taxonID	type	description	language	source
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	description	(Figs. 1 a, 2 a, 3 a, e, 4 a, e, 5 a, 6 a, b)	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. — Holotype: male (42.83 × 38.33 mm) (MZUF 678), Jumbo River, Somalia, coll. M. Vannini, Dec. 1976. Paratypes: SOMALIA: 2 males (24.07 × 20.17 mm; 40.42 × 34.48 mm) (MZUF 677), Jumbo River, coll. M. Vannini, Dec. 1976; KENYA: 1 male (37.65 × 32.36 mm) (MZUF 3666), Mida Creek, coll. M. Vannini, Jul. 1997; 1 male (27.38 × 23.89 mm) (MZUF 2731), Mida Creek, coll. S. Fratini, 7 Feb. 2005; 2 males (46.17 × 41.50 mm; 37.55 × 32.81 mm) (MZUF 1025), Gazi Bay, coll. M. Vannini, Jul. 1997; 1 male (27.38 × 23.89 mm) (MZUF 2731), Mida Creek, coll. S. Fratini, 7 Feb. 2005; 3 males (36.72 × 34.03 mm; 38.31 × 33.09 mm; 34.09 × 29.57 mm) (MZUF 2967), Mida Creek, coll. S. Cannicci, Oct. 1997; SOUTH AFRICA: 1 male (45.53 × 40.14 mm) (MNHN-B 31275), Natal, coll. B. Newman, 1997; AFRICAN COAST: 1 male, 1 female (ZRC 1968.1.22.6 – 7), coll. MacNae, Apr. 1967; MADAGASCAR: 1 female (34.0 × 29.0 mm) (RMNH D 171), Nosy Bé (former syntype of Sesarma meinerti De Man, 1887), coll. F. P. L. Pollen & D. C. van Dam, 1963 – 1966; 4 males (37.15 × 31.67 mm; 34.56 × 29.60 mm; 38.50 × 33.63 mm; 31.26 × 25.88 mm) (MNHN-B 30342), Tuléar, coll. A. Crosnier 8 Oct. 1961; 1 male (40.7 mm carapace width) (ZMB 12679) northwest Madagascar, coll. J. M. Hildebrandt, 1879.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Carapace narrowing towards posterior with slight concavity medially (Fig. 2 a), without any indication of second anterolateral teeth. Male chela characterised by presence of single prominent line of tubercles along inner palm surface (Fig. 3 e) with palm height 1.55 (± 0.12) times maximum chelar width. Descending slope of palm (with parallel prominent ridge) oblique at articulation with dactylus (Fig. 3 a). Lower margin of chela straight. Dorsal surface of dactylus covered with tubercles until three-quarters of length (Fig. 4 a, e). Male abdomen triangular; somite 6 with proximal width 1.35 (± 0.071) times length; telson length 1.24 (± 0.127) times width (Fig. 5 a).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	description	Description. — Carapace: smooth, bearing short setae in tufts on anterior half. Carapace ca. 1.14 (± 0.031; n = 19) times broader than long. Maximal carapace width ca. 1.23 (± 0.028; n = 19) times posterior carapace width. Carapace width ca. 1.61 (± 0.063; n = 19) times body height. Anterolateral tooth triangular. Lateral margin narrowing towards posterior slightly concave medially (Fig. 2 a). Frontal border straight with front ca. 0.50 (± 0.021; n = 19) times carapace width. Postfrontal margin separated into 4 well-defined lobes, median lobes more prominent, than external ones, separated by deep concavity (Fig. 1 a). Cardiac region with deep Hshaped gastro-cardiac groove. Branchial ridges prominent; other ridges arise laterally, near lateral margin of carapace (Fig. 2 a). Third maxilliped: Suture between merus and ischium of third maxilliped oblique. Ischium with shallow submedian sulcus; slender exopod with tip reaching half length of outer margin of merus. Inner margin of both ischium and merus with dense setae (Fig. 1 a). Chelipeds: Merus of chela with tubercles on inner face and along dorsal margins. Carpus with row of short setae on dorsal margin and weak tubercles along anterior and posterior margins. Outer surface of palm glabrous with microscopic granules (Fig. 3 a). Chela length ca. 1.39 (± 0.09; n = 19) times dactylus length. Inner surface of palm with single prominent row of tubercles that forms angular structure (Fig. 3 e). Descending slope of palm (with parallel prominent ridge) at articulation with dactylus oblique, especially visible from outer side (Fig. 3 a). Proportion of chelar length to maximum chelar width ca. 2.61 (± 0.27; n = 19). Dactylus strongly curved, forming wide gap with pollex (Fig. 3 a, e). Dorsal surface of dactylus with minute granules extending towards two-thirds of length (Fig. 4 a, e). Immovable finger moderately curved inwards, ventral border straight (Fig. 4 a). Ambulatory legs: Third and second legs (pereiopods 3 and 4) longest. Length of merus of third walking leg ca. 2.1 (± 0.17; n = 19) times its width. All legs with bristles along ventral margins of coxae, basis-ischia and