First record of goneplacid crab, Carcinoplax haswelli (Decapoda: Brachyura: Goneplacidae) from the Indian Ocean

Abstract

A single male specimen of Goneplacid crab, Carcinoplax haswelli (Miers, 1884) is recorded for the first time from the Indian Ocean. The crab specimen was collected from the trawl bycatch landing of the commercial demersal trawler operated between 30 and 150 m depth along the Gujarat coastal region, Northwest coast of India. This C. haswelli is previously recorded from northern Australia and Taiwan to South China Sea. Until now, C. haswelli is not observed or recorded from the Indian Ocean. In the present study, detailed information regarding the taxonomic identification and previous distribution of the goneplacid crab, C. haswelli is described.