Gonodactylellus micronesicus (Manning, 1971)

Gonodactylus micronesica Manning, 1971: 77 –79, fig. 2, tab. 1 [type locality: W of Parry (Elmer) Island, Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, 11°24'05"S, 162°19'05"E].

Gonodactylellus micronesicus .— Manning 1995: 56.— Ahyong 2001: 56 (part, holotype only); 2002a: 350–352, fig. 3.— Ahyong & Erdmann 2003: 322 –323.

Material examined. AUSTRAL ISLANDS. Tubuai Islands: MNHN IU- 2016-9502, 2 females (TL 12–16 mm), Arago Bank, 23°26.37'S, 150°43.91'W, 40 m, BENTHAUS stn DW1984, 21 November 2002.

GAMBIER ISLANDS: AM P98495, 1 male (TL 12 mm), Taravai, 23°07.85'S, 135°02.08'W, 10–16 m, from Halimeda sp., SFP 2014-66 -3, coll. M. Reid et al., 10 October 2014; AM P98498, 1 male (TL 12 mm), Morane, 23°09.99'S, 137°09.27'W, 19 m, rubble, SFP 2014-64 -2, coll. C. Bedford et al., 10 October 2014; AM P98499, 1 male (TL 9 mm), Morane, 23°08.090'S, 137°08.214'W, 8–15 m, coarse sand and rubble, SFP 2014-56 -002, coll. S. Ullrich et al., 9 October 2014; AM P98492, 1 male (TL 9 mm), Morane, 23°08.090'S, 137°08.214'W, 8–15 m, coarse sand and rubble, SFP 2014-56 -002, coll. S. Ullrich et al., 9 October 2014; FLMNH UF35414, 1 female (17 mm), off Mangareva Island, 23°03.396'S, 134°59.934'E, 30.1 m, leeward fore reef, TUG-360, GAMG-37, coll. J. Moore, 30 January 2013; FLMNH UF35420, 1 female (12 mm), off Mangareva Island, 23°03.396'S, 134°59.934'E, 30.1 m, leeward fore reef, TUG-367, GAMG-37, coll. J. Moore, 30 January 2013; FLMNH UF35421, 1 male (17 mm), off Taravai Island, 23°08.64'S, 134°05.808'E, 13.7 m, submerged barrier reef, TUG-368, GAMG-38, coll. J. Moore, 30 Januaru 2013.

Remarks. Gonodactylellus micronesicus has been accorded a wide range extending from the eastern Indian Ocean to French Polynesia (Ahyong 2001, 2002a). Ahyong (2012b), however, showed that records of G. micronesicus from the eastern Indian Ocean and western margins of the western Pacific (including Australia and New Caledonia) are referrable to a separate species, Gonodactylellus kume Ahyong, 2012b . The Austral specimens agree well with the holotype of G. micronesicus from Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, and specimens reported from the Marquesas (Ahyong 2002a), though the accessory median carinae in the 9 mm specimens are still relatively indistinct.

Distribution. Guam, Enewetak Atoll (Marshall Islands), the Marquesas and now from the Austral and Gambier islands; 3–62 m (Ahyong 2002a; Ahyong & Erdmann 2003).