A revision of the shore crabs of the genus Eriphia (Crustacea: Brachyura: Eriphiidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the shore crabs of the genus Eriphia (Eriphiidae), common in most temperate and tropical seas, is revised. Eight species are recognised. One species, E. verrucosa (Forskål, 1775), occurs in the Mediterranean; another, E. gonagra (Fabricius, 1781) is only known from the western Atlantic, while two species, E. squamata Stimpson, 1859, and E. granulosa A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, are eastern Pacifi c in distribution. Four species are known from the Indo-West Pacific, E. sebana (Shaw & Nodder, 1803), E. smithii (MacLaey, 1838), E. scabricula Dana, 1852, and a new species, E. ferox. The new species has previously been confused with E. smithii. The differences between E. sebana and E. smithii, which have been often been confused with each other, are clarifi ed, and new characters defi ned. A key to all the members of the genus is provided. © National University of Singapore.