Amongst 35 persons on board, 17 were scientists from different countries with different fields of research. A total of 3755 nautical miles were covered and 106 hauls were made. The environment was studied through temperature and salinity profils down to 1500 m and CUITent records down to 300 ffi. The presence of alfonsino (Beryx splerulens) was confirmed over the summits of the seamounts where this species was exploited by bottom longlining from 1988 to 1991. Hauls made over slopes and plains did not allow the catch of any specimen of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). Hard and rough bottoms on the summits and flanks of the seamounts make awkward the use of bottom trawls. HALIPRO 2 showed the high species diversity of the fauna (275 species of fish belonging to 101 families). In particular, 42 different species of shark and ray were collected of which 40% are new to science. Many samples were collected for further analysis. This survey will no doubt remain a perfect exemple of a fruitful collaboration with New Zealand.

HALIPRO 2

Le programme «Monts sous-marins» s'est déroulé au centre IRD de Nouméa depuis 1990 sous la direction de René GRANDPERRIN. Ses objectifs étaient l'étude faunistique des pentes récifales externes, des monts sous-marins et du domaine bathyal supérieur (200-1500 m) et l'évaluation de leurs potentialités halieutiques. 32 campagnes représentant un total de 446 jours de mer ont été effectuées. 18 d'entre elles ont été consacrées à l'halieutique, 13 aux études faunistiques et une à des essais de sondeur. 1496 opérations de prélèvement ont été réalisées (445 pour l'halieutique et 1051 pour la faunistique) avec les engins suivants: casier, chalut à crevettes, chalut de fond à poissons, grand chalut de fond à poissons néo-zélandais, chalut à perche, chalut pélagique à poissons, drague épibenthique, drague à roche, drague Waren et palangre de fond. En ce qui concerne l'halieutique, les ressources des pentes externes (100-600 m) ont été étudiées en Nouvelle-Calédonie et à Vanuatu, archipel pour lequel un atlas des pêches est sous presse. Les monts sous-marins agissent comme des dispositifs de concentration de poissons pour les espèces démersales. En Nouvelle-Calédonie, ils abritent une ressource en Beryx splendens qui fit l'objet d'une exploitation commerciale. Une étude scientifique, basée sur Il campagnes, a pennis de déterminer les paramètres biologiques et dynamiques de l'espèce et de modéliser sa distribution en fonction de la profondeur. Pour la première fois, une corrélation liant la croissance d'un poisson de profondeur avec le phénomène ENSO a été établie. Des travaux de génétiques des populations sont en cours sur cette espèce. Par ailleurs, le programme «Monts sous-marins» collabora étroitement avec le programme ZoNéCo d'identification et d'évaluation des ressources marines de la zone économique de Nouvelle-Calédonie. Deux synthèses portant sur les données thonières et sur les poissons profonds furent réalisées. Un halieute participa aux campagnes de bathymétrie mettant en œuvre un sondeur multifaisceaux à bord du N.O. L'Atalante. Cinq campagnes d'exploration des ressources halieutiques profondes furent effectuées à bord du N.O. Alis à l'aide de chaluts et de palangres de fond. Elles mirent en évidence l'existence de certaines ressources jusque là ignorées des pêcheurs. Les collectes de la faune bathyale ont été réalisées dans le cadre d'opérations conjointes IRD et Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN). L'analyse des prélèvements a été possible grâce à un réseau de taxonomistes mis en place par l'IRD (Centre de Nouméa et Antenne du MNHN) et le MNHN ; il compte 181 chercheurs appartenant à 92 institutions de 24 nations différentes, ce qui représente un effort de recherche internationale exceptionnel! Les résultats obtenus dans le Pacifique sud-ouest, et notamment en Nouvelle-Calédonie, ont révolutionné la connaissance de la biodiversité des faunes profondes. 20 volumes des Résultats des campagnes MUSORSTOM qui paraissent dans la série des Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle sont déjà parus (environ 10 000 pages) et un autre est sous presse. Ils traitent de plus de 4500 espèces dont plus de 1300 étaient nouvelles pour la science. 126 genres nouveaux ont été créés de même que 7 familles nouvelles. Au sein de cette étude, la Nouvelle-Calédonie apparaît comme particulièrement riche en espèces et d'une très grande originalité puisque sur-les 1619 espèces actuellement publiées, 60,7 % étaient nouvelles pour la science. Des études phylogénétiques ont été réalisées sur certains groupes zoologiques en utilisant soit des techniques de biologie moléculaire (ADN), soit des méthodes de microscopie électronique. Il s'agit des Crustacés, des Echinodermes (Crinoïdes) et des Brachiopodes, parmi lesquels plusieurs formes panchroniques ont été découvertes. L'accessibilité aux faunes de profondeurs au cours du programme «Monts sous-marins» a permis de récolter des organismes qui ont fait l'objet d'analyses par le programme de pharmacologie (Substances Marines d'Intérêt Biologique: SMIB). Deux bases de données sont directement issues des travaux du programme «Monts sous-marins». Elles concernent les données halieutiques et les données faunistiques. Les premières ont été stockées à la Structure de Gestion et de Valorisation Locale (SGVL) du programme ZoNéCo. Les secondes le sont à l'IRD. Pour chacune d'elles, une procédure de création de sites INTERNET est en cours. Le problème majeur rencontré par le programme fut la disponibilité en personnel. En effet, avec une moyenne de 6 personnes, dont un chercheur et un ingénieur d'étude à plein temps, les effectifs ne dépassèrent jamais un total de 9! Le programme disposa en moyenne de 318 kFlan, dont 40 % sur fonds IRD et 60 % sur financements extérieurs. Les financements extérieurs furent de trois types: FIDES section locale du Territoire de Nouvelle-Calédonie, programme ZoNéCo et, dans une moindre mesure, MAE. Le nombre de publications réalisées par les ressortissants du programme a été de 214, dont 139 pour lesquelles le premier auteur est un membre du programme.

???msg.security.private???, AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BERYX 2, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BORDAU 1, CALSUB, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, GEMINI, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KARUBAR, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, SMIB 1, SMIB 10, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, SMIB 9, VAUBAN 1978-1979, VOLSMAR

Within the framework of the programme "ZoNéCo" of evaluation of the marine resources of the economic zone of New Caledonia, a series of operations were completed in the southeastern part of Ihe economic zone. The first was a balhymetrical and geophysical survey of the major part of the Norfolk Ridge and the southem end of Ihe Loyalty Ridge. The data obtained on this survey provided a base for the preparation and completion of the deep-sea trawling survey "HALIPRO 2", the main objective of which was 10 search for commercial quantities of deep-sea fish, primarily orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). During this survey, 106 hauls were made between 230 and 1,860 m depth. A total catch of 263 fish species was made belonging to 192 genera and 101 families. In particular, 37 species of sharks and rays were collected of which 40% are new to science. The results confinn the extreme specific richness of the deep-sea ichthyofauna and the presence of species of commercial interest such as the alfonsino, Beryx splendens. However, orange roughy, was not located.

HALIPRO 2

MUSORSTOM 4

The first zoeal stages of the galatheids Neonida grandis, Agononida squamosa and Munida javieri, and the chirostylids Eumunida annulosa and E. capillata are described and illustrated from laboratory-hatched material obtained from ovigerous females collected from south western Pacific. The morphologies of the first zoeae are compared with the same larval stage of other known anomuran species. The larval characters of Agononida squamosa and Neonida grandis are similar to those described for Agononida incerta. Munida javieri exhibits features not present in other described species of Munida such as the setation of the endopod of the maxillule and the antennal morphology. Eumunida annulosa and E. capillata do not show abbreviated development as in other described chirostylids such as Uroptychus and Gastroptychus, and its larval morphology is equivalent to the first stage of galatheid zoeae. However, many morphological characters of E umunida species are typically pagurid, such as the two terminal plumose setae of the antennal endopod, the three-segmented endopod of the maxillule, the posterior margin of the carapace without spines, and the scaphognathite with 5 plumose setae and without a posterior lobe.

BOA1, NORFOLK 2

Two species of the genus Sphenocarcinus A. Milne Edwards 1875, with a single rostrum exist in the Indo-Pacific and they are principally only known by. their original description: S. cuneus (Wood Mason 1891) and S. atworm Alcock 1899. Each species is herewith redescribed, based on the examination of the types: TWO new species are established. S. difficils sp. nov., represented by numerous specimens from Madagascar (ORSTOM collection), proved to be an intermediate species between S. G U ~ ~ ZaLnSd S. aurorw. S. pinocChio sp. nov., collected in the Makassar Strait, Indonesia (mission Corindon II), is characterized by its very long and strongly curved rostruni. One nmale specimen, also collected in the Makassar Strait, probably modified by a sacculinid parasite, and with a more curved, snub rostrum, can be regarded as an unusual form of S. pinocchio sp. nov. A key of the four Indo!Pacific Sphenocarcinus with a single rostruni is presented.

CORINDON 2, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???, ???msg.security.private???

Brachyura from deep water are dealt with, from : the south of Madagascar (" Marion-Dufresne " 1976, MD. 08 exp.) : Saint-Paul and Amsterdam islands ; New-Caledonia and Loyalty islands (Collections ORSTOM) ; Tuamotu (cruises of " Marara "). The deep fauna of these regions has so far not been studied : all the species are new for the studied areas or new for Science. In this preliminary issue three new genera are described : Mathildella gen. nov., which includes two species : M. serrata (Sakai) and M. maxima sp. nov. : Beuroisia gen. nov., which includes three species : B. duhameli sp. nov. (forma duhameli and forma tomentosa), B. manquenei sp. nov. and B. major (Sakai) ; and Intesius gen. nov., with one species, I. pilosus sp. nov. Two new species are assigned to the genus Demania : D. serenei sp. nov. and D. garthi sp. nov. ; D. intermedia and D. cultripes are recorded. In the genus Progeryon two new species are described, P. vaubani sp. nov. and P. mararae sp. nov. Three new species of Carcinoplax sensu lato are described : C. microphtalmus sp. nov., C. eurysternum sp. nov. and C. crosnieri sp. nov. The other groups of Brachyura will be studied subsequently.

