Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803)

Koh, S. K. & Ng, Peter K. L., 2008, A Revision Of The Shore Crabs Of The Genus Eriphia (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56 (2), pp. 327-355 : 337-345

Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803)

( Figs. 9–11 , 12D–F , 18A, B , 19B )

Cancer sebana Shaw & Nodder, 1803: 591 , Text–Fig.

Gecarcinus anisocheles Latreille, 1818 : pl. 269, Fig. 1 .

Eriphia laevimana Guérin –Méneville, 1832: Pl. 3; H. Milne Edwards, 1834: 427; Dana, 1852b: 249, Pl. 14, Fig. 7a–c ; Stimpson, 1858: 37; A. Milne-Edwards, 1862: 5; A. Milne- Edwards, 1868: 71; Heller, 1865: 24; A. Milne-Edwards, 1873: 255; Hilgendorf, 1879: 197; Richter, 1880: 151; Haswell, 1882: 75; Miers, 1884: 517; Miers, 1886: 162; De Man, 1887: 68; Henderson, 1893: 367; Ortmann, 1893: 480; Ortmann, 1894: 54; Zehntner, 1894: 161; Whitelegge, 1897: 137; Alcock, 1898: 214; Nobili, 1899: 260; Borradaile, 1900: 589; Borradaile, 1902: 263; Grant & McCulloch, 1906: 14; Stimpson, 1907: 72; Calman, 1909: 48; Gravely, 1927: 145; Balss, 1935: 140; Miyake, 1936: 508; Sakai, 1936: 169, Pl. 12, Fig, 3; Sakai, 1939: 522, Pl. 94, Fig. 1 ; Miyake, 1939: 217; Miyake, 1940: 155; Barnard, 1950: 274; Tweedie, 1950: 124; Sakai, 1953: 75; Edmondson, 1962: 289, Fig. 26a; Sankarakutty, 1962: 146; Serène, 1968: 83; Garth, 1971: 188; Stoddart & Taylor, 1971: 99; Lundoer, 1974: 7; Choy, 1991: 128.

Eriphia fordii MacLeay, 1838: 60 ; Ng & Ahyong, 2001: 90, Fig. 3B .

Eriphia trapeziformis Hess, 1865: 135 , Table 6, Fig. 4.

Eriphia sebana – Rathbun, 1906: 865; Rathbun, 1907: 57; Rathbun, 1911: 233; Edmondson, 1923: 19; Sendler, 1923: 39; McNeill, 1926: 309; McNeill & Ward, 1930: 381, Pl. 54, Fig. 1–2 ; Boone, 1934: 159, Pl. 81–84; Ward, 1937: 212, 214; Sakai, 1934: 311; Holthuis, 1953: 20; Forest & Guinot, 1962: 68; Holthuis, 1968: 217; Derijard, 1966: 169; McNeill, 1968: 66; Serène, 1966: 6, 10; Serène: 1968: 83; Healy & Yaldwyn, 1970: 94, Pl. 44; Garth, 1971: 188; Takeda & Hayashi, 1973: 73; Sakai, 1976: 478, Pl. 172, Fig. 1 ; Takeda & Nunomura, 1976: 76; Chen & Lan, 1978: 276; Miyake, 1983: 131, Pl. 44 Fig. 2 ; Crosnier, in Serène, 1984: 311, Figs. 234–235, Pl. 47B; Wang, 1984: 41; Guinot, 1985: 450; Dai et al., 1986: 331, Pl. 47(7), Fig. 174 (1); Garth et al., 1987: 237, 257; Dai & Yang, 1991: 356, Pl. 47(7),

