Umalia trirufomaculata (Davie and Short, 1989) in India, with a note on the taxonomy of U. misakiensis (Sakai, 1937) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Raninidae)

Abstract

Abstract The rare raninid crab Umalia trirufomaculata (Davie and Short, 1989) is recorded from India for the first time. It is redescribed and compared at length with the related but poorly known U. misakiensis (Sakai, 1937) on the basis of a good series of specimens from the Philippines. Some of the supposed differences which have been documented between the two taxa (e.g., carapace proportions and features of the cheliped) are not valid; while new distinguishing characters associated with the male pleon and gonopods are observed.

Keywords

• taxonomy
• Raninoidea
• frog crab
• Australia
• Philippines
• Japan
• new record
• diagnosis