MD08 (BENTHOS)

MD08 (BENTHOS), MUSORSTOM 1

The deep-sea Brachyura Majidae collected during the MUSORSTOM I and II cruises in the Philippines, completed by several other indo-pacific collections, are studied here : genera Platymaia, Cyrtomaia, Pleistacantha, Sphenocarcinus and Naxioides. A key is given for the genera Platymaia and Sphenocarcinus. Four new species are described : Platymaia rebierei, from New Hebrida ; Sphenocarcinus stuckiae and S. orbiculatus, both from New Caledonia, and S. bipartitus from Philippines.

CORINDON 2, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3

The genus Sphenocarciilus A.Milne Edwards, known by 16 Indo- Pacific species with a rostrum which is either single (four species) or double (12 species), is widened by the discovery of a new species with a bifurcated rostrum, collected between 300-460 m, by the 'Vauban', in the north of New Caledonia, i,e. Splenocarcinus fnamrnatus sp.nov. Two other species of that genus, S.orbiculatus Guinot & Richer de Forges and S.stuckiae Guinot & Richer de Forges, had been previously recorded in the same area, near the island of Pines (south of New Caledonia).

CORINDON 2, ???msg.security.private???, LAGON

The homolid spermatozoon, as exemplified by Homola sp., Paromola sp. and Paromola petterdi, differs markedly from spermatozoa of crabs of the Heterotremata-Thoracotremata assemblage but agrees with the sperm of dromiids, in the strongly anteroposteriorly depressed acrosome (apomorphy?) and the capitate form of the perforatorium (a major synapomorphy seen nowhere else in the Crustacea). These similarities support inclusion of the Dromiidae and Homolidae in a single grouping, the Podotremata. The homolid perforatorium differs from that of dromiids in the autapomorphic spiked-wheel form of the anterior expansion. Homolid spermatozoa show nuclear arms symplesiomorphic of all investigated crabs (small or questionably sometimes absent in Dromiidae), and corresponding loss of purely microtubylar arms seen in other reptants. Homolid sperm agree with those of dromiids (synapomorphy?), raninids, higher heterotremes and thoracotremes (homoplasies?) but differ from lower heterotremes, in lacking microtubules in the nuclear arms. A posterior median process of the nucleus in homolids, not seen in dromiids, is shared with anomurans and lower heterotremes. No featlires in the ultrastructure of homolid or dromiid sperm have been detected which associate them exclusively with either the Raninidae or the heterotreme and thoracotreme Brachyura.

BERYX 11

Crustacea Decapoda Brachyura : Revision of the family Homolidae de Haan, 1839. Collections made by scientists from ORSTOM and during French expeditions, resulting from the cooperation of ORSTOM and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, in the upper bathyal zone of the Indo-West-Pacific (Madagascar, Seychelles, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Caledonia, Chesterfield Islands, Wallis and Futuna Islands) have accumulated abundant crustacean material. We have added to it the collections by various Australian, German and Soviet expeditions in regions poorly explored until now. We have studied also specimens taken by deep traps near atolls in French Polynesia and in french Anfilles. We have also been able to examine almost all the Homolidae deposited in the large museums of the world, reference and unidentified collections, and thereby to prepare an account of the Hawaiian, Japanese, Indian, African, South African and American faunas. From all these collections it has been possible to revise and restructure the Homolidae world-wide. Examination of all type specimens has been necessary, as has that of all specimens mentioned in the literature; practically all references and all identifications have been verified. The Homolidae comprise now 14 genera, studied in terms of their phylogenetic affinities : eight genera already known (Homola Leach, Paromolopsis Wood-Mason, Paromola Wood-Mason, Latreillopsis Henderson, Homolochunia Doflein, Hypsophrys Wood-Mason, Homolomannia Ihle, Homologenus A. Milne Edwards) ; two former subgenera elevated to generic rank (Homolax Alcock, Moloha Bamard) ; and four new genera (Dagnaudus, Ihlopsis, Yaldwynopsis, Gordonopsis). Until now quite poor in species, the family now contains in the whole 57 species : it is increased by 17 new species ; in addition, about ten uncertain species are leaven apart. In the cases of two genera considered amphi-Atiantic, Homola and Homologenus, a new taxon is described ; Homola minima sp. Nov. Is separated from H. barbata (Fabricius), typically Mediterranean ; and Homologenus boucheti sp. Nov. Is separated from H. rostratus (A. Milne Edwards), from the American Atlantic. Three other new species are added to Homola : H. eldredgei, H. coriolisi and H. ranunculus. The genus Paromola is confined to some species close to P. cuvieri (Risso) and two new taxa are added : P. bathyalis and P. crosnieri. Six species are attributed to Moloha of which the former is the type species M. alcocki (Stebbing), another one the ancient Latreillopsis major of KUBO (validated) ; it is augmented by two new species, M. alisae and M. grandperrini, and also The genus Latreillopsis receives three new species : L. daviei, L. cornuta and L. antennata. The new genus Ihlopsis includes, besides I. multispinosa (Ihle) (formely in Latreillopsis), one new species, I. tirardi. A third species, H. gadaletae, is added to Homolochunia. Only one species is added to Hypsophrys, H. futuna, but the genus is certainly more diverse. Three new species, H. boucheti, H. levii and H. wallis are described in the genus Homologenus. The genus Homolax, poorly known, is well defined. For each genus adiagnosis, an illustration of the principal characteristics and homologies, plus a key to all species are given. Each genus has been strictly redefined with respect to its type species and to all its species. For the numerous poorly known species a description or summary of characters differentiating it from the nearest taxon is presented H has been made by a synthetic study of all important morphological criteria ; we have reviewed all the principal arrangements and structures of Homolidae to understand their homologies and reach rigorous the nomenclature of the grooves and ornamentation of the carapace which have been often confused in the past. Some phylogenetic hypotheses are briefly presented. The place of the Homolidae in Homoloidea is commented on with a key to the three members of the superfamily. Short remarks, which will be completed in another work, on fossil representatives are outlined. Lastly, geographic and bathymétrie distribution of the genera and species are discussed. Each species is represented often with drawings and always by several photographs.

AZTEQUE, ???msg.security.private???, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BENTHEDI, BERYX 11, BERYX 2, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, CORINDON 2, ???msg.security.private???, HALIPRO 1, KARUBAR, LAGON, MD08 (BENTHOS), MD32 (REUNION), MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, SMCB, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, VAUBAN 1978-1979

The monophyletic Dromiacea, including Sphaerodromia lamellata, Homolodromia kai, and Dynomene tanensis, here studied, have the following characters: (1) operculum perforate, but lacking the thoracotreme apical button; (2) opercular projections into the subopercular material, diagnostic of homolids, absent; (3) operculum discontinuous with the capsule, unlike raninoids; (4) operculum moderately thick, not extremely thin as in the cyclodorippoids Tymolus and Xeinostoma; (5) operculum not extremely wide, contrasting with the great width in cyclodorippoids; (6) periopercular rim and (7) accessory opercular ring absent, being variably present in eubrachyurans; (8) subopercular protuberance through operculum well developed (synapomorphy), weak in homolids; (9) true acrosome ray zone absent; (10) peripheral border of outer acrosome zone border not ragged, unlike some xanthoids; (11) anterolateral pale zone of acrosome contents present (autapomorphy); (12) xanthid ring absent; (13) subacrosomal chamber or perforatorium extending preequatorially, unlike Ranina ranina; (14) head of perforatorium bilateral (autapomorphy); (15) corrugations of the wall of the perforatorial chamber absent; (16) centrioles apparently absent; (17) posterior median process of the nucleus absent; (18) thickened ring (typical of Eubrachyura) absent; (19) concentric lamellae (typical of Thoracotremata) in the outer acrosome zone absent; (20) capsular chambers absent; and (21) capsular flange absent, unlike Ranina ranina and Raninoides sp. Spermatologically Sphaerodromia lamellata appears closer to the dynomenid Dynomene tanensis than it is to the mutually paraphyletic Dromidiopsis edwardsi and Stimdromia lateralis. The spermatozoon of Homolodromia kai (Homolodromiidae) shares a striking putative synapomorphy with Paradynomene tuberculata: a flange-like lateral extension of the lower acrosome zone; both species appear to lie within a dromiid clade. Neither the Dromiidae nor the Dynomenidae appear monophyletic spermatologically. The spermatozoal evidence is discussed in the light of a brief review of nonspermatozoal morphology. General morphology and spermatozoal ultrastructure both strongly endorse monophyly of the Dromiacea.

BATHUS 3

LAGON

The Pasiphaea cristata species group is treated herewith, as the second part of the revision of genus Pasiphaea Savigny, 1816. The group is primarily characterized by presence of a complete gill formula, unarmed posterior margin of the merus of the first pereopod, and unarmed posterior margin of the ischium and basis of the second pereopod. The group comprises twenty two species, four of which are new species from MUSORSTOM material. Pasiphaea nishiei Iwasaki proves to be a junior synonym of P. merriami Schmitt, and P. vereschhaka Burukovsky is probably a junior synonym of P. amplidens Bate. Pasiphaea australis Hanamura has the same pereopodal armatures as this group, but entirely lacks arthrobranchs and is referred to Alainopasiphaea Hayashi. The genus Pasiphaea is redefined by including Phye Wood-Mason as a synonym. A key to the species of P. cristata group is presented. Each species is defined and most species are redescribed and/or refigured.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KARUBAR, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, SMCB

The Pasiphaea alcocki species group is treated herewith, as the third group of the genus Pasiphaea Savigny, 1816. The group is primarily characterized by a deeply concave posterior margin of the telson and the distinctly carinate dorsal margin of the carapace and abdomen. The meri of the first and second pereopods are always armed with many spines, and the ischium and/or basis of the second pereopods are sometimes armed with spines. The group comprises 17 species including two new species both from MUSORSTOM material, Pasiphaea ledoyeri n. sp. and Pasiphaea major n. sp., which are large size species. P. berentsae Kensley, Tranter & Griffin, 1987 is proved to be a junior synonym of P. barnardi Yaldwyn, 1971. P. balssi Burukovsky&Romensky, 1987 is probably a junior synonym of P. rathbunae (Stebbing 1914a). A key to the species of P. alcocki group is presented. Each species is diagnosed and most species are redescribed and/or figured.

