Redescription of Pinnixa haematosticta Sakai, 1934, its transfer to Indopinnixa Manning amp; Morton, 1987, and a reappraisal of Indopinnixa kumejima Naruse amp; Maenosono, 2012 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae).

The poorly known pinnotherid crab, Pinnixa haematosticta Sakai, 1934, is redescribed on the basis of female holotype and additional specimens, including males and females, from Japan. The male characters of the species are documented for the first time. The species is transferred to Indopinnixa Manning Morton, 1987 because the male pleonal somites 35 are functionally fused, the telson is wide, and the maxilliped 3 with the dactylus is distinctly longer than the propodus. Indopinnixa kumejima Naruse Maenosono, 2012 is morphologically very similar to I. haematosticta n. comb., but a molecular phylogenetic analysis using partial fragments of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene supports the hypothesis that the two taxa as distinct. Morphologically, the two species are differentiated by the shape of the pereopod 4 merus (proportionally wider in I. haematosticta n. comb. than in I. kumejima). Our findings suggest that I. haematosticta n. comb. and I. kumejima are geographically distinct: I. haematosticta appears restricted to the Japanese mainland (Honshu to Kyushu) and Ohsumi Islands, while I. kumejima occurs in the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands.

Redescription and new records of a poorly known leucosiid crab, Pseudophilyra punctulata Chen Ng, 2003, and description of a new species of Pseudophilyra from Japan (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura).

A poorly known leucosiid crab, Pseudophilyra punctulata Chen Ng, 2003, originally described on the basis of an immature male holotype and an immature female paratype from Singapore, is rediscovered and rediagnosed on the basis of material from Thailand, the Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands (Japan). In addition, a new species closely related to P. punctulata, P. parilis, is described and illustrated on the basis of material from Mie Prefecture, Honshu mainland of Japan. The new species is distinguished from P. punctulata by the coarser granules bordering the lateral carapace margins and the different shape of the gonopods. Pseudophilyra tridentata Miers, 1879, is also compared with P. punctulata and P. parilis n. sp. because of the close similarities in the overall morphology of the carapace and appendages, but can easily be differentiated by the smoother carapace and thoracic sternum surface, different shape of the carapace and the stouter cheliped palm. It is possible that previous records of P. tridentata outside Japan might contain more than one species.