A synopsis of Eurycarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1867 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Pilumnidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the intertidal pilumnid crabEurycarcinusA. Milne-Edwards, 1867 is reviewed in the present work. Characters that defineEurycarcinusand distinguish it from the allied generaHeteropanopeStimpson, 1858,PilumnopeusA. Milne-Edwards, 1867, andBenthopanopeDavie, 1989 are discussed.Eurycarcinuscan be distinguished from these genera by the smooth features of the carapace, shape and form of the male pleon, and structure of the male thoracic sternum, notably the shapes of sternites 1-4 and whether sternite 8 is exposed when the pleon is closed. Of the four species ofEurycarcinus,E. bengalensisDeb, 1999, is here assigned toHeteropanope. Furthermore,Eurycarcinusspecies are known for certain only from the western Indian Ocean.

On the Indian species of Eurycarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1867, Heteropanope Stimpson, 1858, and Pilumnopeus A. Milne-Edwards, 1867 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pilumnidae)

“…The specimens examined are deposited in the Zoological Reference Collection, Department of Life Sciences, Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, Gujarat, India (LFSc.ZRC); Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India (ZSI); and the Zoological Reference Collection of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore (ZRC). The terminology used in the description follows Davie et al (2015) and Ng et al (2018). The following abbreviations are used: CL = carapace length; CW = carapace width; G1 = male first gonopod; G2 = male second gonopod; coll.…”

“…and Gosavi et al (2017) recorded Heteropanope glabra Stimpson, 1858, and Pilumnopeus convexus (Maccagno, 1936), respectively, from India. Ng et al (2018) revised Eurycarcinus, and distinguished it from Heteropanope by the following characters: thoracic sternite 8 remains clearly exposed when the male pleon is closed, male pleonal somite 3 is proportionately wider with the lateral margin distinctly projecting on lateral side, and male thoracic sternites 3 and 4 are transversely wider with the sterno-pleonal cavity close to the margin between sternites 3 and 4. On the basis of the published figures of Deb (1995Deb ( , 1999, Ng et al (2018) suggested that E. bengalensis can be assigned to Heteropanope on the basis of carapace shape but was uncertain about H. neolaevis because its gonopod structure was atypical for the genus.…”

“…Trivedi et al (2018: 59) noted that the records of E. natalensis from different parts of India were suspect and more likely belong to species of Heteropanope instead. Eurycarcinus natalensis is known for certain only from southern and eastern Africa (Ng et al, 2018). Trivedi et al (2018: 59) also expressed doubts about the records of E. orientalis from eastern India, a species otherwise only known for certain from the western Indian Ocean (Ng et al, 2018).…”

“…Eurycarcinus natalensis is known for certain only from southern and eastern Africa (Ng et al, 2018). Trivedi et al (2018: 59) also expressed doubts about the records of E. orientalis from eastern India, a species otherwise only known for certain from the western Indian Ocean (Ng et al, 2018).…”

A collection of crabs (Crustacea, Brachyura) from the southwestern coast of India, with a discussion of the systematic position of Nectopanope Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 (Euryplacidae)

“…Ng et al (2008: 204) transferred Nectopanope to Xanthinae (Xanthidae) without explanation. This was necessary as Heteropanope and Eurycarcinus had already been moved to the Pilumnidae (present Pilumnoidea) by then (see Ng et al 2018).…”