BIOCAL, BORDAU 2, CORINDON 2, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, MD03 (ICHTYO), MD08 (BENTHOS), MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 9, TAIWAN 2001

LIFOU 2000, MONTROUZIER

The spermatozoa of Homologenus sp., Latreillopsis sp., Homolomannia sibogae and Paromolopsis boasi confirm characteristics of a distinctive homolid spermatozoon previously estabfished for Homola sp., Paromola sp. and Paromola petterdi. Homolid features are (1) moderate anteroposterior depression of the acrosome (ratio of length: width 0.4-0.6) as in lyreidine raninids (0.5), depression being greater in dromiids and dynomenids (both 0.3); (2) the capitate form of the perforatorium, shared with dromiids, dynomenids and lyreidine raninids; (3) the autapomorphic spiked-wheel form of the anterior expansion of the perforatorium; (4) horizontal zonation of the acrosome is possibly a unique synapomorphy of homohds with dromiids and dynomenids, and therefore an autapomorphy of the dromioid-homohd assemblage. In dromiids the posterior zone is proportionately the larger, while in homolids the anterior zone is the larger. The anterior zone is complexly subdivided in dynomenids; (5) the autapomorphic presence of numerous radial arranged extensions of the acrosomal operculum into the perforatorium; (6) presence of nuclear arms, a symplesiomorphy of all investigated crabs, but small or questionably sometimes absent in Dromiidae; (7) absence of microtubules from the nuclear arms, as in dromiids, raninids, higher heterotremes and thoracotremes; (8) transient presence of a posterior median process of the nucleus. The process is not seen in dromiids but occurs in anomurans and lower heterotremes; (91 apical perforation of the operculum, also seen, apparently symplesiomorphically, in dromiids, raninids, and lower heterotreme families; (10) absence of an acrosome ray zone, probably homoplasic with absence in raninids; (11)location of most of the cytoplasm, including tortuous membranes and degenerating mitochondria, below the acrosome,also seen in Lyreidus; (12) presence, in at least some species, of centrioles, unknown in dromiids and raninids and variable in occurrence in heterotremes.

BATHUS 1

Features of the spermatozoon of Calocarcinus apicanus which are general for heterotremes and endorse its inclusion in the Heterotremata are: extension of the subacrosomal chamber almost to the anterior apex of the sperm, presence of an acrosome ray zone, and presence of a thickened ring where the capsule surrounds the base of the subacrosomal chamber. A feature shared with ,highern heterotremes is the restriction of cytoplasm to the periacrosomal region, the arms being nuclear only, in contrast with invasion of their chromatin with cytoplasm and microtubules in majids; and loss of a posterior median process, containing chromatin, which is present in majids as in raninids and homolids. The relationship of Calocarcinus with xanthids is unequivocally apported b y (1) presence of a posterior circumperforatorialz one, the xanthid ring; (2) the precise form of the acrosome ray mne which is wide anteriorly and sends a long acrosome zone; (4) division of the operculum complex into a distinct upper zone and a lower, subopercular zone of lesser diameter; and (5)presence of an accessory ring around the in Calocarcinus may indicate origin of thoracotremes from a related xanthoid stock. A difference of Calocarcinus sperm from those of xanthids is the (plesiomorphic) presence of centrioles, also seen in some heterotremes and thoracotremes. No synapomorphies which are not common to other heterotremes are shared between Calocarcinus and trapeziid sperm. nTrapeziid sperm (plesiomorphically?) lack the xanthid ring, the posterior extension of the acrosome ray zone and the irregular margin of the outer acrosome mne of Calocarcinus and xanthids. Apomorphic features of the Calocarcinus africanus sperm include a spiral Configurationn of the contents of the outer acrosome zone (autapomorphy?), as seen in cross-section, and presence of a periopercular rim. A well developed periopercular rim is known elsewhere only in Potamonautes (family Potamidae), but a rudiment occurs in some xanthids (e.g., Etisus). The periopercular rim is probably a true synapomorphy indicative of relationship of potamids to xanthoids (represented by Calocarcinus) which has been postulated elsewhere on morphological grounds.

BERYX 11

The dynomenid spermatozoon, exemplified here by Paradynomene tuberculata, resembles the spermatozoa of the Dromiidae, Homolidae and lyreidine raninoids and differs markedly from those of other crabs (the heterotreme, thoracotremes, raninines and raninoidines) in the depressed, discoidal form of the acrosome and the capitate form of the perforatorium. Four or five apparent dynomenid - dromiid sperm synapomorphies are recognizable. (1) Dynomenids (P. tuberculata) and dromiids differ from homohds and lyreidines in the greater depression of the acrosome (ratio of length to width --- 0.3); (2) the capitate head of the perforatorium is bilaterally prolonged in P. tuberculata as in dromiids though symmetrical in homolids; (3) dynomenid and dromiid sperm lack the - albeit variably developed - posterior median process of the nucleus seen in homolids, anomurans, raninoids and lower heterotremes; (4) P. tuberculata, like dromiids and less distinctly homolids, has an apical protuberance of subopercular material through the opercular perforation, unknown in other crabs, being distinct from the apical button of thoracotreme sperm; (5) a less certain synapomorphy is the anterolateral electron-pale peripheral zone of the acrosome. These synapomorphies endorse a sister-group relationship of dynomenids and dromiids, P. tuberculata sperm differs notably from the sperm of dromiids in the more complex zonation of the acrosome. The perforatorium lacks the radial rays ("spiked wheel") of homolid sperm and does not show the "amoeboid" form seen in lyreidines. Absence of internal corrugations of the perforatorial chamber is a major difference from all examined raninids. Centrioles are only very tentatively identifiable. Nuclear arms are absent in glutaraldehyde fixed spermatozoa of P. tuberculata and have not been observed in the dromiid Petalomera lateralis but are present as three small radial vertices in the dromiid Dromidiopsis edwardsi and in homolids. P. tuberculata resembles Petalomera lateralis in the large size of the sperm nucleus relative to the acrosome compared with D. edwardsi and homolids.

SMIB 8

Spermatozoal synapomorphies which singly or collectively distinguish Raninoidea are: (1) the presence of single (Ranina, Raninoides) or multiple (Lyreidus) keellike projections of the acrosomal capsule; (2) a very large, weakly electron-opaque peripheral acrosomal zone (Ranina, Raninoides) and an homologous large outer zone in Lyreidus; (3) poor differentiation of the operculum from the capsule (autapomorphy); (4) a very well developed, perforate subopercular zone, of variable forni; (5) presence of unique inward longitudinal projections (septa or corrugations) in the wall of the subacrosomal chamber (autapomoiphy). Shared, presumably synapomorphic characters of Ranina and Rariinoides but not of Lyreidus within the Raninidae, are: (1) branching of some of the subacrosomal septa (unbranched in Lyreidus); (2) the subspheroidal form of the acrosome in Ranina with a 1ength:width ratio (L : W) of 0.76. and, although slightly more depressed, in Raninoides (L : W 0.73), considered apomorphic relative to the more depressed form in Lyreidus (L: W 0.52); (3) single or multiple coiled perforatorial filaments (Ranina, Raninoides) contrasting with a capitate perforatorium with “amoeboid” head in Lyreidus; (4) division of the capsule wall to give one posterior (Kanina) or multiple enclaves, plesiomorphically (?) absent in Lyreidus. Similarities of Lyreidus with other podotremes include the capitate perforatorium, questionably related to the radiate spiked- wheel structure of homolids in which acrosome proportions are similar or less closely to the bilateral capitate perforatorium of dromiids and dynomenids, and basal capsular projections as in the dromiid Stinidrontia (= Petarnalera) lateralis and in cyclodorippoids. No spermatozoal synapomorphies support a sister-group relationship of raninoids and heterotreme-thoracotreme crabs.

BATHUS 1

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2

A combination of characters, not individually unique, possessed by the corystid, Corystes cassivelaunus, and the two cancrids, Platepistoma nanum and Cancer pagums, defines a corystoid-type of spermatozoon: the basally bulbous, anteriorly narrowing perforatorium, the extent of this almost to the plasma membrane through a widely perforate operculum, and the simple inner acrosome zone, lacking an acrosome ray zone. The sperm of the two cancrids are closely similar, that of the corystid differing, for instance, in the less pointed, and less tapered, form of the perforatorium. This relative uniformity of spermatozoal ultrastructure in the cancrid+corystid assemblage so far investigated supports inclusion of the two families in the superfamily Corystoidea by Guinot (1978). The combination of perforation of the operculum and absence of an acrosome ray zone (at least in a clearly recognizable form) are features of the Potamidae which possibly indicate that the latter family, modified for a freshwater existence, is related to the cancrid+corystid assemblage. Some elongation of the centrioles, apparent at least in Corystes, may be a further link with potamids in which they are greatly elongated. The coenospermial spermatophores of cancridoids are a notable difference from the cleistospermia of potamids; but the latter is probably an apomorphic modification for fertilization biology.

SMIB 8

A total of 17 species, in 14 genera of majids have been examined for sperm ultrastructure. The present account describes the sperm of six of these species, in two subfamilies: Pisinae Sphenocarcinus orbicularus and Sphenocarcinus stuckiae and Inachinae-Cyrtomaia furici, Gypacheus hyalinus. Flatymaia rebierei and Macropodia longirostris. M. longirostris has the only eubrachyuran sperm in which the acrosome is known to depart radically from a subspheroidal form. The acrosome is semilunar in shape and is bordered by a very thin layer of cytoplasm and an unusually uniform, narrow band of chromatin. The apical surface of the acrosome is almost flat, though slightly concave, whereas the posterior surface forms a hemisphere, and is almost completely occupied by the thin, centrally perforate, electron dense operculum. The bulk of the acrosome consists of a homogeneous, moderately electron dense outer acrosome zone. This surrounds a small inner acrosome zone internal to which is an ellipsoidal, pale perforatorium capped by a central acrosome zone. Majid sperm are distinguished by a flattened andlor centrally depressed operculum; a further characteristic is that the pointed perforatorium is relatively short and frequently does not reach the operculum. They vary inter alia with regard to presence or absence of a posterior median process and, apparently. Of centrioles and of microtubules in the nuclear arms, and in the number of these ams. Perforation of the operculum, seen in the Pisinae, is not constant in the Inachinae. Spermatozoal ultrastructure offers no certain support for a close relationship of majids with parthenopids or hymenosomatids.

