Révision du genre Parathranites Miers, 1886 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae)

Based on rather abundant material from the Indo-West Pacific, the number of species in the genus Parathranites Miers, 1886 is elevated from two to eight. The six new species are P. granosus n. sp., P. tuberosus n. sp., P. tuberogranosus n. sp., P. ponens n. sp., P. intermedius n. sp. and P. parahexagonum n. sp. Examination of the type series of the type species for the genus, P. orientalis Miers, 1886, shows that it contains two species; a lectotype is designated for P. orientalis. The main morphological characters used for differentiating the species are the breadth/length ratio of the carapace (correlated with the length of the fifth anterolateral teeth of the carapace) which can vary from 1.3 to 2.1, the presence or absence of a median tubercle on the posterior part of the cardiac area, the granulation of the carapace and the shape of the first male pleopods. An identification key for members of this genus is proposed.