Species ID
OC-SP-0002210
Discovered
Phylum
Arthropoda
Species ID
OC-SP-0002210
Accepted Binomial Name
Galathea tukitukimea
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Galathea tukitukimea
Lowest Known Rank
Species
Status
Discovered
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Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Malacostraca
Order
Decapoda
Family
Galatheidae
Genus
Galathea
Taxonomic Remarks
This species is easy to differentiate from other species of Galathea with cardiac spines. The closest relative is G. barbellata Macpherson, 2012 from New Caledonia and Vanuatu, but they differ in the distribution of spines on the dorsal carapace surface.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
27/02/2026
Description of Material
Carapace dorsally with setiferous transverse striae, laterally with row of spines; dorsally with spines on cardiac region. Rostrum dorsoventrally flattened, triangular, with 4 lateral teeth. Abdominal somites unarmed. Telson subdivision incomplete. Ocular peduncles short, cornea somewhat dilated and well pigmented. P1 relatively short and spinose. P2–4 with row of spines on extensor crests of meri and carpi; flexor margin of dactylus with row of distinct teeth each bearing stiff corneous seta, ultimate tooth usually prominent.
Etymology
The specific epithet tukitukimea derives from the Rapa Nui words tuki tuki mea, meaning “red dots”, in reference to the vivid reddish spots on the carapace and pereiopods. The name was proposed by Serafina Moulton Tepano, a Rapa Nui artist who accompanied the FKt240224 expedition. It is treated as a noun in apposition.
Distribution
This is the first occurrence of the genus Galathea in the SE Pacific Ocean, around Rapa Nui (Easter Island), at 348 m on Pukao seamount and at 406 m around Motu Motiro Hiva islet.
Scientific Name Authorship
Gallardo Salamanca, Asorey & Macpherson, 2025
Associated References
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1248.159542
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