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Issue: Vol. 5239 No. 1: 8 Feb. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-02-08
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5239.1.5
Page range: 112-126
Abstract views: 446
PDF downloaded: 41

A new freshwater crab species of the genus Vela Bahir & Yeo, 2007 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae) from the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Vidyanagar, Sector 29, P.C.N.T. Post, Akurdi, Pune-411 044, Maharashtra, India.
Citizen Scientist, Karnataka Forest Department, Kali Tiger Reserve Division, Anshi Wildlife Range, Anshi-581 187, Karnataka, India.
Citizen Scientist, Honnepal, Bare Post-581 337, Karnataka, India
Crustacea taxonomy new species anomalous male crab identification key

Abstract

Vela bandhavya sp. nov., a new species of gecarcinucid crab is described from the Central Western Ghats, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state, India. The new species can be immediately distinguished from three other species of Vela Bahir & Yeo, 2007, mainly by its short male sternopleonal cavity and a relatively shorter distal article of the male first gonopod. The diagnosis of Vela is revised to accommodate the new species, and an illustrated identification key is provided for all four species. An anomalous adult male crab, with a pair of pleopods on the pleonal somite 5 in addition to the male gonopods, is also reported.

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