Allogalathea babai Cabezas, Macpherson & Machordom, 2011
Allogalathea babai Cabezas et al. 2011: 249 figuress 1–6A.
Galathea elegans Miyake, 1938: 37, figure 1, plate 2, figure D (in part).
Allogalathea elegans Baba, 1969: 6, figure 1 (in part); Baba, 1977: 252 (in part); Baba, 1979: 654, figure 3 (in part); Baba, 1982: 61; Baba, 1988: 54 (in part); Steene, 1990: 158, 320; Gosliner, Behrens & Williams, 1996: 226, colour figure 820 (in part); Minemizu, 2000: 168, with three colour figures (in part); Jones & Morgan, 2002: 133, colour figure (no record); Kawamoto & Okuno, 2003: 93, unnumbered colour figures (in part); Poore, 2004: 231, plate 13g (in part, compilation); Kawamoto, & Okuno, 2006: 93, unnumbered colour figure (in part); Macpherson, 2008: 289 (in part); Baba et al., 2008: 53 (in part, compilation), figure 2C.
Holotype, ovigerous female, MNHN-Ga7429.
New Caledonia.
This species is dedicated to Dr Keiji Baba of Kumamoto University, Japan, who described the genus Allogalathea, and has greatly improved our knowledge of the taxonomy of squat lobsters.
Carapace with a middle longitudinal light broad stripe. Rostrum moderately long, 2.0–2.3 times longer than wide. P1 short, 2.0–3.0 times carapace length. Palm as long or slightly longer than finger length. Most scales on dorsal surface of palm with spinules. Mesial and lateral margins of P1 palm straight in adult specimens, or slightly convex in adult specimens. P2-P4 broad relative to length. P2 merus 3.0 times longer than height. Dorsal margin of P2 and P3 meri with row of small proximally diminishing spines.
Males 2.4–6.1 mm, females 2.9–5.6 mm, ovigerous females 3.4–8.7 mm.
Usually on crinoids (O. bennetti).
Japan, Philippines, Mariana Islands, Guam, South China Sea, Christmas Islands, Indonesia (east coast of Marsegu Island, Banda Sea, Banda Island), Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Chesterfield, and Loyalty Islands, Dampier Archipelago, and Western Australia. Depth range: 10–48 m.