New record of rhomboid crab from Indian waters

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca Latreille, 1802

Order: Decapoda Latreille, 1802

Family: Goneplacidae MacLeay, 1838

Singhaplax ockelmanni (Serène, 1971)

Collection: Andaman Sea, west of Tillangchong Island, Nicobars, 8.44°N, 93.59°E, 69 m, 13.08.2019 (FORVSS 388, St. 11), Chain dredge.

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/SS/BRC/00360, IO/SS/BRC/00361

Description: Carapace subcircular, areolate; mesogastric, protogastric urogastric and branchial regions with protuberances; cardiac broadly convex, nearly triangular. Branchial notch visible with posterolateral node & larger conical tooth; posterior branchial areas convex. Anterolateral margin bearing 2 granulated lobes. Chelipeds bearing row of larger, rounded granules. P2–3 with rounded nodules & few short bristles, dactylar inner margins bearing 5–7 spinules; P4–5 reduced, outer surfaces of propodi with 3 subequal spines, inner posterior end with 1 spine opposed to dactyli. Male pleonal somites 2–6 with 2 transverse rows of granulated lobules; somites 2–3 with transverse lobules ornamented with continuous flattened granules. G1 semi-rolled, setose with pointed lobe.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: New record of rhomboid crab from Indian waters

Distribution: Andaman Sea off Thailand and Nicobar (India), and the Philippines. Depth range: 80–87 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.