Material examined. – Neotype of Eriphia sebana (here designated): male (38.5 × 53.8 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1020 ), Okinawa, Japan, coll. H. C. Liu, 16 Jul.1995. Others : MAURITIUS: 1 male (34.6 × 46.9 mm) ( MNHN B-2443S) (lectotype of Eriphia laevimana Guérin- Méneville, 1832); 1 female (38.8 × 51.6 mm) ( MNHN B-2442S) (paralectotype of Eriphia laevimana Guérin-Méneville, 1832 ); 1 dried female ( MMUS-C 1251 ); 1 male ( ZMUC), Flad Island , coll. Th. Mortensen Expedition 1929–30, 17 Oct.1929. PERSIAN GULF: 3 females ( ZMUC), intertidal area, coll. Loppenthin, 22 Mar.1938 & G. Thorson, 20 Apr.1937; 5 females (3 ovigerous) ( ZMUC), station 69, Quisman (Tavila), coll. G. Thorson, 18 Apr.1937. KENYA: 1 male ( ZMUC), Flad Island , coll. Th. Mortensen Expedition 1929–30, 17 Oct.1929; 1 male ( ZMUC), mangrove, Gazi , 50 km south of Mombassa, coll. T. Wolff, 24 Jun.1970. SOUTH AFRICA: 1 female (39.2 × 52.3 mm) (MMUS- C 2927), Cape of Good Hope , coll. Dr. A. Smith (holotype of Eriphia fordii MacLeay, 1838 ). MOZAMBIQUE: 1 male (19.2 × 26.6 mm) ( SAM-A 43361 ), Vilanculos , coll. B. F. Kensley, 21 May 1973. SEYCHELLES: 1 female (46.8 × 63.3 mm) ( SMNH 14385 ), Long Islands , coll. H. Sundberg, 2 Apr.1935; 1 female (33.8 × 46.7 mm) ( SMNH 14369 ), Frigate Islands , coll. H. Sundberg, 11 Apr.1935. NICOBAR ISLANDS: 1 female ( ZMUC), station no. 224, Nancowry Island , coll. Galathea Expedition 1950–52, 6 May 1951; 7 females (largest 72.9 × 57.9 mm, 2 ovigerous) ( ZMUC), coll. Galathea Expedition, 1846. COCOS–KEELING ISLANDS: 2 males (40.9 × 56.4 mm, 18.6 × 25.9 mm) ( WAM 737-89 (2)), Horsburgh Islands , intertidal, coll. F. Wells, 9 Feb.1989; 1 male (41.0–30.5 × 55.0– 41.1 mm) ( ZRC 1965.11.17.91–93), coll. C. A. Gibson-Hill, 1941. CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Indian Ocean): 1 male (24.4 × 31.1 mm), 3 females (29.9–16.3 × 41.5–23.0 mm) ( WAM 1293-85 ), Flying Fish Cove , on reef, under rocks, coll. E. Car, 26 Jun.1961; 1 female (47.0 × 63.3 mm), 1 ovigerous female (37.8 × 51.4 mm) ( WAM 1802-85 ), coll. E. Car, Jul.1961; 2 females (16.0 × 21.9 mm, 11.2 × 15.7 mm), 1 juvenile (6.6 × 9.4 mm) ( WAM 17675), Flying Fish Cove , under stones, coll. R. W George & V. Russel, 13 Feb.1978; 1 male (10.5 × 15.3 mm) ( WAM 1752- 85 ), Australia , Flying Fish Cove , under rocks, coll. E. Car, 13 Jun.1961; 1 female (49.6 × 65.9 mm) ( WAM 2250-86 ), Ethel Beach , coll. Powell, 5 May 1961; 1 male (38.8 × 52.8 mm) ( WAM 2251- 86 ), Ethel Beach , coll. Powell, 21 Jul.1961; 1 female (35.7 × 48.8 mm) ( WAM 2258-86 ), coll. Powell, Sep.1961; 1 juvenile (9.3 × 13.1 mm) ( WAM 642-88 ), coll. H. Yorkston, Aug.1968; 1 juvenile (10.3 × 14.6 mm) ( WAM), Flying Fish Cove , on reef, under rocks, coll. E. Car, 28 Jun.1961; 4 males (41.2–17.0 × 56.5– 23.8 mm), 5 females (38.5–22.9 × 52.0– 32.2 mm), 1 ovigerous female (34.7 × 47.1 mm) ( ZRC 1965.11.17.80–89), coll. C. A. Gibson-Hill, Aug.–Sep.1932. THAILAND: 2 males (37.5–38.2 × 53.2– 52.3 mm), 2 females (41.6 × 56.7 mm, damaged) ( ZRC 1999.1023 ), Phuket, coll. P. K. L. Ng, Dec.1998; 1 female (31.2 × 45.0 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1024 ), Phuket, coll. P. K. L. Ng, Apr.1999; 1 female (35.8 × 48.1 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1039 ), Thailand , Phuket Province, Liam Phan Wa , coll. Sisukri, 21 Apr.1977; 1 male, 1 female ( ZMUC), coll. S. Lundoer, 16 Dec.1971; 1 female ( ZMUC), station 1134, northeast Koh Lon island , coll. 5th Thai-Danish Expedition , 24 Feb.1966. MALAYSIA: 1 male (31.0 × 43.1 mm) ( ZRC 1996.1929 ), Talang Besar reef, coll. J. R. Henderson & D. S. Johnson, 16 Feb.1963; 1 female (37.8 × 53.7 mm) ( ZRC 1987.36 ), Kota Kinabalu Fish Market , Sabah, coll. Lee Nyanti, 5 Nov.1986; 1 female (35.2 × 51.0 mm) ( ZRC 1987.850 ), Kota Kinabalu Fish Market , Sabah, coll. Lee Nyanti, 5 Nov 1986; 1 male (34.0 × 46.4 mm) ( ZRC 1965.11.17.90), Aor Island , coll. M. W. F. Tweedie, Jun.1938; 1 female (37.8 × 52.7 mm) ( ZRC 1965.11.17.38), no precise data. SOUTH CHINA SEA: 1 female (46.8 × 62.5 mm) ( ZRC 1985.1164 ), waters off Singapore , coll. D. S. Johnson. PHILIPPINES: 1 male (29.5 × 40.4 mm), 1 female (29.1 × 39.7 mm) ( WAM 2254-6 ), Sulu Sea , Palawan, Balabac Islands , Claredon Bay , coll. B. R. Wilson on “Pele”, 10 Mar.1964; 1 male (24.3 × 34.4 mm), 1 female (31.3 × 43.5 mm) ( WAM 2255-86 ), Quyan Province , Balongey District , near Panukalon , among or near mangroves, under stones, coll. B. R. Wilson, 30 Jul.1965. CHINA: 1 male (44.0 × 60.7 mm), 1 female (38.1 × 52.4 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1022 ), Xisha Islands , coll. 7 Mar.1975. TAIWAN: 1 female (26.6 × 37.4 mm) ( ZRC 1998.385 ), Pingtung County, Hengchun peninsula, Hsiang Chiao Wan , coll. H. C. Liu, 19 May 1998; 1 female (33.3 × 45.8 mm) ( ZRC 1998.387 ), Pingtung County, Hengchun Peninsula , Hsiang Chiao Wan , coll. H. C. Liu, 19 May 1998; 2 males (31.2–28.9 × 43.2– 38.9 mm) ( ZRC 1998.501 ), Pingtung County, Hengchun , Chuan Fan Shr , coll. P. K. L. Ng et al., 31 May 1998; 2 females (30.4–30.2 × 43.0– 42.3 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1025 ), Pingtung County, Kenting , coll. 11 Jun.1998; 1 female (34.9 × 48.5 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1026 ), Pingtung County, Kenting , Chuan Fan Shr , coll. H. C. Liu, 15–17 Nov.1995; 1 female (34.2 × 48.0 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1027 ), Taitung, Tu Lan Wan , coll. H. C. Liu et al., 16 Dec.1995. JAPAN: 1 male (30.2 × 42.7 mm) ( ZRC 1999.1021 ), Okinawa, coll. H. C. Liu, 16 Jul.1995. AUSTRALIA: 1 male (42.0 × 59.9 mm) ( AM-P 15678 ), north New South Wales, Angourie , 29°29'S 153°22'E, coll. A. A. Cameron, 4 Feb.1967; 1 female (15.5 × 21.0 mm) ( AM-P 7258 ), New South Wales, New Castle , coll. M. Ward; 1 female (47.3 × 65.4 mm) ( AM-P 16924 ), Queensland, Coral Sea , Diamond Islets , West Cay , 13°11'S 143°43'E, coll. McMichael & J. C. Yaldwyn, 23 Oct.1964; 1 male (40.3 × 54.5 mm) ( AM-P 16925 ), Queensland, Coral Sea , Diamond Islets , West Cay , 13°11'S 143°43'E, coll. McMichael & J. C. Yaldwyn, Oct.1964; 1 male (9.2 × 12.9 mm) ( QM-W 22535 ), northeastern Queensland, Coral Sea , Coringa-Herald Nature Reserve , northeastern Herald Coy , 16.56'S 149.11'E, 4m, coll. P. Davie, 18 Jun.1997; 1 male (28.9 × 40.4 mm) ( WAM 2256-86 ), Queensland, Raine Islands , coll. G. F. Mees, 8 Oct.1961; 2 dried males, 2 dried females ( MMUS-C 1255–1258 ), Bramble Cay; 1 dried male, 2 dried females ( MMUS-C 1262–1264 ), Bramble Cay; 1 male (32.2 × 43.9 mm) ( WAM 2257-86 ), Heron Islands , reef flat beach edge, under rocks, coll. R. W. George, 21 May 1961; 1 female (47.6 × 65.8 mm) ( WAM 43-58 ), Lowendahl Islands , near Montebello, coll. R. W. George, 21 Sep.1958; 1 female (49.4 × 67.1 mm) ( WAM 45-58 ), Double Islands , Barrow Islands , coll. R. W. George, 19 Sep.1958; 2 females (41.6 × 55.5 mm, 30.9 × 42.0 mm) ( WAM 52-58 ), southeastern Islands of Montebello groups, coll. R. W. George, 8 Sep.1957; 1 male (42.7 × 57.3 mm) ( WAM 290-74 ), northern Western Australia, Kendrew Islands , Darpier, coll. Crown of Thorns Survey , May 1972; 1 female (45.9 × 61.2 mm), 1 ovigerous female (42.9 × 58.2 mm) ( WAM 359-74 ), near Cape Dupy , northern end of Burrow Islands , coll. L. S. Hammond, 29 Sep.1974; 1 male (34.4 × 46.9 mm) ( WAM 1103-85 ), Heron Island , reef at evening, coll. R. W. George, 10 May 1961; 1 female (33.4 × 44.5 mm) ( WAM 1104-85 ), Northwestern Cape , northwestern Yardie CK homestead, beach, coll. P. Cawthorn, 15 Aug.1962; 2 females (47.7 × 64.2 mm, 44.5 × 60.3 mm) ( WAM 2249-86 ), western Ningaloo homestead point, reef crest, under stones, coll. Ningaloo Expedition, 4 Sep.1968; 1 female (46.1 × 41.7 mm) ( WAM 2253-86 ), northern Western Australia, Ningaloo Station , north Norwegian Bay , coll. Ningaloo Expedition, 22 Aug.1968; 1 male (32.2 × 43.9 mm) ( WAM 2257-86 ), Heron Island , reef flat beach edge under rocks, coll. R. W. George, 21 May 1961; 1 female (20.4 × 38.6 mm) ( WAM 2259-86 ), Western Islands , Anchor Islands , Mary Ann Passage, coll. R. J. Harrison, 16 Jul.1963; 2 females (42.4 × 58.1 mm, 31.7 × 44.0 mm) ( WAM 2261-86 ), between Cape Dupy and Cape Malouet, rocky shore platform, pools and brown algae covered stones, 20°40'to 42'S, 115°25'E, coll. WAM-USNM Barrow Islands , WA Expedition 1966, 6 Aug.1966; 1 female (46.0 × 62.2 mm) ( WAM 24069), Ethel Beach, coll. P. B., Nov.1987; 2 females (54.5 × 76.3 mm, 45.0 × 62.4 mm) ( WAM 243-93 ), Western Australia, Montebello Islands , 20°23'31'S 115°29'39'E, coll. L. Marsh & C. Bryce, 21 Aug.1993; 1 female (55.9 × 73.8 mm) ( WAM 244-93 ), Western Australia, Montebelo Islands , coll. W. A. M. MB Expedition, Aug.1993; 1 male (34.0 × 46.5 mm) ( WAM uncat.), Western Australia, northwestern Montebello Islands , coll. F. E. Wells, 19 Aug.1986. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1 female (37.3 × 51.1 mm) ( ZRC 1995.406 ), Laing Islands , coll. D. Vandenspiegel, 8 Mar.1992. GILBERT ISLANDS: 1 ovigerous female (42.0 × 56.8 mm) ( AM-P 19988 ), Teirio Islands , Abaiang Atoll, coll. B. Goldman. SAMOA: 1 male ( BPBM 4846 ), coll. Harris Expedition, no other data; 1 male ( BPBM 10661 ), Aunuu Island , 14°17'S 170°33'W, leeward side, coll. D. M. Devaney, 26 Mar.1971; – 1 male ( BPBM 1672 ), no other data; 2 females ( ZMUC), from Godeffroy Museum. FIJI: 1 female ( BPBM 10662 ), Matuku, Vitu, Uula, coll. Y. Kondo, 1968; 1 male ( BPBM 3974 ), coll. C. H. Edmondson, Feb.1933; 2 females ( BPBM 6228 ), Suva Reef, coll. Ostergaard, 23 Jun.1926; 2 dried males, 2 dried females ( MMUS-C 1258–1261 ). NEW CALEDONIA: 1 dried female ( MMUS-C 1263 ); 1 male, 2 females ( ZMUC), small island 12 km east of Mbau Island , reef at low tide, southeast Viti Levu, coll. T. Wolff, 4 May 1965; 1 male ( ZMUC), 0–0.5 m, Suva Harbour, coll. 2 May 1934. MARIANAS: 1 female ( BPBM 2881 ), coll. Hornbostel, 1923. GUAM: 7 males, 2 females ( ZRC 2000.690 ), Pago Bay , oustide marine laboratory, University of Guam , coll. P. K. L. Ng & C. H. Wang, 15–18 Apr.2000. MARSHALL ISLANDS: 1 female ( BPBM 10504 ), Arno Atoll, no other data; 2 males ( ZMUC), coll. Captain Hart; 1 male ( ZMUC). ENIWETOK: 1 male, 1 female ( BPBM 10506 ), ocean side of reef, coll. E. B. Guinther, 17 Sep.1970; 1 female ( BPBM 10508 ), Runit Island , easr reef, coll. Stokes, 14 Jun.1965. PALMYRA ISLANDS: 1 female ( BPBM 858 ), coll. C. M. Cooke, 1913; 1 male ( BPBM 859 ), coll. L. L. Thurston, 1922. TONGA: 1 male ( BPBM 2991 ), Tongatabu, reef off Nukulota, coll. Ostergaard, Jul.–Aug.1926; 1 female ( BPBM 10665 ), coll. T. Dye, 5 Aug.1976; 1 male ( BPBM 10664 ), coll. T. Dye, 5 Aug.1976. JARVIS ISLAND: 1 female ( BPBM 4978 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 1935; 2 males ( BPBM 4088 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 27 Jun.1935; 1 male ( BPBM 4128 ), coll. Coman Expedition, 1935. FANNING ISLAND: 1 female ( BPBM 7914 ), lagoon side at North Pass , coll. E. B. Guinther, 10 Jan.1970; 2 males, 6 females ( BPBM 806 ), coll. Ball & C. H. Edmondson, Jan.–Aug.1922. BAKER ISLAND: 5 females ( BPBM 2096 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Oct.1924. HOWLAND ISLAND: 1 male ( BPBM 4348 ), coll. Coman Expedition, Jan.1936; 1 male ( BPBM 4095 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 1935; 1 female ( BPBM 4141 ), coll. Coman Expedition, Jan.1936; 1 male, 1 female (dried) ( BPBM 4170 ), coll. Itasca Expedition, 27 Jun.1935. WASHINGTON ISLAND: 2 males ( BPBM 1951 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Aug.1924. HAWAII: 1 male (48.3 × 67.1 mm) ( AMNH 7615 ), Honolulu, Honolulu Market, coll. Second Templeton Crocker Expedition, Nov.1936 (holotype of Eriphia sebana hawaiiensis ); 1 male, 2 females ( BPBM 5054 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, 1924; 3 males, 3 females ( BPBM 2040 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Oct.1934. PHOENIX ISLAND: 1 female ( BPBM 10660 ), Gardner Atoll, coll. D.R. Stoddart, Mar.1975. CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Pacific): 1 female ( BPBM 10505 ), coll. P. Helfrich; 1 female ( BPBM 2953 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Aug.1924; 2 males, 2 females ( BPBM 2122 ), coll. J. C. London, Kamiloa Expedition, 14 Dec.1924; 3 males, 3 females ( BPBM 1871 ), coll. Whip-Poor-Will Expedition, Aug.1924. TUAMOTU: 1 male ( BPBM 8532 ), Rangivoa, coll. A. Fielding, 7 Oct 1975. NO DATA: 1 dried female ( MMUS-C 1252 ); 1 male ( ZMUC), “Oest Indien”.

