Galathea mauritiana Bouvier, 1914

Galathea mauritiana Bouvier, 1914 View in CoL

( Figs. 3 View FIGURE 3. A C, D)

Galathea mauritiana Bouvier, 1914: 5 View in CoL . — Baba et al. 2008: 73 (compilation). — Baba et al. 2009: 115, figs. 94–117 ( Taiwan).

Material examined. Mayotte. Stn 12a, reef La Prévoyante, 12°41'34.70"S, 45°09'59.99"E, 6–11 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll., 0 6 November 2009, coral bottom with Acropora , 1 ov. F 3.2 mm (MNHN-Ga7335). — Stn 14, Banc de La Prudente, 12°38'50.68"S, 44°58'41.93"E, 15–17 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll., 0 9 November 2009, coral boulders on sand bottom, 1 M 3.8 mm (MNHN-Ga7336). — Stn 17, North Reef, 12°34'49.93"S, 45°05'52.62"E, 22 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll., 10 November 2009, outer reef, coral boulders on sand bottom, 2 M 3.4–4.2 mm, 2 ov. F 2.2–2.7 mm (MNHN- Ga7337).

Madagascar. Nosy Be, off Lokobe reserve, seagrass, 13º28.834'S, 48º18.336'E, 1–3 m, 16 May 2008, 1 ov. F 3.6 mm (UF14334).

Coloration. Base color reddish or brownish, with dark and light transverse lines. P1–4 sometimes with reddish longitudinal lines, and scatterd reddish or greenish and whitish spots; distal portion of P1 palm and proximal part of P1 fingers whitish; dark blue spot on the dorsodistal part of P1 palm.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from the eastern coast of Africa, including Mauritius ( type locality) and Madagascar, to Japan, Indonesia, New Guinea, Loyalty Islands, Fiji Islands, and French Polynesia. The species is usually found on corals, rocks and seagrasses, from 0 to 48 m. The present material, from Mayotte and Madagascar, was caught at 1– 13 m.