New species and records of small galatheids (Crustacea, Decapoda, Galatheidae) from the Southwest and Central Pacific Ocean

Three new species of squat lobsters are described and illustrated from specimens collected during recent cruises carried out in the Southwest and Central Pacific. Anoplonida patae n. sp. has a well developed cardiac process, pairs of both epigastric spines and postcervical processes, one or two flexor marginal spines on the mxp 3 merus, and a single distolateral spine on the antennular basal article. Bathymunida avatea n. sp. is characterized by the dorsal surface of the carapace having numerous scale-like ridges, the distomesial spine of the basal article of the antennal peduncle reaching the end of article 2, and the distolateral spine of article 2 reaching the mid-length of article 3. Heteronida clivicola n. sp. has each posterior branchial region of the carapace without a distinct elevation, the gastric process being low and rounded, and the distolateral margin of antennal article 2 strongly produced, nearly reaching the end of article 3. New records of seven species (Anoplonida inermis, Bathymunida sibogae, Heteronida aspinirostris, Neonida grandis, Onconida modica, O. tropis and Plesionida psyla) also are reported.