BIOCAL, CHALCAL 1

A review of the species of the caridean genus Glyphocrangon A. Milne-Edwards, 1881 from the Indo-West Pacific Oceans is presented based on rich collections formed during French expeditions to various regions, and supplemented by extensive material deposited in various institutions throughout the world. The genus is divided into two informal groups primarily based on the development of the eye and the presence or absence of arthrobranchs on the first and second pereopods. This study treats species characterized by a well-developed eye and the presence of arthrobranchs on the first and second pereopods (herein called the Glyphocrangon spinicauda species group). A total of 54 species are recognized in the G. spinicauda species group from the Indo-West Pacific region. Of these, the following 28 are new to science: G. albatrossae (Philippines), G. amblytes (Madagascar and South Africa), G. armata (New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna islands), G. boletifera (Gulf of Aden), G. chacei (Philippines), G. confusa (Indonesia), G. cornuta (New Caledonia), G. crosnieri (Madagascar), G. conodactylus (New Caledonia), G. dimorpha (New Caledonia), G. ferox (Madagascar), G. formosana (Taiwan and East China Sea), G. indonesiensis (Philippines and Indonesia), G. kapala (eastern Australia), G. saintlaurentae (western Indian Ocean), G. major (New Caledonia), G. lineata (Indonesia and northwestern Australia), G. parva (Philippines), G. perplexa (Japan and Taiwan), G. proxima (Philippines and Indonesia), G. punctata (Philippines), G. richeri (Wallis and Futuna islands), G. robusta (Philippines), G. rubricinctuta (Wallis and Futuna islands), G. runcinata (East China Sea), G. similior (Coral Sea), G. speciosa (New Caledonia), and G. tasmanica (Tasman Sea). Glyphocrangon andamanensis Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 and G. mabahissae Calman, 1939, which have been considered to be synonymous with G. investigatoris Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 and G. dentata Barnard, 1926 respectively, are found to be distinct species. Glyphocrangon juxtaculeata Chace, 1984, the holotype of which is a juvenile, is considered to be a junior subjective synonym of G. regalis Bate, 1888. Glyphocrangon joani Allen & Butler, 1994 is treated as a junior synonym of G. fimbriata Komai & Takeuchi, 1994. Plastocrangon Alcock, 1901 is interpreted as a synonym of Glyphocrangon. The new species are fully described and illustrated, and all but three of the previously known species are redescribed and illustrated: G. gilesii and G. smithii being diagnosed on the basis of published information, G. unguiculata Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 on published information and provisionally identified material from the western Pacific. One obscurely diagnosed species, G. wagini Burukovsky, 1990 from the southeastern Pacific, is also redescribed in order to establish its affinities. Lectotypes are designated for G. acuminata Bate, 1888, G. pugnax de Man, 1918, G. assimilis de Man, 1918, G. sibogae de Man, 1918, and G. megalophthalma de Man, 1918. Identification key, separated by sex, is provided. This study reveals that most Glyphocrangon species have restricted geographical ranges, with only G. caecescens occurring in both the western Pacific and Indian oceans. The geographic and bathymetric distributions of the treated species are summarized.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHEDI, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, ???msg.security.private???, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KARUBAR, MD28 (SAFARI II), MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8

A new genus, Globospongicola, is established for two new species of deep-water spongicolid shrimps, G. nudibranchus n. sp. from Indonesia and G. spinulatus n. sp. from Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The new genus is distinctive in having simple gills completely lacking lamellae or filaments, instead of typical trichobranchiate gills in all other species in the family. Furthermore, the reduced armament on the body and third pereopod separates the new genus from Microprosthema, Paraspongicola, and Spongicola; the well-developed exopod of the third maxilliped distinguishes the new genus from Spongicola, Spongicoloides and Spongiocaris. The two new species can be distinguished from one another by the shape and armature of the rostrum, the spination of the carapace, the shape of the sixth abdominal somite, the shape of the antennal scale, and the armament of the third pereopods and pleopods of male.

BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, CALSUB, KARUBAR, MUSORSTOM 8

A review of the species of the Glyphocrangon caeca Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 group is presented based on samples obtained during French expeditions to the southwestern Pacific and western Indian Ocean, and supplemented with materials deposited in various museums and institutions in the world. Eight species are now recognized in this species group. The two previously described species, G. caeca from the Bay of Bengal and G. cerea Alcock & Anderson, 1894 from the Laccadive Sea, are rediagnosed based on literature, as types or supplemental topotypic specimens of these two species have not been available for study. Six new species are described: G. brevis n. sp. from Madagascar, G. demani n. sp. from Indonesia, G. humilis n. sp. from Japan and Taiwan, G. musorstomia n. sp. from Wallis and Futuna Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Chesterfield Islands, G. parviocullus n. sp. from New Caledonia, and G. rudis n. sp. from the Solomon Islands. Species of this group occur exclusively in the Indo-West Pacific. The horizontal and bathymetric distributions of the species are briefly summarized. The available data suggests that species of the group are highly localized.

BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, SALOMON 1, TAIWAN 2001, TAIWAN 2002

VOLSMAR

NanHai 2014

DongSha 2014, NanHai 2014, ZhongSha 2015

The single most species-rich genus in the majoid family Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838, is Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875. Ng et al. (2008) listed 34 species and since then the number of species has continued to grow, especially in the Indo-West Pacific region (see Takeda, 2001; Takeda & Komatsu, 2005; Ng & Richer de Forges, 2007; Richer de Forges & Poore, 2008; Takeda, 2009; McLay, 2009; Ng & Richer de Forges, 2013; Richer de Forges & Ng, 2013; Takeda & Marumura, 2014; Lee et al., 2017; Lee et al., 2019). The systematic problems with the genus are well known; Rochinia, as defined by Griffin & Tranter (1986a) was too broad and clearly polyphyletic. Rochinia sensu Griffin & Tranter (1986a) includes four synonyms: Sphenocarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, Scyramathia A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, Anamathia Smith, 1885, and Oxypleurodon Miers, 1885. Griffin & Tranter (1986a) also transferred three species that were described under Hyastenus White, 1847, and Pugettia Dana, 1851, to Rochinia. Goniopugettia Sakai, 1986, a genus overlooked by Griffin & Tranter (1986a), included Rochinia sagamiensis (Gordon, 1930), and was recognised by Ng et al.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, DongSha 2014, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 5, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMONBOA 3, TARASOC, ZhongSha 2015

ATIMO VATAE, BIOMAGLO, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, Walters Shoal

BERYX 11

A review of species of the genus Sympagurus Smith, 1883 (sensu Lemaitre) from the world oceans is presented. The study is based on the rich collections obtained during French campaigns in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and on additional material in various museums and research institutions throughout the world. The 17 species recognised in this genus occur most frequently between 500 and 1000 m depth, and range from 80 to 2537 m. Some live in striking symbiosis with anthozoan or zoanthid coelenterates that can produce pseudo-shells. Three new species, S. aurantium, S. chani and S. symmetricus, are fully described and illustrated here. Sympagurus rectichela (Zarenkov 1990), a taxon originally described in Parapagurus Smith, 1879, has been found to be a junior synonym of S. dofleini (Balss, 1912); and S. papposus Lemaitre, 1996 is a junior synonym of S. burkenroadi Thompson, 1943. All previously known Sympagurus species are diagnosed or redescribed and illustrated, and data on habitat, symbiotic associations, and coloration are provided. A key to aid in the identification of all Sympagurus species is presented, and their bathymetric and geographic distributions are summarised. The geographic distribution of 14 species (82.3%) includes the Pacific Ocean, 9 (52.9.%) the Indian Ocean, and 3 (1.8%) the Atlantic Ocean. New Caledonia and adjacent islands have the highest number of Sympagurus species in the world, with 12 species known to occur there.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BENTHEDI, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, HALIPRO 1, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, SMIB 10, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 8, TAIWAN 2000, VOLSMAR

Based on new material from the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, the deep-sea scavenging genus Bathynomus is revised. Six species are redescribed: Bathynomus affinis Richardson, 1910 (range extended to the Arafura and Timor Seas), B. decemspinosus Shih, 1972, B. doederleini Ortman, 1894 (range extended to San Bernardino Strait, Philippine Islands), B. immanis Bruce, 1986 (range extended to Astrolabe Bay, Bismarck Sea), B. kapala Griffin, 1975 (range extended to off the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea) and B. pelor Bruce, 1986. Bathynomus propinquus Richardson, 1910 is considered to be a nomen dubium. Six new species are described: B. brucei n. sp. from off the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea; B. bruscai n. sp. from off the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea and Astrolabe Bay, Bismarck Sea; B. crosnieri n. sp. from off Madagascar, western Indian Ocean; B. keablei n. sp. from off the Malabar Coast, Arabian Sea; B. kensleyi n. sp. from the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea and the Coral Sea; B. richeri n. sp. from off New Caledonia, plus Bathynomus sp. from the Gulf of Aden. Bathynomus giganteus A. Milne Edwards, 1879 is reported for the first time from the east coast of the United States. Two distinct groups occur in Bathynomus, a lineage of giant species which mature at about 150 mm length and a lineage of supergiant species which can grow to 500 mm in length. The greatest diversity of Bathynomus occurs between latitudes 20°N and 20°S on the Indian-Australian plate. Outlying species occur on plates in the western North Pacific and the western Atlantic.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, MUSORSTOM 2

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, HALIPRO 1, KARUBAR, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 8

During the cruise BENTHAUS (November 2002) to the Austral Archipelago (French Polynesia), numerous specimens of galatheids belonging to the genera Agononida Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1996, Munida Leach, 1820, Paramunida Baba, 1988 and Raymunida Macpherson & Machordom, 2000 were collected. The present collection comprises four Agononida species, 26 Munida, two Paramunida and one Raymunida. A new genus, Setanida, is described. The specimens from BENTHAUS cruise were caught in 68 stations between 50 and 1300 m. Additional material from French Polynesia has also been considered. The collection contains 17 new species: Agononida aequabilis, A. imitata, A. simillima, Munida antliae, M. apheles, M. arae, M. columbae, M. descensa, M. erugata, M. fasciata, M. fornacis, M. ignea, M. llenasi, M. oblonga, Paramunida spatula, Raymunida limbata and Setanida cristata.

