Dana, 1852
Carapace subcircular, slightly broader than long; surface somewhat convex, smooth and glossy. Carapace of larger specimen marked with a meshwork pattern of stout orange lines, the pattern of smaller specimens obscure or absent. Front broad, slightly produced beyond the innerorbital tooth, and cut into 2 lobes: each lobe straight on the anterior margin, its inner side slightly produced and the outer side with 6-7 obtuse teeth. Dorsal margin of the orbit entire, its inner angle bluntly round, outer angle bluntly dentiform; ventral inner angle protruding, obtusely angular. Lateral margin of the carapace with a notch at the anterior one-third portion. Antennal basal segment short, flagellum shut out of the orbit. Merus of the third maxillipeds with its outer distal angle bluntly round and slightly produced.
Chelipeds asymmetric, also marked with a meshwork pattern of orange lines. Merus with 4-5 obtuse teeth along the anterior margin. Carpus with obtuse tooth at the inner-distal angle. Palm bluntly round on its dorsal surface, and the ventral margin sharp. Fingers stout and smooth. The movable finger of the major chela with 2 short grooves at the base of its dorsal surface and armed with 3 granular teeth in the proximal half of the inner margin; the immovable finger with 2 stout teeth at the median of the inner margin. The movable finger of the minor chela also with 2 short grooves at the base of the dorsal surface and with 2 small granular teeth at the base of the inner margin; inner margin of the immovable finger with a series of dentiform processes. Ambulatory legs stout, propodus and dactylus with long setae; dactylus without conspicuous granule or tooth, but furnished with several transverse series of setae on the ventral surface, tip curved ventrally.
First pleopod of the male stout, distal half more or less curved internally, apex tapering and armed with several fine setae on its outer side. The sixth segment of the male abdomen trapezoid, broader than long; telson semicircular. Carapace length of the male 7.5 mm, breadth 8.8 mm. (Dai & Yang, 1991)
Type locality: Aratika, Tuamotu Archipelago.
Range: Seychelles - Praslin (Castro, 1997b, 1999a); Réunion (Serène, 1984, Castro, 1997b, 1999z); Mauritius (Richters, 1880, Bouvier, 1915b, Michel, 1964, Türkay, 1981, Castro, 1999a); Chagos Archipelago - Diego Garcia (Castro, 1999a); Taiwan; China - Paracel Islands (Dai & Yang, 1991); Vietnam (Serène, 1959); Caroline Islands - Ifalik Atoll; Wake Island (Edmondson, 1925); Marshall Islands; Tuvalu; Fiji; Hawaiian Islands - Johnston Island (Edmondson, 1925); Society Islands - Tahiti (Rathbun, 1907), Moorea (Kropp & Birkeland, 1982), Tahiti, Bora-Bora and Moorea (Castro, 1997b); Tuamotu Archipelago - Aratika (Dana, 1852), Marutea (Nobili, 1907), Fakarava and Makemo (Rathbun, 1907), Hikueru (Forest & Guinot, 1961), Takapoto (Kropp & Birkeland, 1982), Mataiva (Delesalle, 1985), Fakarava, Makemo, Marutea, Hikueru, Tikehau, Pukapuka, Raroia, Takapoto, Anuanuraro and Moruroa (Castro, 1997b).