A new species of Uroptychus Henderson, 1888 (Decapoda: Anomura: Chirostylidae) from a seamount in the South China Sea

Abstract

A new species of the chirostylid squat lobster, Uroptychus ngae sp. nov. is described based on two specimens from the Zhongnan Seamount, north-central South China Sea. The new species can be distinguished from closely related species mainly by the shape of P2–4 propodi, and the spination of the P1 carpus and merus, the anterior branchial margin and the pterygostomial flap. The present paper is the first report of squat lobster from the seamounts in South China Sea. The present new species represents the first report of a squat lobster from the deep-sea seamounts in the South China Sea.