BENTHAUS, BORDAU 2, SMCB

We analyzed the distribution patterns of the galatheid squat lobsters (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae) of the Pacific Ocean. We used the presence/absence data of 402 species along the continental slope and continental rise (200-2000 m) obtained from 54 cruises carried out in areas around the Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia. The total number of stations was ca. 3200. We also used published data from other expeditions carried out in the Pacific waters, and from an exhaustive search of ca. 600 papers on the taxonomy and biogeography of Pacific species. We studied the existence of biogeographic provinces using multivariate analyses, and present data on latitudinal and longitudinal patterns of species richness, rate of endemism and the relationship between body sizes with the size of the geographic ranges. Latitudinal species richness along the Western and Eastern Pacific exhibited an increase from higher latitudes towards the Equator. Longitudinal species richness decreased considerably from the Western to the Central Pacific. Size frequency distribution for body size was strongly shifted toward small sizes and endemic species were significantly smaller than non-endemics. This study concludes that a clear separation exists between the moderately poor galatheid fauna of the Eastern Pacific and the rich Western and Central Pacific faunas. Our results also show that the highest numbers of squat lobsters are found in the Coral Sea (Solomon-Vanuatu-New Caledonia islands) and Indo-Malay-Philippines archipelago (IMPA). The distribution of endemism along the Pacific Ocean indicates that there are several major centres of diversity, e.g. Coral Sea, IMPA, New Zealand and French Polynesia. The high proportion of endemism in these areas suggests that they have evolved independently. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AURORA 2007, AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BERYX 2, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BOA0, BOA1, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CONCALIS, CORAIL 2, EBISCO, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KARUBAR, LAGON, LITHIST, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, TERRASSES

The discovery of 11 Nautilus macromphalus shells in marine environments near New Caledonia constitutes the first opportunity for taphonomic analysis of empty shells of unburied, externally shelled cephalopods on the seafloor. Radiometric dating indicates specimen ages range from 14 to 42 years. These modern specimens provide a unique opportunity to examine the early, preburial taphonomy of this group of animals including shell condition, radiometric-age dating, epizoan encrustation, color degradation, and sediment infilling. The following conclusions are made: (1) given the limited sample available for study and assuming equal conditions where shells rested on the seafloor, the length of time the shell is unburied will not control the degree of epizoan encrustation or the external shell appearance; (2) shell boring is a major destructive process that probably impacts the potential of the shells to become fossilized; and (3) shells in the photic zone are impacted differently than those dredged from a deep water environment below the photic zone. A major part of this difference is probably the result of both boring and encrusting organisms, especially algae. By comparison, fossil cephalopods as a general group can be expected to vary considerably from the modern specimens because of evolutionary patterns of associated organisms, geographic distribution, and different environments with different paleoecological parameters through time. Caution in overreliance on the taphonomy of these modern shells should be exercised because of the limited sample of Nautilus specimens recovered. The need for additional taphonomic studies of modern externally shelled cephalopods with the recovery of more specimens from the marine environment is highly desirable.

EBISCO, NORFOLK 2

The hermit crab genus Nematopagurus, erected by A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier (1892) for a single Atlantic species, has vastly larger reported representation in the Indo-Pacific region. However, the majority of species have been described on the basis of one or only a few specimens. The Musorstom expeditions to the south central Pacific and Philippine Islands, supplemented by the surveys of the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross in Hawaiian, Philippine and Japanese waters, have provided not only a substantial amount of new material, but sufficient representation of most described species to permit the evaluation of intraspecific morphological variation. As a result, although five new species have been recognized, three recently described species have proven to be junior synonyms of previously known, but poorly represented, species. Nematopagurus holthuisi McLaughlin & Hogarth and N. pilosus Komai are synonymous with N. gardineri Alcock, while N. shinnyoae Komai is synonymous with N. kosiensis McLaughlin. The range of N. diadema Lewinsohn, reported previously from the Red Sea, the eastern coast of South Africa, and the South China Sea, has been extended to Fiji, while that of N. meiringae McLaughlin, known from eastern South Africa and the South and East China Seas, has been extended to the Philippine Islands. Nematopagurus kosiensis McLaughlin, previously known only from eastern South Africa has been found not only in Japanese waters, but also as far east as the Hawaiian Islands. Species identified by several authors as N. squamichelis Alcock and N. muricatus (Henderson) have been reexamined and correctly reassigned to other taxa. Descriptions and illustrations are presented for all species, together with a key for their recognition.

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, CORINDON 2, HALIPRO 1, KARUBAR, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, SMIB 10, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, VOLSMAR

A new species in each of two recently proposed genera are described and illustrated: Alainopaguroides megalophthalmus n. sp., Icelopagurus undulatus n. sp. The new species assignable to Alainopaguroides McLaughlin expands the range of this genus from the Kai and Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia and the Andaman Sea to New Caledonia. Similarly, the discovery of a new and readily recognizable species belonging to the heretofore monotypic Icelopagurus McLaughlin extends the distribution of this genus from Indonesia to New Caledonia. The diagnoses of both genera have been emended slightly to accommodate the interspecific variation exhibited by the taxa now included.

CHALCAL 1, CORAIL 2, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 4

Seven species of retroplumid crabs are recorded from Indonesia, Philippine Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands and New Caledonia. These include Retropluma denticulata (Solomon Islands), R. notopus (Fiji), R. plumosa (Fiji), R. quadrata (Philippine Islands), R. serenei (Fiji Islands and New Caledonia), R. laurentae n. sp. (Indonesia, Philippine Islands, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia), and Bathypluma forficula (Solomon Islands and New Caledonia). The new material considerably extends the distribution of retroplumid crabs eastwards in the Pacific and also extends the depth range of several species. There are now ten extant species of retroplumids known in two genera: Bathypluma de Saint Laurent, 1989 and Retropluma Gill, 1894. Although larval development is unknown, their small egg size suggests that retroplumids have indirect development. Three fossil genera, containing eight species, are recognized: Costacopluma Collins & Morris, 1975, Retrocypoda Via Boada, 1957 and Loerenthopluma Beschin et al. 1996. Some of the fossils placed in the Retroplumidae probably belong to the Palicidae Bouvier, 1898. An analysis of recently discovered fossil retroplumids shows that this family first appeared in the Proto-Atlantic Ocean during the Late Cretaceous, but became extinct in the Atlantic by the Pliocene. The family is now only found in Indo-West Pacific seas.

BATHUS 1, BORDAU 1, HALIPRO 1, KARUBAR, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 8, PANGLAO 2004, SALOMON 1

Relatively few studies have been done to define or assess rarity in the marine environment. Published studies have focused on shallow-water and intertidal habitats, and the available information appears to reflect the same pattern observed in terrestrial environments, i.e., that there are many rare species and few common species in any one given area. However, our studies of the abundance of new and/or supposedly rare taxa of decapod crustaceans from the deep, steep slopes of the island of Balicasag, in the central Philippines, have raised questions on how rarity should be defined in marine invertebrates. Examples of such supposedly rare species of crabs and lobsters (Crustacea: Decapoda) are presented here. That these animals come from deep, steep slopes, a relatively under-studied habitat, highlights the major gaps in current knowledge of marine biodiversity that are in part due to the inadequacy of both traditional and high technology sampling methodologies and the limited habitat types that the former can target. Low-technology, artisanal tangle nets have proved to be an optimal capture technique for deep-water decapod crustaceans on deep, steep slopes; many new taxa have been discovered and, in other cases, perceptions of rarity and endemicity have been corrected.

PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005

Five species of the samarid genera Plagiopsetta and Samaris: P. stigmosa n. sp., P. gracilis n. sp., S. cristatus Gray, 1831, S. spinea n. sp. and S. chesterfieldensis n. sp., collected from New Caledonia and adjacent waters are described and keys to the species provided. Plagiopsetta stigmosa is easily separable from its congeners by having lateral lines on both sides and the pectoral fin with a jet-black blotch. Plagiopsetta gracilis is characterized by a uniformly dark pectoral fin, shallow body and caudal peduncle, a short ocular side pelvic fin, and large numbers of dorsal fin rays, anal fin rays, scales in the lateral line and vertebrae. Samaris spinea and S. chesterfieldensis are both characterized by caudal peduncle spines and bifurcated middle caudal fin rays, and are also separable by body depth.

CHALCAL 1, CORAIL 2, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6

The poorly known majid genus Majella Ortmann, 1893, is revised. The genus was previously known only from one species, M. brevipes Ortmann, 1893, described from Japan and reported from east Africa. Majella brevipes is redescribed and figured in detail from the type and material from the type locality, Sagami Bay in Japan. This species is now restricted to Japan. Specimens from east Africa are herein described as two new species: M. skolopion n. sp. and M. pristis n. sp.; they differ markedly from M. brevipes (now restricted to Japan) in the arrangement of spines on the carapace and pereopods, third maxillipeds, male pleon and gonopods.

MAINBAZA, MIRIKY

For the century to 2018, only one species of the deep-water porter crab Gordonopsis Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995 (Brachyura, Homolidae), the type species, G. profundorum (Alcock & Anderson, 1899), was known, and only from a handful of specimens from the Indian Ocean. In 2019, two species were described from the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The present revision of available material, most of which was only collected in the last decade, adds five new species to the genus. This explosion in species numbers demonstrates just how poor our understanding is of deep-sea habitats and their constituent fauna.

???msg.security.private???, MADEEP, SALOMON 2

Randallia serenei Richer de Forges, 1983, is shown to be a distinct species and not a synonym of Tanaoa distinctus (Rathbun, 1894). Two other species currently placed in Randallia, R. granulata Miers, 1886, and R. speciosa Chen, 1989, are also transferred to Tanaoa Galil, 2003. A new genus and new species of leucosiid crab, Galilia narusei, is also described from New Caledonia. While superficially resembling species of Toru Galil, 2003, it differs markedly in its very granular carapace, rounded intestinal tubercles, short male chelipeds and ambulatory legs as well as a gently bent male first pleopod. The nomenclature of Randallia pustulilabris Alcock, 1896, is also discussed, and Ihleorandallia Stevcic, 2005, a nomen nudum, is shown to be a junior synonym of Toru.