meri. Outer surfaces of meri strongly rugose. Carpi and propodi with short mat of soft setae on dorsal and ventral margins of pereiopods 2 and 3, only present on dorsal margin of fourth pereiopods. Bristles present on both margins along carpi and propodi. Dactyli shorter than propodi with 6 longitudinal lines of setae proximally. Male abdomen: Width of somite 3 ca. 2.24 (± 0.098; n = 19) times carapace width. Somite 6 elongated with proximal width 1.35 (± 0.071; n = 19) times length. Telson shorter than somite 6; ca. 1.24 (± 0.127; n = 19) times longer than wide (Fig. 5 a). Gonopods: First male gonopods almost straight, distally curved inward with outer margins convex. Distal part of stem straight, broad, with setae around apex (Fig. 6 a); apex moderately fold towards medial plane of body (Fig. 6 b).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	etymology	Etymology. — The species name Neosarmatium africanum makes reference to the geographical distribution of this species along the East African coast, from Somalia to South Africa, including parts of Madagascar. Colour. — This species occurs in East Africa with exclusively red-orange chelae, the colouration extending onto two-thirds of the proximal part of the palm and the fingers fading to yellow distally. Habitat. — Neosarmatium africanum, new species, lives in burrows in the dry and muddy area of the upper intertidal belt associated with mangroves and estuaries. Burrow entrances usually are surrounded by a mound of mud. The burrows have secondary channels, with a mean length of around 80 cm usually extending to the water table (Berti et al., 2008).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. — Neosarmatium africanum, new species, as many other species of Sesarmidae, plays an important role in the biochemical cycle of mangrove leaves degradation. Analysis of stomach content showed that its diet mainly consists of mangrove leaves, especially of Avicennia marina, completed with little animal matter (Dahdouh-Guebas et al., 1997). Nevertheless, Skov & Hartnoll (2002) showed that the mangrove leaves are unlikely to fulfil the nitrogen requirements of crabs. Leaf fragmentation may enrich the nutritional quality of the substrate detritus, with the sediment detritus being a richer source of nitrogen, regularly ingested by crabs (Skov & Hartnoll, 2002). Moreover, this species seems to be a strong mangrove propagule consumer and may even affect the regeneration potential of mangroves (Dahdouh-Guebas et al., 1998). As the density reached by N. africanum in most of East African mangroves can be high (see Fratini et al., 2011), bioturbation due to its excavation activity contributes to a rapid nutrient enrichment of soil and as a consequence, enhances mangrove primary production. These observations lead Cannicci et al. (2008) to review the ecological function of many crab species inhabiting the mangal ecosystem and highlighted the importance of crab bioturbation in producing a rapid enrichment of the primary production of mangroves. From a physiological point of view, N. africanum is able to resist large salinity fluctuations as congeneric species, like N. smithi, and this appears to be typical of species living along the landward fringe of the East African mangal (Gillikin et al., 2004). Breeding and larvae. — The breeding season of Neosarmatium africanum, new species, varies according to its latitudinal distribution along the East African coast. In Kenya and Tanzania, the highest occurrence of ovigerous females is during the dry season (between February and April), while in sub-temperate areas such as South Africa, most ovigerous females occur during the summer season (between January and February) (Emmerson, 1994; Skov et al., 2005). Pereyra Lago (1989) described five zoeal stages and one megalopa stage of N. africanum (as N. meinerti), highlighting important morphological characters useful for distinguishing their larvae from those of other sesarmid species sympatric in the same mangal and estuary areas.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2812AD2B06A6F9789671FC2A.taxon	distribution	Distribution. — East African coast from middle of Somalia to Natal in South Africa. It is also present in Madagascar, at least along the north-western coast of Madagascar close to Nosy Bè. We have not been able to study material from other parts of the island.