
European Journal of Taxonomy
1048 (202) - Pages 202-222Raphidopus ciliatus Stimpson, 1858 is believed to be widely distributed across the Indo-West Pacific and has been reported along the entire coast of China. However, molecular and morphological analyses reveal the presence of a cryptic species in northern Chinese waters, described herein as R. xinzhengi Dong, Wan & Wang sp. nov. The COI sequences of the two species of Raphidopus show 8.7–9.0% divergence, higher than each intraspecific variation. The new species can be distinguished from R. ciliatus primarily by the arrangement of granules on the cheliped carpus, the length/width ratio of the cheliped carpus, and the length/width ratio of the merus of the first ambulatory leg. An updated key to the species of the genus Raphidopus is provided.