Type locality. – Japan (based on neotype) .

Diagnosis. – Carapace hexagonal; dorsal surface tuberculated anteriorly, tubercles scale-like, low; rest of surface minutely granulated. Gastric region with low tubercles covering half of protogastric and anterior hepatic region. Front with five or six denticles on each side of median notch, external frontal spine most prominent, other spines decreasing in size from median notch. Orbit denticulated; two external and an internal orbital spines present; supraorbital and infraorbital margins each with two longitudinal fissures. Anterolateral margin convex, with four to six spines, decreasing in size posteriorly, spines acute. Surface of third maxilliped generally smooth, pubescent with setal tufts uniformly distributed. Pterygostomial region not pubescent, relatively smooth. Acute tubercles present on suborbital region. Chelipeds generally smooth, except for occasional tubercles on anterior region of minor chela, major chela generally smooth; carpus with prominent acute spine at distal inner margin and one or two smaller ones on ventral surface where some tubercles may be present; fingers short, stout, usually pigmented white. Surfaces of ambulatory leg smooth, both anterior and posterior margins with long and short dark setae; merus tuberculated anteriorly, with long setae along both margins. Anterior male thoracic sternum pubescent, minutely tuberculated anteriorly. G1 relatively short, subcylindrical, sinuous medially, tapered distally, tip rounded, spinules at one-sixth length of G1 along inner edge, with pubescence above basal segment.