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2817AD2705C2FB8F9075FEE8.taxon	description	(Figs. 1 b, 2 b, 3 b, f, 4 b, f, 5 b, 6 c, d)	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2817AD2705C2FB8F9075FEE8.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. — Lectotype: 1 male (34.00 × 39.30 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2011 - 278), Ile de France (Mauritius), coll. M. Mathieu (1837 or earlier) (identified as Sesarma tetragona, ex-MNHN- B 3688); Paralectotypes: MAURITIUS: 2 females (28.20 × 33.90 mm; 30.60 × 36.00 mm) (MNHN-IU- 2011 - 279 ex-MNHN-B 3688) same data as lectotype. Other material: SEYCHELLES: 2 males, 1 female (ZRC 1972.8.25.2), Mahé Island, coll. R. Serène, May 1972; 1 male (40.26 × 35.60 mm) (MZUF 2931), Mahé Island: Port Launary, coll. S. Fratini, 11 Dec. 2005; 1 male (15.34 × 12.35 mm) (MZUF 2940), Mahé Island, Port Launary, coll. M. Fusi, 4 Dec. 2005; REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS: 1 male (27.00 × 22.00 mm) (RMNH D 17503), Barkley Island, Port Louis, coll. C. Miquel, Feb. 1960; 1 male (34.5 × 28.83 mm) (MZUF 3661), Rodrigues, coll. M. Vannini, 8 Jul. 1987; 1 male (15.74 × 12.85 mm) (MZUF 3662), Rodrigues, coll. M. Vannini, 8 Jul. 1987; 1 male (12.70 × 10.35 mm) (MZUF 3660), Mauritius, coll. M. Vannini, 1 Sep. 1989; male (20.47 × 17.00 mm) (MZUF 3665), Mauritius, coll. M. Vannini, 1 Sep. 1989.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2817AD2705C2FB8F9075FEE8.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Carapace gently concave posteriorly, without any indication of second anterolateral tooth (Fig. 2 b). Male chela characterised by presence of single prominent line of tubercles along inner palm surface (Fig. 3 f), with palm height 1.58 (± 0.18; n = 8) times maximum chelar width. Descending slope of palm (with parallel prominent ridge) at articulation with dactylus oblique (Fig. 3 b). Lower margin of chela straight. Dorsal surface of dactylus covered with tubercles until three-quarters of length (Fig. 4 b, f). Male abdomen triangularly shaped; somite 6 with proximal width 1.29 (± 0.124; n = 8) times length; telson length 1.15 (± 0.141; n = 8) times width (Fig. 5 b). Colour. — All specimens examined correspond to the morph with red-orange chelae, with the colouration extending to two-thirds of the proximal part of the outer margin of the palm and the fingers fading to yellow.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2817AD2705C2FB8F9075FEE8.taxon	discussion	Remarks. — Regarding the missing holotype of this species, Peter Ng, Danièle Guinot, and Charles Fransen offered useful and extensive information based on the nomenclatural rules and material to be found in the collections of Paris and Leiden. Davie (1994: 57) noted that the holotype of this species was “ unidentifiable ”, with the type locality being Mauritius. The same paper (p. 56) does not list any specimens from H. Milne Edwards, A. Milne-Edwards, or De Man under the material examined; although the author notes later (p. 57) that in the Paris Museum there is a bottle with three female specimens (MNHN-B 10887) from Mauritius that had been labeled as S. meinerti, but dated 10 Jun. 1890, three years after De Man’s (1887) paper. As such, he argued that these could not be the types. Davie thus considered the types to be lost, but deferred from designating a neotype because at that time, there was no confusion over the identity of N. meinerti and the stability of the nomenclature was not threatened. According to article 72.4.1 of the International code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) “ the type series of a nominal species-group taxon consists of all the specimens included by the author in the new nominal taxon (whether directly or by bibliographic reference) ”. This means that all the material De Man (1887: 648) had in his hands at the time of the description or the specimens listed by the given bibliographic reference (i. e., H. Milne Edwards, 1853 and A. Milne-Edwards, 1873) are syntypes. Now H. Milne Edwards (1853: 184, 185) did not have any figure or material listed for “ Sesarma tetragona ”, and only noted that the species in his report was found in “ Ile de France ” (= Mauritius). Alphonse Milne-Edwards (1873: 304 – 305) gave a longer account and indicated the species occurred in New Caledonia, Mauritius and Madagascar. However, A. Milne-Edwards (1873) also did not indicate how many specimens he had from each location or provide any other data. Presumably, most, if not all the material used by both H. Milne Edwards (1853) and A. Milne-Edwards (1873) were in Paris. Unfortunately, even De Man (1887) did not list which specimens were studied by him, and he also did not indicate a holotype for Sesarma meinerti. Peter Ng brought to our attention (personal communication) an important and very revealing comment made by De Man in the introduction which he wrote in Jan. 1887. De Man (1887: 640) thanked Milne Edwards (presumably Alphonse-Milne Edwards) for his kindness in letting him examine material from the Paris Museum. He also noted that he examined material from Leiden Museum (De Man, 1887: 641). According to article 72.4.1.1 of the ICZN, for all the taxa established before 2000, “ any evidence, published or unpublished, may be taken into account to determine what specimens constitute the type series ”. Taking these facts into account, all the material of “ Sesarma tetragona ” of H. Milne Edwards that were examined or seen by De Man up to Jan. 1887 from Mauritius can be regarded as types. The same applies for all the material of “ Sesarma tetragona ” from Mauritius, Madagascar, and New Caledonia that A. Milne-Edwards (1873) had up to Jan. 1887. As noted above, there is also a good chance that De Man had, in fact, examined this material from the Paris Museum. Whether this material was renamed as S. meinerti or it kept the original identification, we do not know. Moreover, the fact that De Man listed Zanzibar, even though it was not mentioned by H. Milne Edwards (1853) or A. Milne-Edwards (1873), is interesting and suggests that De Man had examined material from this location as well. It is also possible that any specimens in the Leiden Museum which may have been labeled as S. meinerti up to Jan. 1887, would have been examined by De Man and can be regarded as syntypes. Charles Fransen, the curator of Crustacea at RMNH, noted that: “ apart from the material of Mauritius (RMNH D 17503) we also have two specimens from Madagascar (RMNH D 171) that were collected in 1863 – 1866 by F. P. L. Pollen & D. C. van Dam and are indicated as syntypes. ” These two specimens were collected from Nosy Bé, northwestern Madagascar. However, according to Ragionieri et al. (2009), all the samples genetically and morphometrically examined from Nosy Bé belong to the African clade, which is named N. africanum, new species, in the present paper. The material from Mauritius now present in the Leiden Museum was collected in 1960, so it could not have been seen by De Man and cannot be considered a syntype. Fortunately, Danièle Guinot from MNHN was able to relocate the material presumably examined by De Man. She, together with Tohru Naruse and Peter Ng, clarified the origin of the type of N. meinerti as follows: there is a strong presumption that the material initially used by H. Milne Edwards (1837) for Sesarma tetragona (indicated from Indian Ocean) was collected by Mathieu M. in Ile de France (= Mauritius), because the dates of Mathieu’s life correspond to this period. Also, the fact that H. Milne Edwards in 1853 used the same material is indicative of Ile de France as the locality. Thus, the Sesarma tetragona of H. Milne Edwards, 1837, is the same as that of 1853. Alphonse Milne-Edwards (1873: pl. 16, Fig. 4) depicted the Sesarma tetragona specimens of H. Milne Edwards (1837) and (1853). They correspond to the specimens, which De Man (1887) described as new under the name “ Sesarma meinerti ” and hence they are also types of Sesarma meinerti. Consequently, here we have designated a male (34.00 × 39.30 mm) from the series collected by M. Mathieu in Mauritius (MNHN-IU- 2011 - 278) as the lectotype of Sesarma meinerti De Man, 1887. The two remaining specimens of this series are to become paralectotypes. The lectotype of N. meinerti (MNHN-IU- 2011 - 278) has similar morphological characteristics as other studied specimens of N. meinerti from the western Indian Ocean islands: carapace shape without any indication of second anterolateral tooth (Fig. 7 a); frontal border straight with the postfrontal margin separated into four well-defined lobes, with median lobes much more prominent than external ones, and separated by a deep concavity (Fig. 7 d); inner palm of the chela characterised by the presence of