Pycnogonida from the southwestern Indian Ocean

Sixteen species of coastal or shelf Pycnogonida have been recorded from Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and Mauritius. Two of these, Nymplion crosnieri and Pallenoides opuntia, are new to science. The ranges of Nymphon arabicum, N. setimanus, Parapallene hodgsoni, Anoplodactylus digitatus, A. versluysi, Endeis meridionalis and E. clipeata are considerably extended. Ascorhynchus corderoi, only known from Brazil, was found in Mauritius. In the light of recent work, Achelia nana may be identical with the wide-spread A. echinata. The original description of Nymphon arabicum is corrected, after re-examination of the types. A review of all uniunguiculate Nymphon-s is given. Anoplodactylus digitatus is synonymous with A. investigatoris and A. saxatilis (new synonymy). A. pulcher is synonymous with A. stylops (new synonymy). The “Siboga” specimens attributed to Endeis meridionalis may not belong to that species.