Remarks. – Seba (1759) published a catalogue on his personal specimen collection, and in it, he included a figure of the species, Eriphia sebana which he named “ Cancer fluviatili, sive gammarus americanus ...”. Since his name is non-binomial, it is a nomen nudum. Holthuis (pers. comm.) commented that “His [Seba] descriptions were poor, his locality and habitat labels notoriously untrustworthy, only the illustrations made the value of his book ...”. Shaw & Nodder (1803), nevertheless, followed Seba’s (1759) figure and data, and named it “ Cancer Sebanus ” and stated that its type locality was America. However, there have been no reports of such (or any even similar) species from America. We have also been unable to locate any specimens or know of any published record which can even be vaguely attributed to this species from the New World. All the specimens we have examined or know of E. sebana have been collected from the Indo-Pacific. Most likely, Seba had given the wrong locality in his catalogue again. In any case, Seba’s specimens are no longer extant.

Guérin-Méneville (1832) introduced the name Eriphia laevimana for this species on a plate published between 1830 and 1832, giving its type locality as Mauritius. Henri Milne Edwards (1834) subsequently listed the species, recognising it as Guérin-Méneville’s (1832) taxon. Rathbun (1906) synonymized E. sebana and E. laevimana , but did not give any reasons for doing so. In the Paris Museum are two Guérin-Méneville specimens, a male (34.6 × 46.9 mm, MNHN B-2443S) and a female (38.8 × 51.6 mm, MNHN B- 2442S), both from Mauritius. The specimens were examined and photographed in detail by Oliver Chia at our request – they are clearly conspecific with Seba’s (1759) and Shaw and Nodder’s (1803) taxa. The male specimen (MNHN B- 2443S) is here regarded as the lectotype. Latreille (1818) also reproduced Seba’s (1759) figure but inexplicably named it Gecarcinus anisocheles instead. As such, it shares the same holotype (Seba’s 1759 specimen) as Shaw and Nodder’s species, Cancer sebana , and both names are thus objective synonyms.