a single prominent line of tubercles (Fig. 7 b), dorsal surface of dactylus covered with tubercles until three-quarters of its length (Fig. 7 b), and descending slope of palm at articulation with dactylus oblique (Fig. 7 c). This lectotype selection conclusively fixes the name Sesarma meinerti De Man, 1887, for the Mauritius taxon. With regard to the specimens from New Caledonia mentioned by A. Milne Edwards in 1873, all previously identified specimens of N. meinerti from the western Pacific Ocean (such as Guam and Fiji; see Ragionieri et al., 2009) and Papua New Guinea (unpublished data) have been morphologically and genetically identified as N. fourmanoiri. Therefore, we assume that the specimens collected in New Caledonia previously identified as N. meinerti by De Man (1887) and others belong to N. fourmanoiri Serène, 1973. Habitat. — Similar to N. africanum, new species (M. Vannini pers. obs.).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2817AD2705C2FB8F9075FEE8.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. — Similar to N. africanum, new species (M. Vannini pers. obs.).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C2817AD2705C2FB8F9075FEE8.taxon	distribution	Distribution. — The range of distribution of this species extends into the western Indian Ocean from Mauritius (type locality) to Rodrigues, including the islands Aldabra and Mahé Island belonging to the Seychelles.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281BAD200692FECD9033FCA8.taxon	description	(Figs. 1 c, 2 c, 3 c, g, 4 c, g, 5 c, 6 e, f)	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281BAD200692FECD9033FCA8.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. — Holotype: male (38.52 × 33.11 mm) (NMNS- 6327 - 001), Tainan City, Sihcao, Dajhong Temple, Taiwan, coll. J. - H. Lee & W. - J. Wang, 23 Jan. 2005. Paratypes: TAIWAN: 1 male (37.10 × 32.15 mm) (MZUF 2516), Pingtung, Kenting, Pao Li stream, coll. H. C. Liu, 14 – 16 Jun. 1995; 1 male (39.40 × 30.40 mm), 1 female (31.40 × 24.70 mm) (ZRC 1997.660) Pingtung County, mouth of Paoli River, coll. H. C. Liu & C. H. Wang, 15 Aug. 1996; 1 male (38.47 × 32.83 mm) (NCHU 13076), Tainan City, Sihcao, Dajhong Temple, coll. J. - H. Lee & W. - J. Wang, 18 Dec. 2004; THAILAND: 1 female (ZRC 2000.1899), Phuket, Ao Teng Khen, coll. C. D. Schubart et al., 22 Aug. 1999; 1 male (32.90 × 28.83 mm) (ZRC 2001.1083), Phuket, Thailand, coll. Yeo D. C. J. & Y. Cai, 22 Feb. 2001; INDONESIA: 1 male (23.47 × 21.91 mm) (MNHN-B 31277), aquarium trade; 1 male (34.68 × 28.15 mm) (MNHN-B 31276), aquarium trade (possibly Sulawesi).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281BAD200692FECD9033FCA8.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Carapace narrowing to posterior, straight borders with gentle cleft, corresponding to second anterolateral tooth (Fig. 2 c). Male chela characterised by presence of a double line of weak tubercles along inner palm surface (Fig. 3 g), with palm height 1.70 (± 0.12; n = 6) times maximum chelar width. Descending slope of palm (with parallel prominent ridge) at articulation with dactylus almost transverse (Fig. 3 c). Lower margin of chela convex. Dorsal surface of dactylus covered with tubercles until tip (Fig. 4 c, g). Male abdomen relatively more quadrate; somite 6 with proximal width 1.13 (± 0.093; n = 6) times length; telson length 1.09 (± 0.11; n = 6) times width (Fig. 5 c). Colour. — The most common colour morph of N. asiaticum, new species is the yellow one (mostly in East Asia), whereas specimens from Sri Lanka (S. Cannicci, pers. obs.), Thailand, and Indonesia are characterised by red-orange chelae. Ragionieri et al. (2009) did not record any genetic differences among specimens with different colour morphs.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281BAD200692FECD9033FCA8.taxon	etymology	Etymology. — Neosarmatium asiaticum, new species, is named after its distribution from South Asia (Sri Lanka) to East Asia (Taiwan) including Indonesia. Habitat. — Neosarmatium asiaticum, new species inhabits mangroves and estuaries with grassy banks which are under the influence of tides. In Taiwan, this species occurs sympatrically with its putative sister species N. fourmanoiri, and the land crab Cardisoma carnifex (Gecarcinidae) (Ng et al., 1997). All specimens examined from Guam were identified as N. fourmanoiri.