Nilgiriana paloti, Z, 2025

Z, Sameer Kumar Pati, 2025, Taxonomic revision of the freshwater crab genera Travancoriana Bott, 1969, and Vanni Bahir & Yeo, 2007 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Gecarcinucidae), with descriptions of eight new genera and two new species from the Western Ghats, southern India, Zootaxa 5634 (1), pp. 1-77 : 58-64

Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov.

[Palot’s Bramhagiri crab]

( Figs. 27E–H , 28D–F , 29 , 30A )

Not Vanni nilgiriensis – Pati et al. 2019c: e2019006, fig. 2.

Type material examined. Holotype: male ( CW 20.8 mm, CL 15.4 mm, CH 8.5 mm, FW 6.4 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2477), India, Karnataka State, Kodagu District, Tadiandamolbetta , 12.230° N, 75.632° E, elev. 1196 m a.s.l., coll. B. Tripathy et al., 18 November 2023 . – Paratypes: 4 males ( CW 13.4–18.3 mm, CL 9.8–12.6 mm, CH 5.8–8.4 mm, FW 4.2–5.5 mm) , 9 females ( CW 14.6–19.1 mm, CL 10.6–13.3 mm, CH 6.4–8.1 mm, FW 4.6–6.0 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.1826), India, Kerala State, Wayanad District, Pilakavu , 11.867° N, 75.985° E, elev. 859 m a.s.l., coll. P.S. Sujila, 9 October 2018 .

Other material examined. India– Karnataka State: 3 males ( CW 14.0– 15.2 mm, CL 10.5–11.5 mm, CH 5.7– 5.9 mm, FW 4.5–4.8 mm), 3 females ( CW 9.3–17.7 mm, CL 7.2–13.3 mm, CH 3.7–7.2 mm, FW 3.2–5.6 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2478), same collection data as for holotype; male ( CW 24.4 mm, CL 17.2 mm, CH 9.3 mm, FW 8.0 mm) ( ZSI-WGRC IR/INV/9197), Kodagu District , Thalacauveri Wildlife Sanctuary , Ezhilaturn , 12.38359° N, 75.49418° E, elev. 1185 m a.s.l., coll. P.M. Sureshan, 6 November 2013; female ( CW 8.1 mm, CL 6.3 mm, CH 3.2 mm, FW 2.7 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2480), Kodagu District, Talakaveri, 12.385° N, 75.496° E, elev. 1238 m a.s.l., coll. B. Tripathy et al., 17 November 2023. – Kerala State: male ( CW 15.2 mm, CL 11.3 mm, CH 6.5 mm, FW 4.9 mm), 6 females ( CW 8.0– 14.6 mm, CL 6.1–11.1 mm, CH 3.3–6.4 mm, FW 3.0– 4.8 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2479) , Kannur District , Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary , 11.942° N, 75.864° E, elev. 438 m a.s.l., coll. B. Tripathy et al., 20 November 2023; 5 males ( CW 12.3–18.6 mm, CL 8.2–13.4 mm, CH 4.9–8.0 mm, FW 4.0– 5.9 mm), 4 females ( CW 14.0– 16.2 mm, CL 10.3–11.7 mm, CH 5.6–6.6 mm, FW 4.5–5.0 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.2481), Wayanad District , Periya Range, Chandanathoodu, 11.846° N, 75.808° E, elev. 834 m a.s.l., coll. K.G. Emiliyamma, 4 April 2014; male ( CW 15.6 mm, CL 11.4 mm, CH 6.6 mm, FW 4.9 mm), 3 females ( CW 14.3–16.8 mm, CL 10.4–12.1 mm, CH 5.9–7.1 mm, FW 4.7–5.3 mm) ( ZSI-WRC C.1825), Wayanad District, Kambamala, 11.869° N, 75.942° E, elev. 816 m a.s.l., coll. P.S. Sujila, 26 October 2018 .

