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First record of the pebble crab, Leucisca levigena RW George & M Clark, 1976 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Leucosiidae) from South Andaman, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2025

N. Muthu Mohammed Naha Open the ORCID record for N. Muthu Mohammed Naha [Opens in a new window]  and
G. Padmavati Open the ORCID record for G. Padmavati [Opens in a new window]
N. Muthu Mohammed Naha*
Affiliation:
Department of Ocean Studies & Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India
G. Padmavati
Affiliation:
Department of Ocean Studies & Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India
*
Corresponding author: N. Muthu Mohammed Naha; Email: nmmnaha66@gmail.com
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Abstract

The pebble crab, Leucisca levigena, was recorded for the first time from the intertidal regions of South Andaman in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. This comes after its holotype was described in 1976 from Western Australia. The species was found on the thallus of the green seaweed, Halimeda opuntia. Notably, the study included the first record of a male specimen, previously absent in its first description. L. levigena is characterized by its slightly concave dorsal carapace with a beaded margin, a raised gastric region extending to the front, and a smooth pterygostomial region. A brief description and illustrations of both the male and female species and a map showing the distribution of Leucisca species around the world are provided. L. levigena confirms its distribution from Western Australia to the Andaman Islands.

Keywords

Andaman IslandsBrachyuraCrustaceacrypticseaweeds

Information

Type
Marine Record
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 105 , 2025 , e55
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

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