Sakai, 1969
In the general outline of the carapace, this new species is allied to Maja japonica Rathbun and Maja gibba Alcock, but in the number and arrangement of the spines on and around the carapace, it is related to Maja miersi Walker.
The carapace is markedly constricted behind the hepatic regions, and the branchial regions are well-inflated and round in outline. The dorsal surface is thickly covered with granules of various sizes. In the median line, there are two low spines, one on the gastric region and the other on the cardiac. The rostral spines are rather slender, short, well divergent apically and horizontal, not upturned as in Maja miersi Walker or Maja spinigera de Haan. The extraorbital spines are very strong and their anterior edge is excavated proximally. The hepatic spine is basally confluent with the external orbital one and its tip directed obliquely backward. The four marginal spines of the branchial regions are very strong and subequal, the final one is located on the dorsal surface, as in other species of this genus. The two usual spinules of the posterior border are almost rudimentary. The palp of the antenna arises from within the orbit.
The chelipeds are robust, the merus short and distally thickened, coloured with two or three irregular bands of deep purple. The carpus is robust and bears two longitudinal ridges, one median and the other on the outer margin; the propodus is strikingly swollen and smooth; the fingers are unarmed. The ambulatory legs are only sparsely hairy. The merus, carpus and propodus are also banded with deep purple.
The anterior pleopod of the male is armed with a curved hooklet near the apex.
Measurements: Length of carapace proper 33.5 mm, width of same 28.3 mm, length of rostral spine 8 mm. (T. Sakai, 1969)
Type locality: Kii Nagashima, Japan.
Range: Japan - Shima Peninsula and Kii Nagashima (Sakai, 1976a), Misaki (Griffin & Tranter, 1986a); Philippines - north-east of Lubang Island (Serène & Vadon, 1981); Sulu Archipelago (Griffin & Tranter, 1986a); 275-360 m.