A Distant Record of the Cavernicolous Land Crab, Discoplax gracilipes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Gecarcinidae) from Japan

Abstract

A single specimen of gecarcinid crab, Discoplax gracilipes Ng and Guinot, 2001, was collected from an anchialine pool in a cave on Hateruma Island, southern Ryukyu Archipelago, southwestern Japan. This species was previously known only from the central Philippines. The present specimen represents the first record of the species from Japan, extending its distributional range to about 1400 km northward. Additionally, the fauna of the cave on Hateruma Island briefly noted. A key to the Japanese species of the family Gecarcinidae is provided.

Keywords

• land crab
• new record
• anchialine cave
• stygofauna
• troglofauna
• ryukyu archipelago