The taxonomy of Sesarma tangi Rathbun, 1931 and S. stormi De Man, 1895 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Grapsidae: Sesarminae), with establishment of a new genus for S. stormi

Abstract

Peter K. L. Ng and Hung-Chang Liu (1999) The taxonomy of Sesarma tangi Rathbun, 1931 and S. stormi De Man, 1895 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Grapsidae: Sesarminae), with establishment of a new genus for S. stormi. Zoological Studies 38(2): 228-237. The identities and generic affinities of 2 poorly known species of grapsid crabs, Sesarma tangi Rathbun, 1931 and S. stormi De Man, 1895, currently provisionally placed in Chiromantes, are clarified. The type, and only known specimen of S. tangi, from mainland China, is redescribed in detail, and it is retained in Chiromantes for the time being. Sesarma stormi is redescribed from specimens recently collected in southern Taiwan and is a new record for the island. This species has several peculiar features which indicate that it should be referred to its own genus. Notes on the ecology of S. stormi are also provided.