Abstract:
Squat lobsters from Australia, east Africa, Taiwan, Philippines and the Norfolk Ridge (southwestern Pacific) previously identified as Agononida incerta (Henderson, 1888) are redescribed as four new species in addition to the original: A. africerta, A. auscerta, A. indocerta and A. norfocerta. A. rubrizonata Macpherson & Baba, 2009, also earlier confused with this species, is redescribed. All six species are morphologically distinguishable only on the basis of the shape of the anterolateral lobe of the telson and the shape and setation of the dactyli of pereopods 2-4. The morphological delineation of these species and their taxonomic status are robustly supported by phylogenetic analysis of the partial mitochondrial COI marker. Taken together, subtle morphological differences, geographical distribution patterns and genetic discontinuities have important implications for understanding diversity, systematics and evolution of squat lobsters.
