Holthuis, 1960
Diagnosis:
Sculpturation of abdomen not very distinct, partly obscured by hairs and tubercles, hairy grooves between naked portions wide. Median figures elongate and narrow, usually elevated above surface of somite. Naked area along posterior margin of somites 2-5 occupying about 1/3 of length of the posterior half of the somite. Legs rather robust, propodus of second pereiopod about three times as long as wide. No coloured bands on the pereiopods. Dactylus and propodus of first and second pereiopods purplish with small white spots.
Type:
Type locality: "Off Malabar [= 27°35'S 152°35'E], New South Wales, Australia, depth 80 fathoms [= 146 m]". Holotype male in RMNH, No. D.10648.
Geographical Distribution:
East coast of Australia (New South Wales: Malabar, Port Stephens, Newcastle, Port Jackson), New Zealand (North Island: Hauraki Gulf). Michel (1971: 467, 471, 472) mentioned larvae from the New Caledonia-New Hebrides area and from the Tuamotu Archipelago that he assigned with some doubt to the present species. It is possible, however, that they actually belong to A. regalis.
Habitat and Biology:
The species has been found in depths from 5 to 146 m, usually between 5 and 30 m; it seems to prefer clear water and rocky bottoms.
Size:
Maximum total length about 30 cm, average carapace length 9 to 10 cm.
Interest to Fisheries:
The species is sometimes caught in lobster traps set for species of Jasus, and also is taken by hand by divers. The number of specimens caught, however, is so small that the species is of hardly any commercial interest notwithstanding that it is edible and of a reasonable size.