New record of coral reef-associated xanthoid crab from Indian waters

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca Latreille, 1802

Order: Decapoda Latreille, 1802

Family: Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838

Xanthias joanneae Mendoza, 2013

Collection: Southeastern Bay of Bengal, south of Great Nicobar Island, Nicobars, 6.65°N, 93.83°E, 56 m, 16.08.2019 (FORVSS 388, St. 18), Chain dredge.

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/SS/BRC/00197

Description: Carapace transversely ovate, subhexagonal, dorsal surface smooth, glabrous, light yellowish orange, with 48 randomly arranged ocelli or bluish-white spots fringed with dark orange; only orbital region and anterior portions of 2M, 3M regions indistinctly demarcated. Frontal margin slightly deflexed, divided into 2 gently convex lobes by wide V-shaped notch. Anterolateral margin convex, divided into 4 lobiform teeth separated by V-shaped notches. Posterolateral margin longer than anterolateral margin, nearly straight, distinctly converging posteriorly. Posterior margin slightly concave medially. Antennules folding transversely. Mxp3 merus subquadrate, anterolateral angle rounded. Chelipeds massive, surfaces smooth, dactylus robust, longer than palm. P2–5 dactyli nearly as long as propodi. Male pleon subtriangular, somites 3–5 fused; telson subtriangular. G1 stout, distal half curving laterally; distal tip with narrow apical lobe, subdistal portion with patch of spinules and several subterminal setae.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: New record of coral reef-associated xanthoid crab from Indian waters.

Distribution: Bohol Sea, Andaman Sea (India) and Japan. Depth range: 3–290 m.

Distribution map:

Identified by: Vinay P. Padate

Publication: Padate V.P., Cubelio S.S., Takeda M. (2024) First records of some coral reef-associated brachyuran crabs from the Nicobar archipelago, India. Zootaxa, 5486 (4): 067–498.