Diagnosis. Medium sized crabs (maximum CW 24.4 mm). Carapace relatively broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.3–1.5), relatively low ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4) ( Fig. 27E–G ); epistome posterior margin with strongly sinuous lateral lobes ( Fig. 27G ); male s2/s3 complete, reaching edge of sternum ( Fig. 27H ); male sternopleonal cavity relatively longer, reaching to imaginary line joining anterior part of cheliped coxae ( Fig. 27H ); male pleon relatively narrower, with relatively narrow pleonal somite 6, proximal width ca. 1.3–1.4 times medial length ( Figs. 27H , 29D ); male telson longer than broad, medial length ca. 1.1–1.2 times proximal width, with almost straight lateral margins ( Figs. 27H , 29D ); G1 ultimate article subconical, inverted funnel-shaped, distally abruptly narrow, almost straight to gently curved outwards at ca. 10° from longitudinal axis of G1, short, ca. 0.3 times length of penultimate article ( Figs. 28D, E , 29E, G ); G1 penultimate article with strongly sinuous outer margin ( Figs. 28D, E , 29E, G ); G2 longer than G1, ca. 1.2–1.3 times G1 length, ultimate article relatively shorter, ca. 0.4 times length of penultimate article ( Figs. 28F , 29F, H ); vulvae subovate, relatively large, occupying ca. 0.6 times length of s6, located adjacent to s5/s6, touching s5/s6 ( Fig. 29J ).

Description of male holotype. Medium sized crab (CW 20.8 mm). Carapace transversely subovate, broader than long (CW/CL = ca. 1.3), low ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4); dorsal surface glabrous, generally smooth except for epigastric and postorbital cristae and lateral surfaces; anterolateral surface gently inflated in frontal view; anterolateral margins gently convex, cristate with low granules, shorter than posterolateral margins; posterolateral margins converging posteriorly, gently concave medially; front broad (FW/CW = ca. 0.3), deflexed anteriorly, trapezoidal, anterior margin cristate with low granules, gently concave medially in dorsal view; frontal medial triangle incomplete, with dorsal margin only, lateral margins indiscernible; epigastric cristae well-developed, slightly anterior to postorbital cristae; postorbital cristae distinct but weakly developed posterolaterally, not reaching lateral margins of carapace; external orbital angle broadly triangular, with long outer margin, ca. 4 times length of inner margin; epibranchial tooth low but discernible; postorbital region concave; branchial regions low; cervical grooves shallow, broad, discontinuous, not reaching level of postorbital cristae; mesogastric groove deep, narrow, long, bifurcated posteriorly; H-shaped groove distinct; subhepatic region rugose, glabrous; suborbital region smooth, glabrous; pterygostomial region generally smooth, glabrous; supraorbital margin cristate, with low granules; suborbital margin concave, cristate with low granules, continuous with supraorbital margin; epistome posterior margin with well-developed, triangular medial tooth and strongly sinuous lateral lobes ( Figs. 27E–G , 30A ). Eyes large; eyestalk short, stout; cornea moderately large, pigmented ( Figs. 27G , 30A ).

Antennules long, folded in longitudinally broad fossae; antennae shorter than eyestalk ( Fig. 27G ). Mandibular palp with 2 articles; terminal article bilobed, anterior lobe narrow, long, posterior lobe broad, short, ca. 0.5 times length of anterior lobe ( Fig. 29A ). Maxillipeds 1, 2 each with long flagellum on exopod ( Fig. 29A ). Maxilliped 3 cover most of buccal cavity, when closed; ischium subrectangular, longer than broad, longitudinal medial groove indiscernible; merus subrectangular, broader than long, anterolateral corner rounded; exopod slender, distally narrow, reaching half-length of ischium, with well-developed flagellum, ca. 0.7 times width of merus ( Figs. 27G , 29B ).

Chelipeds stout, generally smooth, glabrous, unequal, left chela larger ( Figs. 27E , 30A ). Major chela with 5 low, blunt teeth on each finger, remaining teeth small, small gape when fingers closed; dactylus gently curved, stout, longer than upper margin of palm, smooth; fixed finger stout, forming almost straight margin with ventral margin of palm; palm smooth, inflated, longer than high; carpus smooth, gently inflated, with prominent, broad, acute inner distal tooth and low, narrow, blunt basal tooth; merus smooth except for rugose or granular margins, lacking subterminal spine ( Figs. 27E , 30A ).

Ambulatory legs generally smooth and glabrous, stout, short, P3 longest; merus long, lacking subdistal spine; propodus and dactylus with distinct, sharp chitinous spines on margins; dactylus almost straight, subequal in length to propodus ( Fig. 27E ).

