Tubuca acuta ( Stimpson, 1858 )

Shih, Hsi-Te, Wong, Kingsley J. H., Chan, Benny K. K., Nguyen, Thanh Son, Do, Van Tu, Ngo, Xuan Quang & Hsu, Pei-Yi, 2022, Branchipolynoe onnuriensis Kim & Choi & Eyun & Kim & Yu 2022, sp. nov., Zoological Studies 61 (66), pp. 1-24 : 12-13

Tubuca acuta ( Stimpson, 1858) ( Fig. 4G, H )

Gelasimus acutus Stimpson, 1858: 99 (type locality: Macao); Kingsley 1880: 144; Stimpson 1907: 105, pl. 14(3).

Uca (Deltuca) acuta acuta – Crane 1975: 25, 592, fig. 61B, pl. 1E–H.

Uca acuta acuta – Yamaguchi 1994: 183.

Uca acuta – Jones and Morton 1994: 12, fig. 1, pls. 1A, B, 2A, B; Kosuge et al. 1997: 182; Do and Hoang 2006: 36; S-L Yang et al. 2008: 807; Shih et al. 2010b: 3, fig. 2A–D.

Uca (Tubuca) acuta – Ng et al. 2008: 241; Shih et al. 2016a: 69, figs. 4G, H, 5, 6A, B.

Tubuca acuta – Shih et al. 2015: 244, figs. 201–205; Shih et al. 2016b: 159, 173; Ng et al. 2017: 126, fig. 15d; Sasaki 2019: 12506; Wada 2019: e142, fig. 1I.

Tubuca (Angustuca) acuta – Rosenberg 2019: 735.

Material examined: Quang Ninh: 1 ò (15.9 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15138), 5 òò (14.5 – 17.8 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15139), Dong Rui, coll. H.- T. Shih and P.- Y. Hsu, 9 Oct. 2017. Hai Phong: 9 òò (7.8–19.7 mm), 5 ññ (13.3–16.9 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15134), Xuan Dam, Cat Ba Island, coll. B. K. K. Chan, 23 Nov. 2011. Nam Dinh: 1 ò (23.2 mm), 1 ñ (12.0 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15133), coll. V. T. Do, Aug. 2013; 7 òò (18.0–21.0 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15102), 2 òò (18.2, 19.6 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15103), 1 ò (20.9 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15104, 1 ò (18.6 mm) (NCHUZOOL 15105), Xuan Thuy National Park, coll. V. T. Do, Dec. 2014.

Distribution: Vietnam, South China (including Hainan) and Taiwan.

Remarks: Tubuca acuta is not uncommon along the coasts of South China and northern Vietnam, although it is less reported in the literature (e.g., not included in Dawydoff 1952; Dai et al. 1986; Dai and Yang 1991), probably a result of its marked resemblance in coloration and morphology hence misidentification with Tubuca arcuata ( Crane 1975; Jones and Morton 1994). This species was described based on material from Macao, South China ( Stimpson 1858), but erroneously recorded in Chinese records under different names (see Crane 1975; Shih et al. 2010b). The identity of T. acuta (then as Uca (Deltuca) acuta ) was eventually revised and confirmed by Crane (1975), an understanding since followed by subsequent authors (e.g., Jones and Morton 1994; Kosuge et al. 1997; S-L Yang et al. 2008). Tubuca acuta and T. rhizophorae were considered as subspecies of U. (Deltuca) acuta by Crane (1975) due to their morphological similarities. They are, however, clearly distinct, the molecular evidence being diagnostic ( Shih et al. 2016b), and are respectively found in northern and southern Vietnam (see DISCUSSION below).

Figures

Fig. 4. Dorsal view of carapace and frontal view of major cheliped. G. tetragonon (A, B, NCHUZOOL 15124, CW 23.4 mm, Vinh Luong, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa); Gelasimus vocans (C, D, specimens not catalogued, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang); Paraleptuca splendida (E, F, NCHUZOOL 13448, CW 19.5 mm, Vinh Luong, Nha Trang); Tubuca acuta (G, H, NCHUZOOL 15138, CW 15.9 mm, Dong Rui, Quang Ninh).