Many authors, however, were apparently more familiar with Guérin-Méneville’s (1832) E. laevimana than Shaw & Nodder’s (1803) E. sebana . Until Rathbun (1906), all authors referred to this species under the former name. There is some confusion, however, with the supposed authorship for E. laevimana . Many believed that E. laevimana was a Latreille species (e.g. Haswell, 1882; Calman, 1909; Sakai, 1939; Edmondson, 1962) while some regarded H. Milne Edwards (1834) as the original author (e.g. Miers, 1884). As Seba’s original specimen(s), which is the de facto type of Cancer sebanus Shaw & Nodder, 1803 , is lost, an ethanol preserved male specimen (ZRC 1999.1020) from Okinawa, Japan, is here designated as the neotype. We believe this is necessary to stabilize the taxonomy of this problematic species, especially since Shaw and Nodder’s name has clear priority, and there has been so much confusion with its taxonomy, identity and validity over the years.

In addition, on examination of the holotype of Eriphia sebana hawaiiensis Ward, 1939 , we have no doubt that it is only a large male Eriphia sebana . From the original descriptions and figures of Eriphia trapeziformis by Hess (1865) (type locality Australia), we are also confi dent that it is also a subjective junior synonym of E. sebana . In any case, we have examined a good number of specimens from many parts of Australia and the Pacific, and all are clearly referrable to E. sebana as here defined.

Many authors have expressed doubts in trying to separate E. sebana and E. smithii sensu lato, as the only major difference appeared to be the presence of tubercles on the outer surfrace of the chela in E. smithii which are absent in E. sebana . Some have regarded the difference as mere variation and do not recognise the two species (e.g. Miers, 1880; Lanchester, 1900; Sakai, 1936; Edmondson, 1962; Khan, 1977). Examination of a sizeable collection on hand of both species shows that although this character is not always reliable, E. smithii is certainly not a subspecies or variety of E. sebana , with other characters available to easily separate them.

Compared to E. smithii MacLeay, 1838 sensu stricto and the related E. ferox , new species, E. sebana Shaw & Nodder, 1803 , has a prominent external frontal denticle with the rest of the frontal denticles often decreasing in size externally. The tubercles on the carapace are also low, blunt and scale-like, extending only to half of the protogastric region and proximal anterolateral region (see Diagnosis). Occasionally, specimens with the minor chela slightly tuberculated proximally are observed, but the tubercles are never acute, remain low and blunt and are almost undiscernible. The fingers of both chelipeds are often white in colour, with those of larger specimens (approximately over 60 mm in carapace width) being occasionally darkly pigmented.

De Man (1887) mentioned that two male young specimens from Owen Islands (Mergui Archipelago, Indian Ocean) were unusual. One (carapace width of 10 mm) had tubercles on both chelae, while another (carapace width of 14 mm) had eroded tubercles. Therefore, he concluded that young specimens of E. sebana had tubercles that soon disappeared on maturity. Although we have examined young specimens (e.g. WAM 2260-86, carapace widths 9 to 22 mm) from Christmas Island with completely smooth chelae, there is a young specimen (carapace width 21 mm) from New South Wales, Australia, which has tuberculated chelae. In a collection from Quisma in the Persian Gulf (ZMUC), the outer surface of the larger right chela of one female (40.9 × 52.2 mm) had small rounded granules on the upper proximal one-fifth; but in the larger chela of the other four female specimens in this lot, the chela is completely smooth. Examination of specimens from Phuket (western Thailand) (e.g. ZRC 1999.1023) and Sabah ( Malaysia) (e.g. ZRC 1999.1023) showed that De Man’s (1887) suggestion might not be valid. Specimens approximately 35 mm in carapace width retain the tuberculation on the minor chela with occasional marks on the major chela which indicate where there were previously tubercles. These marks are often obvious in freshly preserved specimens, even when the surface of the chela feels completely smooth to the touch. However, all share the same characters as mentioned in the present definition of E. sebana , with a prominent external frontal spine on each side and the presence of dense setae on the anterior margin of the ambulatory merus.

Examination of the type of Eriphia fordii MacLeay, 1838 , previously believed to be a junior synonym of E. smithii MacLeay, 1838 , by Miers (1880), shows that the latter action is unjustified. As noted by Ng & Ahyong (2001), the two species differ in many ways. Eriphia fordii has a prominent external prominent frontal spine on each side and dense pubescence on the ambulatory leg meri anteriorly, with almost smooth chelae except for a few tubercles at the proximal part of the minor chela. Eriphia fordii resembles E. sebana in all aspects, and the two species are accordingly synonymised (see Ng & Ahyong, 2001).