Thoracic sternites smooth, glabrous; s1 and s2 completely fused; s2/s3 visible as narrow groove, reaching edge of sternum; s3/s4 only visible as 2 short lateral depressions; s4/s5, s5/s6, s6/s7 shallow, narrow, medially interrupted; s7/s8 shallow, narrow, medially interrupted by longitudinal groove of s7, lacking transverse ridge; s8 completely covered by pleon, narrowed medially, longitudinal medial groove indiscernible ( Figs. 27H , 29C ). Pleonal locking mechanism with prominent tubercle on submedial part of s5 ( Fig. 29C ). Sternopleonal cavity deep, long, reaching to imaginary line joining anterior part of cheliped coxae ( Figs. 27H ).

Pleon narrow, triangular, with concave lateral margins; pleonal somites1, 2 subrectangular, narrower than pleonal somite 3; pleonal somite 3 subrectangular, broadest, with convex lateral margins; pleonal somites 4, 5 trapezoidal, with straight lateral margins; pleonal somite 6 trapezoidal, broader than long (proximal width ca. 1.3 times medial length), distinctly longer than preceding pleonal somites, subequal in length to telson, with gently concave lateral margins ( Figs. 27H , 29D ). Telson bell-shaped, longer than broad (medial length ca. 1.1 times proximal width), with almost straight lateral margins, apex broad, rounded ( Figs. 27H , 29D ).

G1 slender, short, tip reaching beyond s6/s7 up to half-length of s 6 in situ; ultimate article subconical, inverted funnel-shaped, slender, short, ca. 0.3 times length of penultimate article, almost straight, distal half abruptly narrow, tip acute; penultimate article sinuous, slender, broad at base, relatively narrow distally, inner margin sinuous, outer margin strongly sinuous; groove for G2 median ( Figs. 28D, E , 29E ). G2 longer than G1, ca. 1.2 times G1 length; ultimate article long, ca. 0.4 times length of penultimate article, with acute tip; penultimate article stouter at proximal third ( Figs. 28F , 29F ).

Colour in life. Crabs are typically light to dark purplish-brown, with their dactylus of the major chelipeds generally conspicuously dark purplish-brown ( Fig. 30A ).

Etymology. The species name honours Dr. Muhamed Jafer Palot, a zoologist by profession and a naturalist by hobby. His contributions to the taxonomy and conservation of various faunal groups of the Western Ghats are noteworthy. He also helped in collecting this new species. The species name is treated here as a noun in the genitive singular.

Remarks. The male paratypes and other males of N. paloti sp. nov. are similar to the holotype in the diagnostic characters for the species, especially in the strongly sinuous outer margin of the G1 penultimate article ( Fig. 29G ). Their carapace broadness only varies (CW/CL = ca. 1.3–1.5), so that those of the females (CW/CL = ca. 1.3–1.4). The female paratypes of the species also resemble the holotype in most of the non-sexual character states, especially the characteristic strongly sinuous lateral lobes of the epistome posterior margin.

The adult females of N. paloti sp. nov. possess a pleon, which together with telson, forms an ovate outline covering the thoracic sternum except for s1–s3 and lateral edges, when closed ( Fig. 29I ). The pleonal somite 1 in adult females is the shortest; pleonal somites 2–5 are progressively longer; and pleonal somite 6 is the longest, conspicuously broader than long, subequal in length to the telson, with the convex lateral margins ( Fig. 29I ). The adult female telson is broadly subtriangular to triangular, conspicuously broader than long, with straight to strongly convex lateral margins and broad apex ( Fig. 29I ). The vulvae in adult females are widely located from each other (VD/SW = ca. 0.2) on the s6; each vulva opens ventrally and is subovate, large, ca. 0.6 times the length of the s6, located adjacent to the s5/s6, touching the s5/s6, the posterior margin with a raised rim, and covered by a soft membranous operculum ( Fig. 29J ).

Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. was previously misidentified from the Wayanad district of Kerala and Kodagu district of Karnataka by Pati et al. (2019c) as Vanni nilgiriensis . Pati et al. (2019c) completely ignored the following variations they noted for the G2 structure between their species and Ni. nilgiriensis comb. nov. s. str.: the relatively less long G2, ca. 1.2–1.3 times the G1 length, with the relatively shorter ultimate article, ca. 0.4 times the length of the penultimate article in Ni. paloti sp. nov. ( Figs. 28D–F , 29E–H ) (versus G2 distinctly longer, ca. 1.4 times the G1 length, with the relatively longer ultimate article, ca. 0.5 times the length of the penultimate article in Ni. nilgiriensis comb. nov. s. str.; Fig. 28A–C ). Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. can be separated from Ni. nilgiriensis comb. nov. in the following additional morphological features: the strongly sinuous lateral lobes of the epistome posterior margin ( Fig. 27G ) (versus the epistome posterior margin with the gently sinuous lateral lobes; Fig. 27C ); the complete male s2/s3, reaching the edge of the sternum ( Fig. 27H ) (versus male s2/s3 incomplete, not reaching the edge of the sternum; Fig. 27D ); the relatively longer male sternopleonal cavity, reaching to the imaginary line joining the anterior part of the cheliped coxae ( Fig. 27H ) (versus male sternopleonal cavity relatively shorter, reaching to the imaginary line joining the medial part of the cheliped coxae; Fig. 27D ); the relatively narrower male pleon, with the relatively narrow pleonal somite 6, the proximal width ca. 1.3–1.4 times the medial length ( Figs. 27H , 29D ) (versus male pleon relatively broader, with the relatively broad pleonal somite 6, the proximal width ca. 1.9 times the medial length; Fig. 27D ); the male telson longer than broad, the medial length ca. 1.1–1.2 times the proximal width, with the almost straight lateral margins ( Figs. 27H , 29D ) (versus male telson broader than long, the medial length ca. 0.9 times the proximal width, with the concave lateral margins; Fig. 27D ); and the strongly sinuous outer margin of the G1 penultimate article ( Figs. 28D, E , 29E, G ) (versus G1 penultimate article with a gently sinuous outer margin; Fig. 28A, B ).

Ecological notes. Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. can be found at lower as well as higher elevations (438–1238 m a.s.l.) of the central Western Ghats ( Pati et al. 2019c; present study). The specimens of the new species from the type locality were collected underneath small and large boulders in shallow (<10 cm) and slow-flowing streams ( Fig. 30B, C ). Individuals were also collected among small stones in wet soil adjacent to slow-flowing streams ( Fig. 30D ). Barytelphusa cunicularis was found syntopically with the species at most of the places, but the former species generally prefers to stay under large boulders of streams and inside burrows along the margins of streams (see Pati & Yeo 2022).

Geographical distribution. Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. is known only from the Bramhagiri Hills of the central Western Ghats in Karnataka (Kodagu district) and Kerala ( Kannur and Wayanad districts), southern India ( Pati et al. 2019c; present study) ( Fig. 1B ).

Key to the species of Nilgiriana gen. nov.

1. Epistome posterior margin with gently sinuous lateral lobes ( Fig. 27C ); male s2/s3 incomplete, not reaching edge of sternum ( Fig. 27D ); male sternopleonal cavity relatively shorter, reaching to imaginary line joining medial part of cheliped coxae ( Fig. 27D ); male pleon relatively broader, with relatively broad pleonal somite 6, proximal width ca. 1.9 × medial length ( Fig. 27D ); male telson broader than long, medial length ca. 0.9 × proximal width, with concave lateral margins ( Fig. 27D ); G1 penultimate article with gently sinuous outer margin ( Fig. 28A, B ); G2 distinctly longer, ca. 1.4 × G1 length, with relatively longer ultimate article, ca. 0.5 × length of penultimate article ( Fig. 28A–C ).............. Nilgiriana nilgiriensis ( Roux, 1931) comb. nov. [Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris district); central Western Ghats only]

– Epistome posterior margin with strongly sinuous lateral lobes ( Fig. 27G ); male s2/s3 complete, reaching edge of sternum ( Fig. 27H ); male sternopleonal cavity relatively longer, reaching to imaginary line joining anterior part of cheliped coxae ( Fig. 27H ); male pleon relatively narrower, with relatively narrow pleonal somite 6, proximal width ca. 1.3–1.4 × medial length ( Figs. 27H , 29D ); male telson longer than broad, medial length ca. 1.1–1.2 × proximal width, with almost straight lateral margins ( Figs. 27H , 29D ); G1 penultimate article with strongly sinuous outer margin ( Figs. 28D, E , 29E, G ); G2 relatively less long, ca. 1.2–1.3 × G1 length, with relatively shorter ultimate article, ca. 0.4 × length of penultimate article ( Figs. 28D–F , 29E–H )................................................................................... Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. [Karnataka (Kodagu district) and Kerala ( Kannur and Wayanad districts); central Western Ghats only]

Genus Idukkiana gen. nov.

