Galathea aegyptiaca Paul’son, 1875

(Fig. 3A, B)

Galathea aegyptiaca Paul’son, 1875: 94, pl. 12, figs. 1, 1a–b. — Baba et al. 2008: 64 (compilation). — Baba et al. 2009: 107, figs. 86, 87 (Taiwan).

Material examined. Mayotte. Stn 12a, reef La Prévoyante, 12°41'34.70"S, 45°09'59.99"E, 6–11 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll., 0 6 November 2009, coral bottom with Acropora, 2 ov. F 3.1–4.2 mm (MNHN-Ga7329). — Stn 21b, Ilot Choizil, east of Malandzamiayatsini, 12°40'22.74"S, 45°3'47.46"E, 15–20 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll., 12 November 2009, fringing reef and outer slope, 1 F 3.3 mm (MNHN-Ga7330). — Stn 25, Ilot M'tzamboro, southern tip, 12°39'30.18"S, 45°01'38.65"E, 15–20 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll. 14 November 2009, accretions of coral blocks, 1 ov. F 3.6 mm (MNHN- Ga7331). — Stn 30, reef Rani, 12°56'34.23"S, 45°03'20.75"E, 3–15 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll. 18 November 2009, 2 M 3.5-4.7 mm, 2 ov. F 3.2–4.6 mm (MNHN-Ga7332). — Stn 32, Ilot M'tzamboro, north-east, 12°38'09.54"S, 45°02'27.12"E, 6–21 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll., 19 November 2009, Acropora coral boulder, 1 male 3.8 mm (MNHN-Ga7333). — Stn. 35, reef Surprise, Longoni pass, 12°38'29.95"S, 45°07'45.99"E, 4–25 m, J.-M. Bouchard, V. Dinhut, J. Dumas coll. 20 November 2009, reef slope, 1 F 3.6 mm (MNHN-Ga7334).

Madagascar. Nosy Be, W of Hellville, sand, sea grass, 13º24.936'S, 48º14.736'E, 0–3 m, 25 May 2008, 1 ov. F 3.6 mm (UF14013). — ENE side Nosy Vorona, 13º25.464'S, 48º21.852'E, 3–6 m, 15 May 2008, 1 ov. F 3.8 mm (UF14211). — Nosy Vorona, on dead Porites sp., 13º25.464'S, 48º21.852'E, 4 m, 15 May 2008, 1 M 3.3 mm (UF14237). — Nosy Be, S of CNRO, on Pocillopora sp., 13º24.498'S, 48º17.484'E, 1–5 m, 19 May 2008, 1 M 3.0 mm (UF14576).

Coloration. The species has variable color patterns (Miyake & Baba 1966). The specimens from Madagascar and Mayotte have the base color reddish or greenish, with darker ridges on the carapace dorsal surface and some red spots and stripes on abdominal somites and pereiopods; proximal part of P1 fingers with dark red spot.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from eastern Africa to western Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Palau, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Loyalty Islands (type locality in the Red Sea). The species is usually found among corals, in shallow waters (<30 m), although the deepest record is from 146 m. The present material was collected from 0 to 25 m.