Eriphia sebana seems to prefer more oceanic waters such as the Indian Ocean and eastern Pacific Ocean, and has seldom been reported from the less saline waters of the Sunda Shelf.

Natives in many parts of the world catch this species for food, and there are cases of death reported upon consumption ( Ward, 1937; Holthuis, 1968; Wang & Liu, 1996; Ng, 1998). Natives of some other places like the Pacific island of Su’uholo, regarded E. sebana as a totem, whereby consumption of the crab is forbidden ( Ward, 1937).

Distribution. – Indo-Pacific region, north from Japan, China, Taiwan to Pacific Islands such as Hawaii, French Polynesia and Samoa, Australia, to Christmas Island, Cocos-Keeling Islands to India, eastern coasts of Africa.

Eriphia smithii MacLeay, 1838 , sensu stricto ( Figs. 13–15 , 18C )

Eriphia smithii MacLeay, 1838: 60 ; A. Milne-Edwards, 1868: 71; Hoffman, 1874: 6, Pl. 1, Fig. 1a–c ; Ortmann, 1894: 54; Stebbing, 1910: 303; Barnard, 1950: 274, Fig. 37, f, Fig. 51; Sankarakutty, 1962: 147; Michel, 1964: 26; Crosnier, in Serène, 1984: 311, Figs. 236–237, Pl. 47C; Tirmizi & Ghani, 1996: 24, Fig. 8 ; Ng & Ahyong, 2001: 89, Fig. 3C ; Ng et al., 2008: 63.

Eriphia laevimana smithii – Hilgendorf, 1879: 197; Alcock, 1898: 216; Nobili, 1906: 291; Balss, 1922: 13; Chhapgar, 1957: 439, Pl. 11; Khan, 1977: 186, Pl. 3D.

Eriphia sebana smithii – Stephenson, 1946: 140, Fig. 34C–D.

Material examined. – Holotype: dried male (43.0 × 56.4 mm) ( MMUS-C 2926 ), Cape of Good Hope , South Africa, coll. Dr. A. Smith. Others: MOZAMBIQUE: 2 males (36.1 × 47.4 mm, 33.6 by 42.6 mm) ( SAM-A 15414 ), Inhaca Island , coll. 6 Jun.1971; 1 female (36.8 × 50.2 mm) ( SAM-A 15416 ), Zavora Point, coll. 18 Jun.1971; 2 females (38.8 × 52.8 mm, 35.9 × 48.0 mm) ( SAM-A 43360 ), Vilanculos, coll. 21 May 1973; 1 male (24.3 × 33.2 mm), 1 female (27.8 × 38.1 mm) ( ZRC 2000.10 ), between Durbo and Marague, coll. M. L. Azzarou, 23 Oct.1973. KENYA: 1 female (43.0 × 33.2 mm) ( ZMUC Cru 247-1913), Tangae, Mengoriff, from Munich Museum, coll. Zimmer; 1 male (34.2 × 26.0 mm), 1 female (32.0 × 24.4 mm) ( ZMUC), reef flat, Mbudya, Kunovemi, coll. P. Blanner, 5 Aug.1974.

Type locality. – Cape of Good Hope , South Africa .

Diagnosis. – Carapace hexagonal; dorsal surface tuberculated anteriorly, tubercles low, blunt; minutely granulated posteriorly. Gastric region with scale-like tubercles covering three-quarters of protogastric region. Tuberculations on hepatic region mostly blunt, except for some near anterolateral margin. Front with five to seven denticles on each side of median notch, arranged randomly. Orbits denticulated entirely, two external spines and an internal orbital spine present; supraorbital and infraorbital margins each with two longitudinal fissures. Anterolateral margin gently convex, with five or six blunt, low spines, decreasing in size posteriorly; first anterolateral teeth may have smaller spine. Posterolateral margin minutely granulated. Surface of third maxilliped granulated, lightly pubescent on ischium. Pterygostomial region granulated. Acute tubercles present on suborbital region. Outer surfaces of chelae tuberculated to varying degrees; major chela with few low tubercles on anterior region; minor chela entirely covered with densely packed acute tubercles; denticles present on ventral margin of basis-ischium and merus; carpus of major chela sparsely tuberculated, densely tuberculated on carpus of minor chela; fingers short, stout, darkly pigmented. Surfaces of ambulatory legs smooth, sparsely pubescent; merus smooth anteriorly, with few short setae proximally. Anterior male thoracic sternum tuberculated, pubescent. G1 relatively short, stout, tubular, spinules present on inner margin.

region. Examination of MacLeay’s (1838) holotype of E. smithii shows that the SAM specimens from the eastern coasts of South Africa agree very well with it in almost all respects. The number of tubercles on the frontal margin, however, varies from five to seven.

