Relevant Synonyms - Misidentification -  drawing : Tuvia Kurz

SHORT DESCRIPTION Carapace transversely oval, markedly convex, regions well delimited, subdivided into numerous globular lobules. Front deflexed, prominently bilobate, separated from inner orbital tooth by broad depression. Orbital margin thick, crenulate. Eye stalk short, subglobular. Antennulae folding obliquely, inter-antennulary septum broad. Antero-lateral margin prominently arched, crenulate, 11-12 denticles, increasing in size posteriorly; postero-lateral margin short, concave; posterior margin granulate. Chelipeds unequal in both sexes, cheliped carpus externally lobulate, chela and dactyl bearing conical tubercles on outer surface, fingers short, blunt, hollowed at tip. Meri of walking legs with upper margin crested, serrate; carpi, propodi crested with stout spines, thickly fringed with coarse setae, dactyls bearing two setal clumps posteriorly. color : carapace pale brown, lobules darker, cheliped fingers dark brown. common size : CL 3.5 cm (max.). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Carapace markedly globular, antero-lateral margin not crested, dactyls of walking legs with two clumps of setae on posterior distal margin. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Poorly known. habitat : sand, stones, coral reefs, in shallow waters.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Turkey, 1995 [1988]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-West Pacific. Mediterranean : a single record from southern Turkey (Enzenross and Enzenross, 1995 [1988]). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Known from a single record. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Presumably via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Dai A. and S. Yang, 1991. Crabs of the China Seas. 682 pp. Beijing, China Ocean Press. Enzenross R. and L. Enzenross, 1995. Erstnachweis indopazifischer Brachyura (Crustacea: Decapoda) von der türkischen Mittelmeerküste. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie A (Biologie), 521: 1-4. Kocatas A., T. Katagan and A.S. Ates, 2002. Lessepsian invasion decapod crustaceans at Turkish seas. In: Öztürk B. and N. Basusta (eds.), Workshop on Lessepsian Migrations. Turkish Marine Research Foundation Publication, 9: 56-58. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: September 2003 ©ciesm 2002