Deepwater decapod Crustacea from eastern Australia: brachyuran crabs

Abstract

Fourteen species of crabs from the lower continental shelf and slope off eastern Australia are discussed. Included are two new species, one belonging to the homolid genus Homolochunia (which is also recorded from near New Caledonia) and one belonging to the cymonomid genus Cymonomus. The majids Cyrtomaia suhmi and Leptomithrax richardsonii the geryonid Geryon affinis and the goneplacid Litocheira kingsleyi are recorded from Australia for the first time. The new species are described and illustrated. The deepwater crab fauna of eastern Australia as it is presently known is compared with that of other nearby areas in the Indo-West Pacific.