Chinese Uca fauna

Zootaxa 2640: 1-19 (2010)

Diversity and distribution of fiddler crabs (Brachyura: Ocypodidae: Uca) from China, with new records from Hainan Island in the South China Sea

Hsi-Te Shih, Peter K. L. Ng, Shou-Hua Fang, Benny K. K. Chan & Kingsley J. H. Wong

The fiddler crab fauna (Brachyura: Ocypodidae: Uca) of China is reviewed. Thirteen species are recognised here, viz. Uca acuta (Stimpson, 1858), U. annulipes (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), U. arcuata (De Haan, 1835), U. borealis Crane, 1975, U. coarctata (H. Milne Edwards, 1852), U. crassipes (Adams & White, 1848), U. dussumieri (H. Milne Edwards, 1852), U. lactea (De Haan, 1835), U. paradussumieri Bott, 1973, U. tetragonon (Herbst, 1790), U. triangularis (A. Milne-Edwards, 1873), U. typhoni Crane, 1975, and U. vocans (Linnaeus, 1758). Two females of U. typhoni collected from southern Hainan Island represent the first record of this species from China and East Asia. Two males of U. tetragonon collected from southern Hainan also represent a new record for China. The Uca fauna of southern Hainan is biogeographically distinct being different from those of northern Hainan and continental China, with U. annulipes, U. tetragonon, U. typhoni, and U. vocans common in Southeast Asia. In addition, continental China also lacks some insular species such as U. coarctata, U. formosensis Rathbun, 1921, U. jocelynae Shih, Naruse & Ng, 2010, U. perplexa (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), and U. tetragonon which are common in the East Asian islands of Taiwan and the Ryukyus.

Key words: taxonomy, biogeography, China, Hainan Island, new record, Uca demani, U. typhoni, U. tetragonon.

Figure 1. Chinese localities (circles) for the Uca specimens collected and mentioned in this study.

Figure 2. Photographs in life of Uca acuta (Stimpson, 1858) from Xiamen, Fujian, China (A–C, NCHUZOOL 13348; A, B, CW 18.92 mm; C, CW 17.26 mm; and D) and U. arcuata (De Haan, 1835) from Dongzhai, Hainan, China (E–F) (NCHUZOOL 13363, CW 33.84 mm). A, E, dorsal view of adult male; B, F, frontal view of adult male; C, dorsal view of adult female; D, juvenile.

Figure 3. Photographs of Uca paradussumieri Bott, 1973 from Dongzhai, Hainan, China (NCHUZOOL 13381) and U. tetragonon (Herbst, 1790) from Hainan, China (MBMCAS 161691). A, B, dorsal and frontal views of adult male (CW 32.52 mm); C, D, dorsal and frontal views of adult female (CW 22.27 mm); E, F, dorsal and frontal views of adult male (CW 25.15 mm).

Figure 4. Specimens of Uca typhoni Crane, 1975 from Hainan, China (A–B, NCHUZOOL 13371, CW 30.75 mm) and U. demani Ortmann, 1897 from Cebu, Philippines (D–F, NCHUZOOL 13372, D, E, CW 20.54 mm; F, CW 17.92 mm). A, B, photographs in life of U. typhoni; C, the mangrove habitat of U. typhoni in Sanya, Hainan; D, E, a fresh preserved adult male specimen of U. demani; E, the female U. demani specimen.

Figure 5. The floor of orbits and right gonopore of female specimens of Uca typhoni from Hainan, China (NCHUZOOL 13371, CW 30.75 mm) and U. demani from Cebu, Philippines (NCHUZOOL 13372, CW 17.4 mm). A, B, floor of left orbit of U. typhoni and U. demani, respectively, showing the tubercles (arrowed); C, D, the right gonopore and its position on sternum of U. typhoni and U. demani, respectively.

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