A large series of samples dredged during different cruises in the tropical western Pacific have made it possible to draw up or complete the species inventories of various regions. Thirteen species, including two new to science, were found in Indonesia (KARUBAR and ESTASE 2 cruises): Gnathophausia ingens, G. longispina, G. elegans, G. fagei sp. nov., G. zoea, G. gracilis, Lophogaster inermis sp. nov., L. manilae, L. rotundatus, Paralophogaster glaber, P. philippinensis, P. boucheti and Eucopia sculpticauda. Only three species were found at Wallis and Futuna Islands (cruise MUSORSTOM 7): G. longispina, L. manilae and L. neocaledonensis. Moreover, of the 4 species identified from New Caledonia, one - Lophogaster intermedins - is a new record, bringing the total number of species known from this area to 10. From all the results published since 1981, it can be seen that 9 of the 21 lophogastrid species identified were new to science, and that the species diversity is greatest in the Philippines and Indonesia (18 species), decreasing in New Caledonia (10), and is lowest at Wallis and Futuna (3). Finally, remarks are made on the diagnostic features of each species to be retained in order to facilitate their identification. |
