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| Umalia modesta Ng, 2025 |
Abstract
A new species of raninid frog crab, Umalia modesta n. sp., is described from the northern part of the South China Sea, near Tungsha Islands. The species is morphologically most similar to U. chinensis (Chen & Sun, 2002) (from southern China) and U. tenuiocellus (Davie & Short, 1989) (from Australia) but can easily be distinguished from them by its carapace form, well developed cornea, and structures of the rostrum, thoracic sternum, third maxilliped and ambulatory legs.
Key words: Tungsha Islands, Taiwan, Raninoidea, new species, comparative taxonomy, genus key
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| Umalia modesta n. sp., holotype female (11.0×14.0 mm) (ZRC 2024.0500), South China Sea. A, overall dorsal view; B, frontal half of carapace (dorsal view); C, frontal view of cephalothorax; D, left anterolateral view of cephalothorax; E, third maxillipeds. |
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| Umalia modesta n. sp., male, station CP4115, southwest of Tungsha Island, South China Sea [specimen not examined] [Photograph: T.-Y. Chan]. |
Superfamily Raninoidea De Haan, 1839
Family Raninidae De Haan, 1839
Subfamily Notopodinae Serène & Umali, 1972
Umalia Guinot, 1993
Umalia modesta, new species
Diagnosis: Carapace shape trapezoidal, anterior part much wider than posterior part, lateral margins almost straight, subparallel; carapace width more than 0.7 total length; fronto-orbital distance less than half width of carapace; anterior ...
Etymology: From the Latin “modesta” for unassuming, alluding to the simple characters of the species
Peter K. L. Ng. 2025. On A New Species of Frog Crab, Umalia modesta n. sp. (Brachyura: Raninidae) from the South China Sea, with A Key to Species in the Genus. Crustacean Research. 54; 53-61. DOI: doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.54.0_53 [September 27, 2025]