( Figs. 31 , 32 )

Type species. Vanni giri Bahir & Yeo, 2007 , by present designation; gender of genus feminine.

Diagnosis. Medium sized crabs (maximum CW 18.8 mm). Carapace relatively broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.3), relatively low ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4), with moderately convex lateral margins; frontal medial triangle incomplete, lateral margins indiscernible; postorbital cristae well-developed, reaching lateral margins of carapace; external orbital angle broadly triangular, with long outer margin, ca. 3.5 times length of inner margin; epibranchial tooth low, located at same level of postorbital cristae; epistome posterior margin with well-developed, triangular medial tooth and gently sinuous lateral lobes ( Fig. 31A, B ). Maxilliped 3 with well-developed flagellum on exopod. Chelipeds relatively slender in adult male (see Bahir & Yeo 2007: fig. 44B). Ambulatory legs relatively stout, shorter, glabrous ( Fig. 31A ). Male s2/s3 visible as very shallow groove, reaching edge of sternum; male s3/s4 visible as shallow, complete groove, reaching edge of sternum ( Fig. 31C ). Male sternopleonal cavity relatively short, reaching to imaginary line joining anterior part of cheliped coxae ( Fig. 31C ). Male pleon relatively narrow, with concave lateral margins; pleonal somite 6 subquadrate, relatively narrow, proximal width ca. 1.1 times medial length, with straight lateral margins ( Fig. 31C ). Male telson as long as broad, medial length ca. 1.0 times proximal width, with straight lateral margins ( Fig. 31C ). G1 relatively slender; ultimate article conical, relatively slender, distally gently curved outwards, relatively short, ca. 0.3 times length of penultimate article, tip acute and straight; penultimate article moderately stout, with almost straight outer margin ( Fig. 32A, B ). G2 longer than G1, ca. 1.2 times G1 length; ultimate article long, ca. 0.5 times length of penultimate article ( Fig. 32C ).

Etymology. The genus name is derived from Idukki, a district of Kerala that lies exclusively in the southern Western Ghats of India, and where the type species is originated. The gender of this genus is feminine.

Remarks. Idukkiana gen. nov. is established for the only species, Idukkiana giri ( Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov., which was originally described in Vanni by Bahir & Yeo (2007). The new genus can be distinguished from Vanni s. str. in having a broadly triangular external orbital angle with a long outer margin, the presence of a discernible and complete groove of the male s3/s4, and the fact that the male pleonal somite 6 has straight lateral margins (see remarks for Vanni ).

Idukkiana gen. nov. can easily be separated from the remaining gecarcinucid genera of southern India by its medium size (maximum CW 18.8 mm) in combination with the following morphological features: a carapace that is relatively low ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4) ( Fig. 31B ); well-developed postorbital cristae that reach the lateral margins of the carapace ( Fig. 31A ); a broadly triangular external orbital angle, with a long outer margin, ca. 3.5 times the length of the inner margin ( Fig. 31A ); a low epibranchial tooth ( Fig. 31A ); a well-developed flagellum on the exopod of the maxilliped 3; relatively shorter ambulatory legs ( Fig. 31A ); relatively shallow and complete male s2/s3 and s3/s4, which both reach the edge of the sternum ( Fig. 31C ); a relatively shorter male sternopleonal cavity, which reaches the imaginary line joining the anterior part of the cheliped coxae ( Fig. 31C ); a relatively narrow male pleon, with concave lateral margins ( Fig. 31C ); a subquadrate, relatively narrow male pleonal somite 6, with the proximal width ca. 1.1 times the medial length, and straight lateral margins ( Fig. 31C ); a male telson that is as long as broad, with the medial length ca. 1.0 times the proximal width, and straight lateral margins ( Fig. 31C ); a G1 ultimate article that is conical, relatively stouter, distally gently curved outwards and short, ca. 0.3 times the length of the penultimate article, with the relatively acute and straight tip ( Fig. 32A, B ); a G1 penultimate article that is relatively stout, with the outer margin almost straight ( Fig. 32A, B ); and a distinctly longer G2, ca. 1.2 times the G1 length ( Fig. 32 ).

