The systematic status of two enigmatic ocypodoid crabs, "Paracleistostoma" dentatum Tesch, 1918, and " Paracleistostoma" fossulum Barnard, 1955 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)

Abstract

The systematic positions of two ocypodoid crabs, Paracleistostoma dentatum Tesch, 1918, and P. fossulum Barnard, 1955, have been uncertain because each were described from single female specimens, with Ng et al. (2008) referring them provisionally to the Dotillidae and Varunidae, respectively. Števčic (2011) recently established two new genera, Lazarocleistostoma Števčic, 2011, and Brankocleistostoma Števčic, 2011, for P. dentatum Tesch, 1918, and P. fossulum Barnard, 1955, respectively. He also recognised two new families, Lazarocleistostomidae Števčic, 2011, and Brankocleistostomidae Števčic, 2011, for these genera. Examination of the types and fresh material of P. fossulum indicates that while both genera are valid, the families are not justified. Brankocleistostoma is a dotillid; while Lazarocleistostoma is a varunid (subfamily Gaeticinae). The tribe Gopkittisakini Števčic, 2011 (type genus Gopkittisak Naruse & Clark, 2009), is also shown to be a junior synonym of Gaeticinae. Copyright © 2012 · Magnolia Press.