Establishment of the Vultocinidae, a new family for an unusual new genus and new species of Indo-West Pacific crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Goneplacoidea), with comments on the taxonomy of the Goneplacidae

Abstract

A new family, Vultocinidae, is established for an unusual new genus and new species of crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Goneplacoidea) here described from relatively deep waters in the central Philippines and Vanuatu. Although Vultocinus anfractus, new genus, new species, superficially resembles pilumnid genera like Lophoplax and pseudoziid genera like Planopilumnus in its deeply sculptured carapace and leg surfaces, its male abdomen and gonopods appear to affiiliate it with the Goneplacidae sensu lato instead. However, its suite of many unusual characters requires the recognition of a new family for Vultocinus. Comparisons of the Vultocinidae with the Goneplacidae sensu stricto suggests that the subfamily Mathildellinae, presently regarded as a subfamily, should be recognised as a full family; and two other problematic constituent genera, Progeryon and Conleyus, are also referred to their respective families in the Goneplacoidea. The genus Paragalene is also referred to the Progeryonidae. The extent of the sterno-abdominal cavity along the thoracic sternites, structure of the posterior thoracic sternites, position of the press button of the male abdominal locking mechanism and form of the first four male abdominal segment as characters in the taxonomy of the Goneplacoidea is also discussed.