NORFOLK 2

The inachid spider crab genus Pleisticanthoides Yokoya, 1933, is revalidated and removed from the synonymy of Pleistacantha Miers, 1879, distinguished by the absence of strong spines on the carapace (with only spinules or setae), unarmed pereiopods (with only stiff setae along margins and not spines), possession of a relatively longer, more slender ocular peduncle with a smaller cornea, slender adult male chelae, and a gently curved male first gonopod which has the distal part dorsoventrally flattened and without a subdistal process. Three species are recognised from the Indo-West Pacific region: Pleisticanthoides simplex (Rathbun, 1932) (= Pleisticanthoides nipponensis Yokoya, 1933) from Japan, P. cameroni n. sp. from the Philippines, and P. piccardorum n. sp. from Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, PANGLAO 2005, SANTO 2006

A new genus, Samadinia n. gen., and new species, Samadinia longispina n. sp., of deep-water epialtid spider crab is described from French Polynesia and New Caledonia. The new genus is superficially similar to Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, but can be distinguished by having the dorsal surface of the carapace covered with small, rounded granules (versus with long spines or strong tubercles), well developed hepatic and lateral branchial spines (versus relatively shorter and weaker), a prominently constricted male thoracic sternite 4 (versus relatively broader with less prominent or without median constriction) and a proportionally broader male abdomen. A new species of Rochinia, R. granulosa n. sp., is also described from Papua New Guinea. It is easily distinguished from congeners its small adult size, the presence of numerous relatively large granules on the carapace and a relatively short hepatic spine.

BIOPAPUA, EXBODI, TARASOC

The taxonomy of spider crabs of the genus Maja Lamarck, 1801, is revised, and a total of 36 species in 10 genera are now recognised from the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indo-West Pacific. The present revision describes seven genera and 17 species as new. Two genera previously synonymised under Maja: Paramaya De Haan, 1837, and Paramaja Kubo, 1936, are here treated as valid taxa. The confused nomenclature of Cancer cornutus Linnaeus, 1758, is resolved, and the name replaces Maja capensis Ortmann, 1894, and Mamaia queketti Stebbing, 1908. All genera and species are diagnosed and figured, and keys are provided for their identification.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, EBISCO, EXBODI, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SANTO 2006

CONCALIS, TAIWAN 2013

BIOPAPUA, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, ZhongSha 2015

Ophiuroids of the families Ophiacanthidae (46 species) and Hemieuryalidae (2 species) are monographed for the region around New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Ophiohamus nanus n. gen. n. sp. is described in the Ophioplinthacinae. New species are also described in the following genera: Ophiacantha (O. fuscina n. sp., O. richeri n. sp.), Ophioplinthaca (O. amezianeae n. sp.), Ophiomitrella (O. mensa n. sp., O. parviglobosa n. sp.), Ophiothamnus (O. biocal n. sp.) and Ophiurothamnus (O. eleaumei n. sp.). The genus Ophiocyclus is synonymised with Ophiurothamnus, Ophiomelina with Ophiacantha, Toporkovia with Ophiolimna, Ophiomytis with Ophioplinthaca, and Ophiogyptis with Ophiomoeris. Ophiomelina moniliformis (Koehler, 1904) thus becomes a junior homonym of Ophiacantha moniliformis Lütken & Mortensen, 1899 and the replacement name Ophiacantha renekoehleri n. nom. is proposed. In addition there are 37 new species-level synonymies and 19 other new genus-species combinations. A key is provided for all genera and all tropical Indo-West Pacific species of the Ophiacanthidae. The results show that the biogeographical relationship of the ophiacanthid fauna of New Caledonia is with the tropical Indo-Pacific. Less than ten percent of the fauna is shared with Southern Australia and fifteen percent with New Zealand. More broadly, there appears to be a single ophiacanthid fauna at upper to middle slope depths (200-2500 m) across the Indo-West Pacific from Africa to Hawaii, with limited east-west differentiation. This fauna grades into distinct temperate bathyal faunas near South Africa, China/Japan and Australia/New Zealand, until there is an almost complete changeover of species by 45° latitude in both hemispheres.

BATHUS 3, BERYX 11, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, HALIPRO 2, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, ???msg.security.private???, SMIB 1, SMIB 4, VOLSMAR

Seven species of Paguristes were collected in Indonesian waters during the expeditions of the Siboga (1899), the Danish Expedition to the Kei Island (1922), Th. Mortensen’s Expeditions (1899-1930), CORINDON (1980), Snellius II (1984) and KARUBAR (1991). Three species: P. arostratus, P. brachyrostris and P. antennarius were new to science. Three of four described species were previously unrecorded from Indonesia: P. palythophilus Ortmann, 1892, known only from the northwestern Pacific, was found to be common in Indonesian waters; P. aciculus Grant, 1905, previously known from Australia, was represented by two males and one intact female specimens, therefore female morphological characters could be completed; and P. pusillus Henderson, 1896 was found in deeper waters than previously reported. The fourth species was P. puniceus Henderson, 1896.

CORINDON 2, KARUBAR, ???msg.security.private???

CHALCAL 1

En 1983, W.F. PONDER publiait une révision mondiale de la famille des Xenophoridae. Dans ce même ouvrage, iI décrivait une nouvelle espece, Xenophora granulosa recoItée par Ie N/O "Vauban" dans Ie sud de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Jusqu'à présent, quatre espèces du genre Xenophora étaient signalées de Nouvelle-Calédonie : - Xenophora (Xenophora) solarioides solarioides (Reeve, 1845) - Xenophora (Stellaria) lamberti Souverbie, 1873- Xenophora (Xenophora) cerea (Reeve, 1845) var. torrida - Xenophora (Xenophora) granulosa Ponder, 1983. En 1984, I'ORSTOM (*) débutait un programme de cartographie des peuplements benthiques de la Nouvelle Calédonie qui permettait d'échantillonner systématiquement la macrofaune et d'améliorer ainsi les connaissances faunistiques. Parmi les nombreux groupes zoologiques récoItés a la drague Charcot, les Mollusques representent I'un des plus important aussi bien en quantité qu'en diversité spécifique. Dans les récoItes réalisées dans Ie lagon Sud Ouest entre Teremba et I'Ile des Pins, nous avons rencontré cinq espèces de la famille des Xenophoridae, I'une d'elles (X. konoi) n'était pas signalée dans nos eaux et surtout nous avons recoIté de nombreux spécimens vivants de X. lamberti jusqu'alors connue de deux exemplaires et considerée comme fossile !

CHALCAL 1, LAGON

In September-October 1985, the O .V. "Vauban" has undertaken an exploratory cruise for bathyal benthos : MUSORSTOM I V . The first leg of t h i s cruise took place in north of Hew Caledonia, i n the Grand Passage zone, at a depth of betwen 150 and 750 m. The second leg explored the southern p a r t of New Caledonia, south east of t h e Isle of Pines and east of the Havannah Pass. These two cruises were very succesofull.One hundred and four sampling operation have taken place. This preliminary report is intented to comunicate the maps, the list of s t a t i o n s and t o give the first observations on the morphology of the bottoms and the very rich fauna which was sampled.

MUSORSTOM 4

The bathyal zone (200-950m) was explored with the N.O CORIOLIS off the Chesterfield Island during October 1986. during this cruise, 141 samples were taken by dredges or trawl nets. This report presents maps ans stations lists along with notes on the morphology of the explored bottom and the benthic fauna.

MUSORSTOM 5

From the 26th of October to the lSt of November 1986, the R.V. "CORIOLIS' completed a dredging and trawling survey on the seamounts located on the Norfolk Ridge. The bathyal benthos was abundant and diversified. Several specimens of a Crinoid belonging to a family which was supposed to be extinct since the Jurassic were collected. At depths between 280 and 600 m these seamounts show flat tops the ichtyofauna of which is rich . Trawl hauls showed their fisheries potential as several high valued commercial species were caught e.g. Etelk comscans, Apsilus sp, , Pentaceros japonhi$, P. richardson< (armorhead) and Beryx sphmdens (alfonsin).

BIOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2

BIOCAL, CHALCAL 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3

CHALCAL 2, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 4

MUSORSTOM 6

New Caledonia is an island situated in the South West Pacific on the edge of the Indo- Australian plate (fig. 1). The morphology of the sea-bed in this région is extremely complex and very varied structures occur. Thus the principal island of New Caledonia (The Mainland, or ' Grande-Terre '), and adjacent islands (the Isle of Pines and the Belep Islands) are an emerged portion of the Norfolk Ridge, a geosyncline dating from the Mesozoic, which extends to New Zealand.

BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4

BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, GEMINI, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, VOLSMAR

AZTEQUE, BERYX 2, GEMINI, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, VOLSMAR

The Musorstom 7 Cruise in the Walis and Futuna economic zone. Report and list of stations. The MUSORSTOM7 cruise took place from the 5th of May to the 4th of June 1992 in the Wallis and Futuna economic zone. The 142 dredgings ans trawlings were realized in the upper bathyal zone, on the slopes of Futuna, Alofi and Wallis Islands ans on the slopes of the numerous seamounts laying in this area. The deep sea fauna collected was quite poor but diverse. Some animals described formerly from New Caledonian's waters are now rediscovered on the Pacific plate (Sphinctozoa, Gymnocrinus, Amalda)

MUSORSTOM 7

A new record from north-western Australia permits the description of the first male of Griffinia lappacea (Rathbun, 1918) comb. nov. The morphological features and the shape of the first pleopod merit the creation of a new genus for this deep sea species: Griffinia gen. nov. This new genus includes two other Pacific species, G. gilloloensis (Rathbun, 1916) and G. polita (Griffin and Tranter, 1986).

KARUBAR

BERYX 11, KARUBAR, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 7, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6

MUSORSTOM 8

This work is a summary of what is known on lobster living in New Caledonia. After general informations about the biology and taxonomy, with keys, each species is described. Several large species of lobsters are mentionned for the first time in New Caledonia : Palinurellus wieneckii, Palinustus unicornutus, Puerulus angulatus, Linuparus sordidus, Justitia chani, J. japonica, Ibacus brucei, Thaumastocheles japonicus. A bibliographic analysis of the Indo-Pacific lobster fisheries, compare the New Caledonia to other Pacific island countries.

