Revision of the spider crab genus Sargassocarcinus Ward, 1936 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Epialtidae).
The Western Pacific epialtid genus Sargassocarcinus Ward, 1936, is revised. The genus had been regarded as monotypic but is here shown to contain three species: S. sublimis (Rathbun, 1916), S. cristatus (Balss, 1924), and S. foliatus Ward, 1936 (type species). The many unusual characters possessed by Sargassocarcinus are figured and discussed; and diagnostic features of the three species are clarified. The taxonomy of the three species and aspects of their ecology are discussed. Sargassocarcinus species are found free-living on coral rubble habitats and not associated with macrophytic algae.
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore.; Email: peterng@nus.edu.sg.
Peter K L
PK
Ng
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan.; Email: linchiawei@nmmba.gov.tw.
Chia-Wei
CW
Lin
Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Iriomote Station, University of the Ryukyus, Taketomi, Okinawa, Japan.; Email: naruse@lab.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.
Tohru
T
Naruse
D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity