PANGLAO 2004

Examination of the holotype and other specimens of the type species of Garthiella Titgen, 1986, G. aberrans (Rathbun, 1906), reveals that this genus must be excluded from Chlorodiellinae Ng & Holthuis, 2007, due to the absence of the diagnostic morphological features of the subfamily such as spoon-tipped chelae, prominent dactylo-propodal locks on the ambulatory legs, and subdistal teeth on the ambulatory dactyli. Garthiellinae subfam. nov. is therefore established for this genus, as molecular and morphological evidence show that it cannot be classified in any other subfamily of Xanthidae MacLeay, 1838. A new species of Garthiella from the Bohol Sea, central Philippines, is also described. Garthiella sikatuna sp. nov. can be distinguished from G. aberrans by its relatively flatter and less granular carapace, more pronounced and curved anterolateral teeth, longer and more slender pereopods and by the form of the male first gonopods.

PANGLAO 2004

A new family, Vultocinidae, is established for an unusual new genus and new species of crab ( Crustacea: Brachyura: Goneplacoidea) here described from relatively deep waters in the central Philippines and Vanuatu. Although Vultocinus anfractus, new genus, new species, superficially resembles pilumnid genera like Lophoplax and pseudoziid genera like Planopilumnus in its deeply sculptured carapace and leg surfaces, its male abdomen and gonopods appear to affiiliate it with the Goneplacidae sensu lato instead. However, its suite of many unusual characters requires the recognition of a new family for Vultocinus. Comparisons of the Vultocinidae with the Goneplacidae sensu stricto suggests that the subfamily Mathildellinae, presently regarded as a subfamily, should be recognised as a full family; and two other problematic constituent genera, Progeryon and Conleyus, are also referred to their respective families in the Goneplacoidea. The genus Paragalene is also referred to the Progeryonidae. The extent of the sterno- abdominal cavity along the thoracic sternites, structure of the posterior thoracic sternites, position of the press button of the male abdominal locking mechanism and form of the first four male abdominal segment as characters in the taxonomy of the Goneplacoidea is also discussed.

PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, SANTO 2006

PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005