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A new deep water leucosiid genus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura)

Bella S. GALIL

en Zoosystema 26 (3) - Pages 495-502

Published on 30 September 2004

A new genus, Ancylodactyla n. gen., is established for two deep water species excluded from Praebebalia Rathbun, 1911, P. elongata Zarenkov, 1969, and P. elata Zarenkov, 1994, and for Randallia nana Zarenkov, 1990, provisionally assigned to Randallia s.s. A study of the extensive collection of leucosiid crabs made by French expeditions to the Indo-Pacific Ocean has increased the known geographic and bathymetric ranges of these species. The new genus is distinguished from Praebebalia and from Randallia s.s. in having male abdominal somites 3-6 fused, and the second male pleopod longer than first pleopod. The species are redescribed, fully illustrated, synonymies are discussed, and a key for their identification is provided.


Keywords:

Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Leucosiidae, Indo-Pacific Ocean, deep water, new genus.

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