A new species of Gaillardiellus Guinot, 1976 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Xanthidae) from the coral reefs of the South China Sea

By

Yuan, Ziming
Jiang, Wei
Zhongli, Sha

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1234

Pages

1--17

Subjects

Actaeinae , COI , Gaillardiellus , identification key , Morphology , new species , rock crabs , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1234.144026

 

Abstract

A new xanthid species of Gaillardiellus Guinot, 1976, is described from the coral reefs of the Xisha and Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. The new species, Gaillardiellus magirubersp. nov., closely resembles G. rueppellii (Krauss, 1843) but can be distinguished mainly by its closer proximity of the outer orbital angle and anterolateral margin, which lacks an accessory lobe, a broader and non-protruding front, and notable differences in live coloration and size. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences further corroborates the validity of this new species. An updated identification key for Gaillardiellus is provided.