New species and records of anthuridean isopod crustaceans from the Indian Ocean

Twenty four new species of anthuridean isopods are described from a variety of localities in the Indian Ocean, including the granitic Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll, Phuket Island, the Persian Gulf and Zanzibar Island: Family Antheluridae, Anthomuda quadrilineata; Family Anthuridae, Amakusanthura cosmoledo, Apanthuroides aldabrae, Apanthuroides calculosa, Eisothistos andamanensis, Eisothistos corallina, Heptanthura phuket, Malacanthura arabica, Mesanthura quadrata, Panathura indica, Pendanthura picardi, Pendanthura seminigra, Pendanthura siamensis, Quantanthura andamanensis; Family Hyssuridae, Neohyssura gladia, Xenanthura victoriae; Family Paranthuridae, Accalathura hastata, Accalathura phuketensis, Accalathura wardae, Leptanthura calcis, Leptanthura maheensis, Paranthura algophila, Paranthura seychellensis, Paranthura urodentata. Of the 15 genera represented, all except two were previously known from the Indian Ocean; Heptanthura and Pendanthura are recorded from the Indian Ocean for the first time. Most of the genera have wide distributions through the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, while the species tend to be endemic to limited island or coastal regions. The 15 genera are diagnosed and keys or comparative tables to the Indian Ocean species are provided.