Macrophthalmus (Macrophthalmus) brevis (Herbst, 1804)

(Figs. 2 C, D)

Cancer brevis Herbst, 1804: 9, pl. 60, fig. 4.

Macrophthalmus brevis — Tesch 1915: 169, pl. 4, fig. 5.

Macrophthalmus (Macrophthalmus) brevis — Barnes 1971: 4, fig. 1; 2010: 40, fig. 2b. — Komai et al. 1995: 107, fig. 2.

Material examined. 1 male (11.50 x 5.50 mm) (MZB Cru 3266), Kamora, Papua, 23.07.2008; 1 male (7.27 x 12.91 mm) (MZB Cru 3267), 1 male (8.96 x 17.60 mm), 1 ovig. (8.36 x 14.54 mm) (RCLA-C.B.0254), 1 male (7.09 x 12.72 mm, 1 ovig. 7.45 x 14.36 mm) (ZRC 2011.0998), Sekotong, Lombok, 30.07.2005.

Remarks. The specimens in this collection agree well with the description of the species given by Barnes (1971) and Komai et al. (1995): the carapace width is more than twice the length, the dorsal surface of the carapace is granular with two or three clumps of granules on the branchial regions and the chelipeds are elongated. One specimen from Kamora, Papua is a juvenile male, but we are confident that this specimen also belongs to M. brevis . Its G1 has the same morphological character as that figured by Komai et al. (1995), but the chelipeds are not elongated, however the specific character, the longitudinal ridge on the outer face of fixed finger that continues to the lower outer surface of the palm, is clearly indicated.

Habitat. Upper and mid intertidal areas of muddy shores near river mouths.

Geographical distribution. Indian Ocean to Singapore, Malaysia and Hainan I. In Indonesia it was recorded from Sulawesi and Halmahera (Tesch 1915; Barnes 1971), and now from Lombok and Papua.