Australian axiidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea)

Abstract

Three new genera and nine new species of Axiidae are described from shelf and continental margins of Australia: Acanthaxius garawa sp. nov., Acanthaxius gathaagudu sp. nov., Acanthaxius ningaloo sp. nov., Australocaris pinjarup gen. and sp. nov., Calastacus myalup sp. nov., Eiconaxius mallacoota sp. nov., Pilbaraxius kariyarra gen. and sp. nov., Platyaxius bardi sp. nov.; Michelaxiopsis gen. nov. is erected for Axiopsis australiensis De Man, 1925 and Michelaxiopsis nauo sp. nov. New records of Indo-West Pacific species for Australia are: Acanthaxius clevai Ngoc-Ho, 2006, Allaxius clypeatus (De Man, 1888), Axiopsis serratifrons A. Milne-Edwards, 1873, Axiopsis tsushimaensis Sakai, 1992, Bouvieraxius keiensis Sakai, 1992 and Planaxius brevifrons Komai and Tachikawa, 2008. New distributional records are given for species previously recorded from Australia: Calaxius acutirostris Sakai and de Saint Laurent, 1989, Dorphinaxius kermadecensis (Chilton, 1911), and Paraxiopsis pumilus (Sakai, 1994). Ten genera are rediagnosed. Undescribed species of Axius, Axiopsis and Ambiaxius are mentioned. Photomicrographs of maxillae 1 and 2 and maxillipeds 1 and 2 of 11 species are appended. We could find very little of taxonomic value at the genus or species level in these appendages and question the value of illustrating them in future. A key is provided for the identification of all 30 Australian species.