BERYX 11, BIOCAL, HALIPRO 1, MUSORSTOM 6

Sampling cruises of bathyal benthos in New Caledonia for the years 1993-94 (BATHUS 1-4, SMIB 8, HALIPRO 1). In 1992 and 1993, several oceanographic cruises (BATHUS 1-4) were carried out with the aim of improving the inventory of the benthic fauna of the outer slopes around New Caledonia. On the basis of these results, another cruise (HALIPRO 1) was devoted to the sampling of fishes on slopes suitable for trawling, down to depths of 1100 m. In addition, the SMIB (Substances Marines d'Intérêt Biologique) research program was continued, with a new cruise - SMIB 8 - collecting deepwater invertebrates for experimentation. All of these cruises took place on board the R.V. "Alis" of the Nouméa Research Station (ORSTOM). The present paper gives an account of the fauna collected, the geomorphological characteristics of the zones explored, and an indication of particular studies on the material collected. The latter include population genetics (particularly of Brachiopoda and decapod Crustacea) and crustacean phylogeny. An appendix is provided, giving a list of stations sampled by the various cruises and their general characteristics.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, HALIPRO 1, SMIB 8

A new species of the genus Platypilumnus, P. jamiesoni n.sp., is described and illustrated from the upper bathyal zone of New Caledonia. A key to the four species in the genus is given along with new illustrations for P. inermis, P. gracilipes and P. soelae. The placement of this genus in Goneplacidae and its affinities with Neopilumnoplax Serene, 1969 are discussed.

BATHUS 2, KARUBAR, MD32 (REUNION)

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 11, BERYX 2, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, CORINDON 2, HALIPRO 1, HALIPRO 2, KARUBAR, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, SMIB 1, SMIB 10, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, SMIB 9, VOLSMAR

The MUSORSTOM 9 cruise was carried out in the Marquesas Archipelago from 18 August to 11 September 1997. 168 samples by dredging and trawling were made in the upper-bathyal zone and in the circalittoral depths, on the slope ofthe islands and on the top of the Dumont d'Urville Seamount. A terrace with a gentle slope is surrounding each island. Deeper than 100 meters the slope is very steep with from time to time terraces between 400 and 600 meters deep. The benthic fauna of this remote archipelago isolated in the Central Pacific is remarkably poor in all the groups.

MUSORSTOM 9

The BORDAU 1 cruise was carried out in the Fijian Archipelago from 22 February to 14 March 1999 on board of R.V. "Alis". A total of 118 samples were made by dredging and trawling in the upper bathyal zone and in the circalittoral depths of the islands and on the seamounts in the Lau Ridge. The upper part of the slope to 600 m consists of hard bottoms and deeper muddy bottoms with pumice. In some islands particularly isolated (Vanua Balavu, Yacata, Aiwa and Yagasa), the landsnails were sampled.

BORDAU 1

The MUSORSTOM 10 cruise, using the R.V. "Alis", was carried out in the Fijian Archipelago during 5-19 August 1998. A total of 82 samples were collected by dredging and trawling from the upper bathyal zone and in the circalittoral depths, on the outer reef slopes of Vitu Levu and from Bhgh Water. The bottom of Bligh Water is muddy and covered with pumice stones. Hard bottoms were sampled in the Beqa Channel. The invertebrate biodiversity of the benthic communities sampled is much lower than those sampled from the New Caledonian area, especially sessile epifaunal groups like sponges, stylasterine hydrocorals (Cnidaria, Stylasterina) and crinoids.

MUSORSTOM 10

A rapid panorama of the deep sea fauna knowledge, deeper than 100 m, is shown, positioning the specific richness and sampling New Caledonia effort in the Indo-Pacific. A detailled presentation of the french exploration oceanographic cruises is done. Since 1984, no less than 1468 benthic samples in the New Caledonia EEZ have been done. All these data are now integrated in the "Océane" database at IRD Center in Noumea. This document give an inventory of 2515 deep sea species from New Caledonia, presented by zoological groups and families by alphabetic order. 1322 new species were described from New Caledonia (52.5%). ln annexe is given: a complete list of references corresponding to the description of this fauna and the list of taxonomists involved (155 scientists from 21 countries); the bathymetric maps of the main seamounts.

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BERYX 2, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, CHALCAL 1, CORAIL 2, CORINDON 2, ???msg.security.private???, GEMINI, HALIPRO 1, KARUBAR, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 8, MUSORSTOM 9, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, SMIB 6, SMIB 8, VOLSMAR

A new species of glypheid of the previously monotypic genus Neoglyphea Forest & de Saint Laurent, 1975, N. neocaledonica n. sp., is described from deep waters in the Coral Sea. The unique female specimen is described and compared to the other species of the genus, N. inopinata Forest & de Saint Laurent, 1975. The two species can be easily separated by a series of characters: in N. neocaledonica n. sp., the general shape is more stout, the anterior part of the cephalothorax bears a series of dorsal carinas, the first pereiopods are shorter, the eyes larger, the coloration consists of spots pattern.

EBISCO

A new species of deep-sea spider crab of the genus Cyrtomaia (Brachyura:Majidae) is described from Guam and Palau. Cyrtomaia micronesica n. sp. is differentiated from its closest congener, C. cornuta Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1988, from New Caledonia by a different carapace armature, shorter basal antennal spines, proportionately longer chelipeds, relatively longer male second and fourth ambulatory meri, and a different male first pleopod.

CHALCAL 2, MUSORSTOM 4

Studies of an extensive collection of homolid crabs obtained from various recent expeditions to the Central Philippines revealed the presence of two new species (Latreillopsis mariveneae and Yaldwynopsis saguili) and two new records (Homola ikedai and Paromola macrocheira). Eleven species are now known from the Philippines. The extensive material of many species previously regarded as rare allowed for the taxonomic reappraisal of several supposedly wide-ranging species, and as a result, two new species are described from French Polynesia (Homola poupini and Yaldwynopsis guinotae).

PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SMCB

New collections of deep-sea crabs from the Bohol Sea in Central Philippines have obtained a large series of specimens of the deep-sea spider crabs of the genus Cyrtomaia (Majidae), of which one is here recognised as new, C. largoi, new species. Three other species: C murrayi Miers, 1886, C. horrida Rathbun, 1916, and C. echinata Rathbun, 1916, are all represented by an extensive series of specimens, allowing invaluable insights into their difficult taxonomy and ecology. One nominal subspecies, Cyrtomaia horrida pilosa Ihle & Ihle-Landenberg, 1931, is synonymised with C. horrida.

PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005

A new genus and new species of majid crab, Kasagia arbastoi, is described from the Philippines. Superficially, Kasagia, new genus, is most similar to the pisine genera Eurynome Leach, 1814, Choniognathus Rathbun, 1932, and Seiitaoides Griffin & Tranter, 1986, but can immediately be separated by its simple carapace armature and extremely long chelipeds.

PANGLAO 2005

BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, LITHIST, MUSORSTOM 9, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, SALOMON 1, SALOMONBOA 3, SMCB

Several species of rarely reported deep-sea homolid crabs are recorded from various locations in the western Pacific: Homola ikedai, H. mieensis, H. coriolisi, Homolomannia occlusa, Homolochunia kullar, H. valdiviae, H. gadaletae, Lamoha superciliosa, L. longipes, L. longirostris, L. inflata and Yaldwynopsis saguili. Two new species are described as new, Homolochunia menezi n. sp., from the Solomon Islands and Latreillopsis trispinosa n. sp. from the Philippines.

AURORA 2007, CONCALIS, KARUBAR, PANGLAO 2004, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006

The deep-water spider crabs of the genus Cyrtomaia are very characteristic because of their globose carapaces, their long and spinose pereiopods, and because a few species can grow very large. Twenty-nine species are known at present of this Indo-West Pacific genus (Ng et al., 2008; Richer de Forges & Ng, 2008). Only three species have been reported from Taiwan until now: Cyrtomaia curviceros Bouvier, 1915, C. horrida Rathbun, 1916, and C. murrayi Miers, 1886 (cf. Ng & Huang, 1997; Ng et al., 2001; Ho et al., 2004). Cyrtomaia curviceros Bouvier, 1915, is currently regarded a junior subjective synonym of C. suhmii Miers, 1886 (cf. Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1986; Ng et al., 2008).

PANGLAO 2005

Three new genera and five new species of epialtid majoid crabs are described from deep water in the western Pacific. Two new species of Oxypleurodon Miers, 1886: O. sanctaeclausi n. sp. and O. annulatum n. sp. are described from the Philippines. New specimens of the rare Oxypleurodon carbunculum (Rathbun, 1906) from the Hawaiian Islands are also recorded. Three new genera are established: Garthinia n. gen. for G. disica n. sp. from the Solomon Islands; Guinotinia n. gen. for G. cordis n. sp. from New Caledonia and G. lehouarnoi n. sp. from Fiji and Tonga; and Laubierinia n. gen. for Sphenocarcinus nodosus Rathbun, 1916, and Rochinia carinata Griffin & Tranter, 1986.

AURORA 2007, BORDAU 2, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3, NORFOLK 1, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006

On the basis of fresh collections from various parts of the western Pacific, three species of majoid crabs previously considered as rare are redescribed and figured: Oxypleurodon bidens (Sakai, 1969), O. auritum (Rathbun, 1916) and O. coralliophilum (Takeda, 1980). Four new species are described: O. boholense from the Philippines, O. barazeri and O. parallelum front the Solomon Islands, and O. alaini from New Caledonia. A new genus and new species, Stegopleurodon planirostrum, is described from New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The two species currently assigned to the allied American genus Sphenocarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, are re-examined, and a new genus, Rhinocarcinus. is established for the Pacific species Sphenocarcinus agassizi Rathbun, 1893.

AURORA 2007, BATHUS 1, BATHUS 2, BATHUS 3, BATHUS 4, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, BOA0, BOA1, BORDAU 1, CHALCAL 1, CHALCAL 2, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 3, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 8, NORFOLK 2, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMON 1, SALOMONBOA 3, SMIB 1, SMIB 2, SMIB 3, SMIB 8, TAIWAN 2000

Following the successful completion of the PANGLAO 2004 expedition, PANGLAO 2005 was organized to fill in the gap to explore and research the deep-sea fauna of the Bohol and Sulu Seas between 18 May 2005 and 3 June 2005. Methods used on board the Philippines fisheries research vessel MV DA-BFAR are recorded and results arising from the expedition are discussed.

PANGLAO 2005

The unusual goneplacoid crab, Vultocinus anfractus Ng & Manuel-Santos, 2007, the only member of the family Vultocinidae, is recorded from New Caledonia for the first time. The species, previously known only on the basis of males from the Philippines and Vanuatu, is now also represented by females. The female characters of the species are described and intraspecific variation is discussed.

LAGON, PANGLAO 2004

The study of the crabs collected in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean by the cruises MAINBAZA and MIRIKY permit the description of the new species Oxypleurodon holthuisi. The four single rostrum species from the Indian Ocean for which the genus Nasutocarcinus Tavares, 1991 was created are placed in Oxypleurodon.

