MacLeay, 1838
Carapace roundly fan-shaped, slightly convex, regions well delimited. Frontal, hepatic and protogastric regions with spiniform and coniform granules; upper hepatic region marked with 2 shallow grooves extending postero-laterally, a shallow H-shaped depression present on the gastro-cardiac region. Fronto-orbital breadth nearly two-thirds the breadth of the carapace. Frontal margin denticulate, divided into 2 lobes by a deep median notch; dorsal surface bearing an inverse Y-shaped groove extending backwards. Orbit circular, with denticles and 2 fissures on the dorsal margin. Antero-lateral margin with 6-7 spines, including the outerorbital angle, gradually decreasing in size from front to rear. Antennal basal segment completely shut out from the orbit and the orbital hiatus closed.
Chelipeds rather asymmetrical. Merus finely granulated and serrated along the dorsal margin. Carpus and palm of the major chela with sparse and flat granules on the outer surfaces; fingers obtusely denticulate along cutting edges; carpus and palm of the minor chela with prominent beaded granules, fingers thinner and longer, teeth of the inner margins obscure. Ambulatory legs with the merus finely granulated along the anterior margin and bearing a few setae along the posterior margin; anterior margin of the carpus, and anterior and posterior margins of the propodus and the dactylus thickly covered with setae; dactylus tipped with cuticular claw.
First pleopod of the male stubby, slightly curved laterally; apex tapering and armed with spines on the inner side. Male abdomen 7-segmented, telson triangular. Female abdomen oblong. Carapace length of the male 37-41.1 mm, breadth 47.5-56.9 mm; of the female, length 36.6 mm, breadth 49.8 mm. (Dai & Yang, 1991)
Type locality: South Africa.
Range: Red Sea (Nobili, 1906b, Guinot, 1964b); Kenya - Mombasa; Zanzibar (Lenz, 1905); Mozambique - (Hilgendorf, 1879), Delagoa Bay (Barnard, 1950); South Africa - (MacLeay, 1838), Natal (Krauss, 1843), Natal, Isipingo and Durban (Barnard, 1950); Madagascar - Nosy Bé (Lenz & Richters, 1881); Mauritius (Hilgendorf, 1879); Persian Gulf (Nobili, 1906c); Strait of Hormuz - Quism (Stephensen, 1945); Gulf of Oman - Jask (Stephensen, 1945); Pakistan - Karachi and Makran coast (Alcock, 1898); India - Okha (Chhapgar, 1957); Malaysia - Pinang (Lanchester, 1902); Japan - Shimoda (Sakai, 1935), Shimoda, Kii Peninsula and Nagasaki (Sakai, 1939), Hachijo-jima (Sakai, 1954), Sagami Bay (Sakai, 1965b), Sagami Bay, Izu Peninsula, Kii Nagashima, Kii Minabe, Tosa Bay, Nagasaki, and Amami-shoto (Sakai, 1976a), Amakusa (Yamaguchi et al., 1976), Kushimoto (Miyake, 1983); China - Hong Kong (Stimpson, 1907), Xiamen (Shen, 1940b), Fujian and Hainan Island (Dai & Yang, 1991); Singapore (Dana, 1852); Indonesia - Edam Island and Noordwachter Island (de Man, 1888d); Hawaii; shallow waters.