A new species of Parasesarma (Brachyura, Sesarmidae) from Western Australia, with a key to the species from Australia

By

Shahdadi, Adnan
Hosie, Andrew M
Hara, Ana
Chan, Benny K.K.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-10-13

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1255

Pages

275--290

Subjects

cox1 , Crustacea , mangrove crab , molecular taxonomy , Morphology , Parasesarma otiense

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1255.162897

 

Abstract

Nine species of Parasesarma are currently recorded from continental Australian mangroves. The present study describes a new species, P. otiensesp. nov., from Western Australia. Parasesarma otiensesp. nov. occurs sympatrically with P. hartogi and P. holthuisi in the mangroves of Exmouth Gulf. In both COX1 and 16SBI trees, the new species is well nested within Parasesarma, but divergent from other species. Morphologically, the new species is distinct from other Parasesarma in having eight asymmetric tubercles with the distal slope longer than the proximal slope on the upper surface of the cheliped dactylus. Parasesarma otiense is the tenth species of Parasesarma recorded from continental Australia, taking the number of species assigned to the genus Parasesarma to 59. A key to the species of Parasesarma known from Australian waters is provided to aid in their identification.