MAINBAZA, MIRIKY

Recently collected specimens from the deep sea off Papua New Guinea revealed the presence of a new species of Oxypleurodon Miers, 1886 (Majoidea). The new species is a member of the O. auritum group but its flattened rostral spines and the triangular shape of the carapace easily distinguishes it from congeners.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMON 1

A new species of deep-sea majoid is described from the eastern Philippines. Griffinia takedai n. sp. (Epialtidae) is the fourth species in this genus to be described, and it differs from congeners in its setose carapace, elongate rostral spines, as well as the well-developed supraorbital and hepatic spines. The new species is diagnosed, and a key to the genus is presented.

AURORA 2007, MUSORSTOM 1, MUSORSTOM 2, MUSORSTOM 3

AURORA 2007

The study of a small collection of deep-water majoid crabs of the family Epialtidae brings some new data on the geographic distribution of species in the genus Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875 (R. pulchra (Miers, 1886), R. fultoni (Grant, 1905), R. aff. brevirostris (Doflein, 1904), R. aff. soela Griffin & Tranter, 1986, R. kotakae Takeda, 2001) and Naxioides taurus (Pocock, 1890). One new species, Rochinia boucheti n. sp., is described which differs from all congeners by the presence of numerous small tubercles on the carapace and its relatively short rostral spines. Males of R. kotakae are described for the first time.

AURORA 2007, BOA1, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TAIWAN 2003

The inachid spider crab genus, Parapleisticantha Yokoya, 1933 [type species: Parapleisticantha japonica Yokoya, 1933] is removed from the synonymy of Pleistacantha Miers, 1879 [type species: Pleistacantha sanctijohannis Miers, 1879], and recognised as a valid genus. Parapleisticantha differs from Pleistacantha sensu stricto primarily by having a less spiny carapace, stouter and more inflated male chelipeds, and by lacking a slender subdistal process on the male first gonopod. We redescribe Parapleisticantha japonica based on the Japanese type material and describe as new a second species, Parapleisticantha ludivinae n. sp., recently discovered in the Philippines.

AURORA 2007, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SANTO 2006

Eight species of deep-water porter crabs of the family Homolidae are recorded from Papua New Guinea from three MNHN-led cruises to these waters: Homola orientalis Henderson, 1888, Homola coriolisi Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1995, Homolomannia sibogae Ihle, 1912, Homolomannia occlusa Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1981, Paromolopsis boasi Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891, Lamoha woodmasoni n. sp., Ihlopsis multispinosa (Ihle, 1912) and Latreillopsis gracilipes Guinot & Richer de Forges, 1981. Most are new records for the country, Lamoha woodmasoni n. sp. appears to be the Pacific sister species of the Indian Ocean L. longipes (Alcock & Anderson, 1899). The old records of the latter species from the Solomon Islands are now referred to the new species. The taxonomy of the other species is also discussed.

BIOPAPUA, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP

A new species of spider crab of the genus Leptomithrax Miers, 1876, is described from New Caledonia. Leptomithrax lowryi sp. nov. belongs to a group species that includes L. bifidus (Ortmann, 1893) and L. sinensis Rathbun, 1916, but differs in the structure of the carapace spines and teeth, ischium of the third maxilliped, male thoracic sternal structure, shape of the male telson and the first gonopod.

BATHUS 2, SPANBIOS

Four species of Seiitaoides Griffin & Tranter, 1986 (Majoidea: Majidae) are now known from the Indo-West Pacific. A fifth species, Seiitaoides sandyi n. sp., is described here from deeper waters in New Caledonia. This tiny species is most similar to S. orientalis (Sakai, 1961) from the western Pacific, but differs markedly by the shape and armature of the supraorbital eave, carapace regions and plates, as well as structure and proportions of the male thoracic sternum, ambulatory legs and male first gonopod.

SPANBIOS

CHALCAL 1, CORAIL 2, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 5

During the CALSUB cruise, bathyal environments were explored off the New Caledonia corallian platfdrms (southwestern Pacific). Green algae were observed down to a depth of 1 IO m, and red algae down to 145 m. Algal blocks, pebbles and sands contribute to sedimentation to a depth of 400 m and beyond, and are mixed with autochthonous fossils and bioclasts produced by bathyal benthos. Epibathyal fauna suggests similarities with Jurassic and Cretaceous fauna of Tethyan margins (Nautilus, pleurotomarian gastropods, sponges, brachiopods and crinoids…). Richness and abundance of the benthos are the highest in areas where currents are frequent between 300 m and 700 m (sometimes 10 to 20 terebratulid brachiopods per m2 or dense populations of echinoderms entirely covering the substrate). Such currents induce erosion of' substrate or bioclastic accumulations. Biocorrosion seems to be very active in erosion processes, especially on hard grounds. Burrows and traces show the importance of sediment bioturbation on slopes. The occurrence on bathyal slope of some taphonomic processes previously known from geological series and generally considered as closely related lo shallow-water environments should be emphasized.

CALSUB

L'exploration de la faune profonde de NouvelleCalédonie a débuté par des campagnes d'essai de 1977 à 1979 sur des fonds de 200 m à 1000 m au large de la Grande Terre, de l'île des Pins et des îles Loyauté (Intès, 1978). A partir de 1985, elle s'est élargie et intensifiée avec les campagnes MUSORSTOM 4 à 6 et CHALCAL (Richer de Forges, 1990), BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL et SMIB, complétées par des observations directes à l'aide de la soucoupe plongeante Cyana lors de la campagne CALSUB. Nous ne donnerons ici que les grands traits de l'étagement de la macrofaune et de la mégafaune benthique en insistant sur les observations directes insitu lors de la campagne CALSUB et sur la liaison avec les caractères du milieu.

CALSUB

This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that benthic communities on seamounts are distinct from those of other deep-sea habitats at comparable depths. Analysis of the squat lobster fauna of deep-sea habitats in the Southwestern Pacific revealed that the species composition of assemblages on seamounts was not statistically dissimilar from assemblages on slope and plateau habitat at comparable depths. However, compositional differences were observed between seamount and rise and ridge habitat. Differences in assemblage composition between seamount and ridge habitat were statistically significant for two of the four ridge systems examined. Assemblages on seamounts that were distinct from non-seamount ridge habitat were typically dominated by small-bodied species with an abbreviated larval stage. Various environmental variables were correlated with the observed assemblage patterns observed; depth-related variables may account for differences between seamount and rise assemblages, whilst differences in POC flux likely play a role in determining the assemblage compositional patterns between seamount and non-seamount ridge habitat. Extensive pre-analysis data treatment was required to ensure that multivariate analyses of assemblage data from seamount and non-seamount habitats were robust. Our results confirm the findings of recent studies that found no compositional differences in assemblages from seamount and slope habitats, and support the idea that dissimilarity between seamount assemblages on different ridge systems increases with geographic distance. Further research will be required before the generality of these findings can be confirmed.

BOA0, BOA1, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, MUSORSTOM 10, MUSORSTOM 8, SALOMON 1, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006

Previous studies have suggested that the high diversity associated with the Norfolk seamounts (Southwest Pacific) could reflect endemism resulting from limited dispersal due to hydrological phenomena. Crustaceans of the family Galatheidae are thoroughly studied in the New Caledonia economic zone permitting the analysis of species distribution pattern between the New Caledonia slope and Norfolk ridge seamounts. This analysis has shown that, qualitatively, the same species are sampled on seamounts and on the New Caledonia slope. Local endemism was never detected. However, on each seamount, and therefore on a small surface, a very high number of species are usually sampled, suggesting that seamounts are biodiversity hot spots. Then, to evaluate whether the seamounts constitute patches of isolated habitat, we explore the pattern of genetic diversity within several species of crustaceans and gastropods. Analysis of the intra-specific genetic structure using the mitochondrial marker COI reveals that populations of two Galatheidae species (Munida thoe and Munida zebra), polymorphic for this marker, are genetically not structured, both among seamounts and between the seamounts and the island slope. The genetic structure over a similar sampling scheme of two Eumunida species (Chirostylidae, the sister family of Galatheidae) and a planktotrophic gastropod (Sassia remensa) reveals a similar pattern. Population structure is observed only in Nassaria problematica, a non-planktotrophic gastropod with limited larvae dispersal. Thus, the limitation of gene flow between seamounts appears to be observed only for species with limited dispersal abilities. Our results suggest that the Norfolk seamounts rather than functioning as areas of endemism, instead, may be highly productive zones that can support numerous species in small areas.

NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2

AURORA 2007, BENTHAUS, BOA0, BOA1, BORDAU 1, BORDAU 2, EBISCO, NORFOLK 1, NORFOLK 2, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TARASOC, TERRASSES

BOA1

In this second study of MUSORSTOM Hexactinellida from New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, Wallis and Futuna Islands, and some seamounts from the South Pacific, 31 species (22 new) of Lyssacinosida, and a new subspecies of Caulophacus lotifolium Ijima, are described. New members of the formerly monotypic lyssacinosid genera Saccocalyx, Dictyaulus, Dictyocalyx, Neocaledoniella and Hyalostylus are described, and Neocaledoniella is introduced as a replacement name for the Caledoniella Tabachnick & Lévi in Tabachnick 2002, which is preoccupied.

AZTEQUE, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CALSUB, CHALCAL 1, HALIPRO 1, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 7, SMIB 1, SMIB 4, SMIB 5, VOLSMAR

CORAIL 2, LAGON, MUSORSTOM 3

The taxonomy of two leucosiid species - Dolos petraeus (Milne Edwards, 1874) (new genus) and Oreotlos etor, new species, is discussed. Both mimic dead algae belonging to the genus Halimeda Lamouroux, 1812 (Oder Caulerpales). Their behavioural and morphological adaptations to the mimicry are discussed.

CHALCAL 1, CORAIL 2, LAGON

Sphinctozoan sponges were major reef-builders in the Permo-Triassic. For a long time, they were considered to be extinct, until a discrete, solitary "living fossil" was found in cryptic reef habitats. A new extant sphinctozoan, with the same colonial morphology and construction capabilities as its fossil counterparts, has been discovered in bathyal environments off from New Caledonia. A significant difference from modern scleractinian reff-builders is the particularly low growth rate: the basal part of a 10 cm thick contruction is approximately 700 years old.

CALSUB