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281BAD200692FECD9033FCA8.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. — Until now, there is limited information on the ecology of this species deduced from a paper on the herbivorous feeding habitus of Asiatic sesarmid crabs (Ashton, 2002), but a recent study performed in Sri Lanka (Dahdouh-Guebas et al., 2011) confirmed that the species consumes leaf litter and mangrove propagules.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281BAD200692FECD9033FCA8.taxon	distribution	Distribution. — Its distribution range extends from Sri Lanka through the Andamans, ending in Indonesia and Taiwan (Alcock, 1900; Davie, 1994; Ng et al., 1997).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	description	(Figs. 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, h, 4 d, h, 5 d, 6 g, h)	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. — Holotype: male (39.85 × 34.77 mm) (QM-W 29085; former MZUF 3659), Darwin, Australia, coll. L. Ragionieri, 13 Aug. 2006. Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: 1 male (41.71 × 36.98 mm) (MZUF 2968), Darwin, East Point, coll. L. Ragionieri, 13 Aug. 2006; 1 male (39.27 × 29.07 mm) (MZUF 2970), Darwin Mindil Beach, coll. L. Ragionieri, 13 Aug. 2006; 4 males (36.50 × 31.39 mm; 35.68 × 30.15 mm; 24.93 × 20.95 mm; 22.18 × 18.65 mm) (MZUF 2971), Darwin, Charles Darwin National Park, coll. L. Ragionieri, 13 Aug. 2006; 1 male (35.05 × 30.08 mm) (MZUF 3658), Darwin, University of Darwin, coll. L. Ragionieri, 13 Aug. 2006; 2 males (26.50 × 23.03 mm; 27.23 × 23.71 mm) (MZUF 2969), Darwin, University of Darwin, coll. L. Ragionieri, 13 Aug. 2006; 1 female yellow morph (QM-W 25080), NT: Kakadu N. P.: East Alligator Estuary, coll. P. Davie, Jun. 1981.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. — Carapace borders convexly rounded, with gentle cleft corresponding to second anterolateral tooth (Fig. 2 d). Male chela characterised by presence of a single line of weak tubercles along inner palm surface (Fig. 3 h), with palm height 1.78 (± 0.08; n = 10) times maximum chela width. Descending slope of palm (with parallel prominent ridge) at articulation with dactylus almost transverse (Fig. 3 d). Lower margin of chela convex. Dorsal surface of dactylus covered with tubercles until tip (Fig. 4 d, h). Male abdomen straight, relatively more quadrate; somite 6 with proximal width 1.14 (± 0.081; n = 10) times length; telson length 1.18 (± 0.07; n = 10) times width (Fig. 5 d).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	discussion	Remarks. — Northern Australia is the only area where the two colour morphs occur sympatrically. Notwithstanding the coexisting presence of the two colour morphs, the main diagnostic morphological characters of this species are consistent. Ragionieri et al. (2009) did not record any genetic differences between the two colour morphs.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	etymology	Etymology. — Neosarmatium australiense, new species has been named according to its geographic distribution which is the western Australian coast, Kimberly coast, to northern Australia, till the Gulf of Carpentaria. Habitat. — Neosarmatium australiense, new species lives in the rearward mangrove zone which receives water just during the spring tide (Davie, 1994). Usually it is associated with well-developed forests of Avicennia marina, but it is not uncommon in Avicennia marina parkland.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. — Currently there is no information about the feeding behaviour or bioturbation activity of this species in Australia. However, there are some studies on Neosarmatium which suggest similar feeding behaviour and ecological function of Australian species compared to African ones (Robertson, 1986; 1988; Camilleri, 1989; Robertson & Daniels, 1989).	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
682C762C281CAD2006ACFC0D96FAFC28.taxon	distribution	Distribution. — North-western Australia from Gulf of Carpentaria to the Kimberly Coast.	en	Ragionieri, Lapo, Fratini, Sara, Schubart, Christoph D. (2012): Revision Of The Neosarmatium Meinerti Species Complex (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae), With Descriptions Of Three Pseudocryptic Indo-West Pacific Species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1): 71-87, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5346767
