Abstract
Eight new species and one new record of Elasmopus Costa, 1853 are described from Australian waters including the extended offshore territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Indian Ocean), Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea), Norfolk Island (Tasman Sea) and Lord Howe Island (Tasman Sea). Range extensions are reported for seven described Australian species. Twenty-three species are now known from Australian waters. Elasmopus arafura sp. nov., E. carteri sp. nov., E. hyperopia sp. nov., E. leveque sp. nov., E. mcluerensis sp. nov., E. otus sp. nov., E. shepherdi sp. nov. and E. woodjonesi sp. nov. are described herein.
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Acknowledgements
The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, as well as the Australian Biological Resources Study provided funding in support of this work. We thank Stephen Keable (Australian Museum), Jo Taylor and David Staples (Museum Victoria), Gavin Dally and Sue Horner (Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory), Thierry Laperousaz (South Australian Museum) and Andrew Hosie (Western Australian Museum) for loan and curation of material. The Census of Marine Life, CReefs Ningaloo 2008–9 expedition provided funding and support for fieldwork in Western Australia. This manuscript was improved by comments from Helen Stoddard and two anonymous reviewers.