A new species of Mictyris (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Mictyridae) recorded from northern Australia-Kimberley region to Cape York

• Published in: Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia Vol. 94; no. 1; p. 45
• Main Authors: Unno, J, Semeniuk, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Welshpool Royal Society of Western Australia 01.03.2011
• Subjects: Brachyura; Decapoda; Marine; Mictyridae; ISW, Australia, Western Australia, Albany; ISEW, Australia, Queensland; ISW, Australia, Western Australia, Kimberley; ISW, Australia, Western Australia
• ISSN: 0035-922X

Mictyris darwinensis is a new species of soldier crab recorded from the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Albany Passage, Cape York in Queensland. Diagnostic features include: its relatively small eyes; smooth carapace; prominent non-recurving antero-lateral spines with microscopically granular ridges to branchial and sub-hepatic regions; chelipeds with long carpus and slender palm; two parallel spines on the ventro-distal marigins of the cheliped merus; narrow front; rectangular and downward-projecting shape of the carapace posterior border; short pointed spine at distal end of dorsal ridge on carpus of walking leg; and long straight dactyl on the 4th walking leg. The new species has morphological affinities with M. longicarpus Latreille 1806, and to a lesser extent with M. occidentalis Unno 2008. M. darwinensis is endemic to the northen Australian coastal sector from Western Australia to Queensland. A key to the described species of Mictyris is provided.