However, direct comparisons of the South African specimens with those from the Sunda Shelf and western Pacific showed that there are numerous differences between them. Overall, the tuberculation on the carapace and anterolateral teeth of the South African specimens are lower and blunter compared to those from other areas, which are sharp and acute. The pubescence on the dorsal surfaces of the chelipeds present in the Sundaic and western Pacific specimens has not been observed in any of the South African specimens or mentioned by any previous workers. When the G1s were compared, those from South Africa are relatively stout, straight, tubular, with the outer margin of the basal part having a shelf-like structure ( Fig. 15 ); while those from the Sunda Shelf and west Pacific are relatively more slender, sinuous, slightly tapered distally, with the outer margin of the basal part sloping gradually and without a distinct shelf ( Fig. 17 ). Specimens Remarks. – MacLeay (1838) described E. smithii from South Africa. He noted that the dorsal surface of the carapace is tuberculated except posteriorly, the orbit is tuberculated, the frontal margin has five tubercles on each side, the major chela is sparsely tuberculated while the smaller chela is densely so. Subsequently, this species has been reported by many authors (e.g. Dana 1852b; Stimpson, 1858; 1907; Sakai, 1934; Takeda, 1982; Ng, 1998) from the Indo-West Pacific from the Sunda Shelf and Pacific are here referred to a new species, E. ferox .

A study of the literature suggests that only the records of E. smithii from east and southern Africa, western India, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf are valid (cf. Hoffman, 1874; Stephensen, 1946; Chhapgar, 1957; Crosnier, in Serène, 1984; Tirmizi & Ghani, 1996).

Distribution. – On the basis of the available literature, the species has a western Indian Ocean distribution.

Figures

Fig. 9. Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), neotype male, 38.5 × 53.8 mm, ZRC 1999.1020: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, chelipeds.

Fig. 10. Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), male, 48.3 × 67.1 mm, AMNH 7615, holotype of Eriphia sebana hawaiiensis Ward, 1939. A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, ventral view.

Fig. 11. Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), female, 36.2 × 52.3 mm, MMUS–C 2927, holotype of Eriphia fordii MacLeay, 1838. A, dorsal view; B, frontal view.

Fig. 12. Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852, male, 16.1 × 23.2 mm, SAM-A 12155: A–C; Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), male, 42.0 × 59.9 mm, AM-P 15678. A, D, G1s; B, E, distal part of G1s; C, F, G2s. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 18. Chelipeds: A, Eriphia sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), male, 48.3 × 67.1 mm, AMNH 7615, holotype of E. sebana hawaiiensis Ward, 1939; B, E. sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), female, 36.2 × 52.3 mm, MMUS-C 2927, holotype of E. fordii MacLeay, 1838; C, E. smithii MacLeay, 1838, holotype male (dried), 43.0 × 56.4 mm, MMUS-C 2926.

Fig. 19. Last ambulatory legs: A, Eriphia ferox, new species, holotype male, 47.3 × 66.0mm, ZRC 1999.1001; B, E. sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), neotype male, 38.5 × 53.8 mm, ZRC 1999.1020.

Fig. 1. Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål, 1775), male, 50.6 × 60.4 mm, USNM 152249: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, ventral view.

Fig. 7. Gonopods: A–C, Eriphia squamata Stimpson, 1859, male, 29.9 × 40.9 mm, USNM 17787; D–G, E. granulosa A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, male, 10.0 × 14.9 mm, USNM 78218. A, D, F, G1s; B, E, distal part of G1s; C, G, G2s. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 3. Gonopods: A–C, Eriphia verrucosa (Forskål, 1775), male, 50.6 × 60.4 mm, USNM 152249. D–F, E. gonagra (Fabricius, 1781), male, 26.0 × 18.7 mm, NHM 1887.23: A, D, G1s; B, E, distal part of G1s; C, F, G2s. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 2. Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781), male, 18.7 × 26.0 mm, NHM 1887.23: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, chelipeds; D, ventral view.

Fig. 13. Eriphia smithii MacLeay, 1838, holotype male (dried), 43.0 × 56.4 mm, MMUS-C 2926, holotype male: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, ventral view.

Fig. 14. Eriphia smithii MacLeay, 1838, male, 36.1 × 47.4 mm, SAM-A 15414: A. Female, 38.8 × 52.8 mm, SAM–A 43360: B, C. A, B, dorsal views; C, ventral view and chelipeds.

Fig. 15. Eriphia smithii MacLeay, 1838, male, 24.3 × 33.2 mm, ZRC 2000.10: A–D; SAM-A 15414, 36.1 × 47.4 mm, male: H, I; ZMUC, 34.2 × 26.0 mm: E–G,. A, B, E, H, I, G1s (H, I setae not drawn); C, F, distal part of G1s; D, G, G2s. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 8. Eriphia scabricula Dana, 1852, male, 20.0 × 29.0 mm, WAM C 21419: A, dorsal view; B, frontal view; C, chelipeds; D, ventral view.

Fig. 17. Eriphia ferox, new species. Holotype male, 47.3 × 66.0 mm, ZRC 1999.1001: A, G1; B, distal part of G1; C, G2. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.