A new species of the sentinel crab Macrophthalmus (Mareotis) Barnes, 1967 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Macrophthalmidae) from Western Australia

Abstract

Specimens previously identified as Macrophthalmus japonicus from Shark Bay, Western Australia, are described as a new species, M. pistrosinus. The new species differs both in behaviour and morphology from its closest relatives, particularly in characters such as proportions of male abdomens, setation patterns of claws, carapace dentition and leg morphology.