Palmyria palmyrensis (Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923)

(Fig. 1E)

Maldivia palmyrensis Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923: 38, pl. 1C.—Edmondson 1923: 19.—Guinot 1964: 103, figs. 53, 54, pl. 4, figs. 4, 5, pl. 12, fig. 1; 1967: 271. —Sakai 1967: 82; 1976, 481.— Serène 1984: 296, figs. 203–205 (Reunion Island).

Palmyria palmyrensis Rathbun in Edmondson, 1923: 38.— Galil & Takeda 1986: 169, figs. 5–8.— Castro 1999a: 32 (Indonesia).— Liu et al. 2008: 791 (list) (Xisha Islands).— Castro et al. 2004: 20, fig. 1C (La Réunion).

Material examined. Nansha Islands: Mischief Reef, 115°33.8’E 9°52.9’N, 8 m, coll. Shaobo Ma, Yuli Sun, Ziming Yuan, 9 May 2022, 1 female (4.45 × 3.59 mm), NS-MJ-2022-172, in Montipora ( Acroporidae).— Xisha Islands: Seven Connected Islets, 112°16.2’E 16°58.0’N, 10 m, coll. Shaobo Ma, Yuli Sun, Ziming Yuan, 19 May 2022, 2 females (4.11 × 3.21 mm; 4.67 × 3.72 mm), XS-QL-2022-1065, in Montipora ( Acroporidae). Geographical distribution. Across Indo–West Pacific region (Castro 2004).

Remarks. There are few records of Palmyria palmyrensis, possibly due to its diminutive size, the carapace width of all three specimens is about 4 mm (Fig. 1E, XS-QL-2022-1065). The host corals of Palmyria palmyrensis, Montipora ( Acroporidae), is a type of coral without branches. Palmyria palmyrensis often hides within the concealed cavities or holes of Montipora, making it more difficult to be discovered.