On the trail of a Japanese “ghost species”—the identity of Goniopugettia tanakae Sakai, 1986, and the establishment of a new genus for Pugettia sagamiensis Gordon, 1930 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Epialtidae)

Abstract

The majoid genus Goniopugettia Sakai, 1986, was established to include a new species Goniopugettia tanakae Sakai, 1986, as well as Pugettia sagamiensis Gordon, 1930. Although Goniopugettia tanakae Sakai, 1986, was subsequently designated as the type species of the genus by Ng et al. (2008), the identity of this species has been shrouded in uncertainty because it was supposedly common according to the original description, but has never been reported since its discovery. The type material is also confusing because it appears that Sakai used the name for two different species, one of which is G. sagamiensis. The identity of G. tanakae is clarified after the discovery of several syntypes which confirms that the type series contains two species. A lectotype is here chosen that fixes the identity of Goniopugettia tanakae and Goniopugettia. As a consequence of this action, a new genus has to be established for Pugettia sagamiensis here named Tunepugettia.

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:327B79AD-873A-44BA-9632–596E99DFD066