Lithoselatium, Schubart, Christoph D., Liu, Hung-Chang & Ng, Peter K. L., 2009

Schubart, Christoph D., Liu, Hung-Chang & Ng, Peter K. L., 2009, Revision of Selatium Serène & Soh, 1970 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), with description of a new genus and two new species, Zootaxa 2154, pp. 1-29 : 12-13

Lithoselatium n. gen.

Type species. Lithoselatium pulchrum n. sp., by present designation.

Diagnosis. Carapace slightly trapezoidal, diverging towards posterior carapace margin; lateral margins entire, without epibranchial tooth (occasionally indicated by low granule); regions of carapace relatively well defined by distinct grooves; frontal margin deflexed; anterior frontal lobes prominent but relatively less strongly produced anteriorly, posterior frontal lobes weakly demarcated; antennae entering orbits; basal segments of antennae and antennules mobile, not separated by septum; Verwey’s groove delimited by dorsal and ventral rows of setae. Exopod of third maxilliped with long flagellum. Cheliped merus with expanded foliaceous distal margin, lined with small tubercles or sharp granules. Chelae with stridulating structure: dorsal margin of palm with 1 longitudinal crest of tubercles, partly pectinated, with 33–37 teeth in males; dorsal margin of dactylus with ca. 30 dome-shaped tubercles; fingers relatively long, tips of fingers hoofed with sharp cutting edges; inner surface of palm convex, with no obvious transverse ridge or aggregation of prominent granules. Ambulatory legs 1–4 relatively long, dactylus distinctly longer than half propodal length. Coxae of ambulatory legs 1–3 lined with numerous short setae on lateral margins; lateral and ventral surfaces with dense tufts of long setae, densest on coxae of second leg; dactylus longer than half length of propodus; propodal-dactylar condyle prominent but relatively smaller than in Selatium . Thoracic sternal suture 1/2 completely fused; suture 3/4 separated by complete suture; sutures 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 7/8 medially interrupted, separated by wide gap; deep longitudinal median groove present on sternites 7, 8; male sterno-abdominal cavity almost reaching suture of thoracic sternites 3, 4; part of thoracic sternite 8 visible, when male pleon fully closed. Telson of male abdomen with length subequal to width, all somites free. G1 stout, with bifurcated pectinated tip; G2 short.

Etymology. The first part of the name is derived from the Greek lithos for rock, in reference to the preferred habitat of the genus. It is combined with the genus name Selatium , due to their overall similarities. The gender is neuter.

Remarks. See General Discussion.