Eurycyde flagella, a New Pycnogonid Species from Phuket Island, Thailand

Abstract

A new species of pycnogonid, Eurycyde flagella, from an intertidal coral reef at Phuket, Thailand, is described and figured, and compared with similar species. This is the first record of the genus from the Andaman Sea. The new species is distinct from other species most characteristic with the two long spines but no tubercle on coxa 1. It differs in the combination of number of long spines on the ocular tubercle, single tall dorsodistal tubercles on anterior three pairs of lateral processes, and shape and location of femoral cement gland of male. A key to all known species of the genus Eurycyde is presented.