Polychelid lobsters of Taiwan (Decapoda: Polychelidae)

Abstract

Polychelids collected by joint Taiwanese/French deepwater trawling around Taiwan arereported. Nine species in two genera of Polychelidae are now known from Taiwan of which six speciesrepresent new records. Pentacheles laevis, Polycheles aculeatus, P. auriculatus, P. galil, P. helleri, and P.sculptus are newly reported from Taiwan. Previous records of P. enthrix from Taiwan are referable to P.amemiyai, a species previously regarded as a synonym of the former. Therefore, P. amemiyai is removedfrom the synonymy of P. enthrix and redescribed. Differences are noted between Taiwanese P. typhlops andAtlantic material suggesting that P. typhlops may comprise two or more species. Comparative illustrationsand a key to the Taiwanese Polychelidae are given.