Sunday, February 28, 2016

[Crustacea • 2014] Description of Ghatiana, A New Genus of Freshwater Crab, with Two New Species and A New Species of Gubernatoriana (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghat Mountains, India


Figure 8. Newly described crabs from their natural habitats. (A) Ghatiana aurantiaca sp. nov., from laterite rocks in Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Raigad district; (B) Ghatiana hyacintha sp. nov., from bank of a stream in Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolhapur district; (C) Gubernatoriana triangulus sp. nov., from bank of a stream in Tahmini Ghat, Pune district.
Pati & Sharma, 2014 DOI:  10.1080/00222933.2013.859315

Abstract
A new genus of freshwater crab, Ghatiana, with two new species, Ghatiana aurantiaca and Ghatiana hyacintha, and a new species of Gubernatoriana Bott, 1970, are described from the Western Ghat Mountains in Maharashtra State, India. Ghatiana is most similar to Gubernatoriana by its wide, highly arched carapace and by the shape of the male abdomen. Nevertheless, the new genus can be distinguished from Gubernatoriana by the broadness of carapace, length of male abdomen, shape of sixth abdominal somite, length of telson and length of G1 terminal article. Ghatiana aurantiaca sp. nov. and G. hyacintha sp. nov. are distinguished by differences in body colour, carapace width, and G1 morphology, whereas Gubernatoriana triangulus sp. nov. is distinguished from two other known species [Gubernatoriana gubernatoris (Alcock, 1909) and Gubernatoriana pilosipes (Alcock, 1909)] by its triangular G1 subterminal segment and by its carapace morphology. Keys to the species of both the genera are provided.

Keywords: freshwater crabs, taxonomy, new genus, new species, India


Figure 8. Newly described crabs from their natural habitats. (A) Ghatiana aurantiaca sp. nov.,from laterite rocks in Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Raigad district; (B) Ghatiana hyacintha sp. nov., from bank of a stream in Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolhapur district; (C) Gubernatoriana triangulus sp. nov., from bank of a stream in Tahmini Ghat, Pune district.



S.K. Pati and R.M. Sharma. 2014. Description of Ghatiana, A New Genus of Freshwater Crab, with Two New Species and A New Species of Gubernatoriana (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghat Mountains, India, Journal of Natural History. 8:21-22, 1279-1298, DOI:  10.1080/00222933.2013.859315
researchgate.net/publication/262576257_Description_of_Ghatiana_a_new_genus_of_freshwater_crab_with_two_new_species_and_a_new_species_of_Gubernatoriana_Crustacea_Decapoda_Brachyura_Gecarcinucidae_from_the_Western_Ghat_Mountains_India