Among the freshwater crab genera of southern India, Idukkiana gen. nov. is morphologically closest to Naduganiana gen. nov. mainly due to the following shared characteristics: a low carapace ( CH /CW = ca. 0.4) ( Figs. 12C , 31B ); well-developed postorbital cristae that extend to the carapace lateral margins ( Figs. 12A, B, E , 31A ); a broadly triangular external orbital angle with a long outer margin that is ca. 3–3.5 times the length of the inner margin ( Figs. 12A, B, E , 31A ); a low epibranchial tooth ( Figs. 12A, B, E , 31A ); relatively stouter and shorter ambulatory legs ( Figs. 12A, E , 31A ); a complete groove of the s3/s4 ( Figs. 12D , 31C ); a subquadrate and relatively narrow male pleonal somite 6, with the proximal width ca. 1.1–1.2 times medial length ( Figs. 12D, G , 31C ); a relatively short G1 ultimate article that is ca. 0.3–0.4 times the length of the penultimate article ( Figs. 12H , 13A , 32A ); and a distinctly longer G2 that is ca. 1.2 times the G1 length ( Figs. 12H–J , 13 , 32 ). These morphological similarities between the two genera notwithstanding, Idukkiana gen. nov. is nevertheless differentiated from Naduganiana gen. nov. by the relatively shallow male s2/s3 and s3/s4 ( Fig. 31C ) (versus male s2/s3 and s3/s4 relatively deep; Fig. 12D ); the straight lateral margins of the male pleonal somite 6 and telson ( Fig. 31C ) (versus male pleonal somite 6 and telson with the gently concave lateral margins; Fig. 12D, G ); the relatively stouter G1 ultimate article, with the tip relatively acute and straight ( Fig. 32A, B ) (versus G1 ultimate article relatively slenderer, with the blunt and bent tip; Figs. 12H, I , 13A, B ); and the relatively slenderer G1 penultimate article, with an almost straight outer margin ( Fig. 32A, B ) (versus G1 penultimate article relatively stouter, with the sinuous outer margin; Figs. 12H, I , 13A, B ). Although both genera are known from the Western Ghats in southern India, Idukkiana gen. nov. is restricted to the higher elevations (1570 m a.s.l.) of the southern Western Ghats (cf. Bahir & Yeo 2007) ( Fig. 1B ), whereas Naduganiana gen. nov. is known only from the lower elevations (651–800 m a.s.l.) of the central Western Ghats ( Bahir & Yeo 2007; present study) ( Fig. 1A ).

Geographical distribution. Idukkiana gen. nov. is known only from the higher elevations (1570 m a.s.l.) of the southern Western Ghats , specifically in the Idukki district of Kerala, southern India ( Bahir & Yeo 2007) ( Fig. 1B ) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of the central and southern Western Ghats, southern India, showing the distribution of: A, Travancoriana s. lat. (Travancoriana s. str., Ponmudiana gen. nov., Palaniana gen. nov., Anamudiana gen. nov., and Naduganiana gen. nov.); B, Vanni s. lat. (Vanni s. str., Santanusus gen. nov., Pusillosa gen. nov., Nilgiriana gen. nov., and Idukkiana gen. nov.).

FIGURE 12. Naduganiana kuleera (Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov. A–D, holotype male (28.0 mm × 19.7 mm) (ZRC 2003.0240); E–J, male (19.3 mm × 14.6 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2470); K, female (19.3 mm × 14.5 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2470). A, E, overall habitus; B, dorsal view of cephalothorax; C, frontal view of cephalothorax; D, thoracic sternites, pleonal somites 4–6, and telson; F, left maxilliped 3; G, pleon and telson; H, left G1 dorsal view; I, left G1 ventral view; J, left G2; K, thoracic sternites showing vulvae. Scale bars: A–C, E = 10 mm, D, K = 5 mm, F, G = 2 mm, H–J = 1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Naduganiana kuleera (Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov., holotype male (28.0 × 19.7 mm) (ZRC 2003.0240).A, left G1 dorsal view; B, left G1 ventral view; C, left G2. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 27. A–D, Nilgiriana nilgiriensis (Roux, 1931) comb. nov., lectotype male (24.7 × 18.5 mm) (MHNG, uncatalogued); E–H, Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov., holotype male (20.8 × 15.4 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2477).A, E, overall habitus; B, F, dorsal view of cephalothorax; C, G, frontal view of cephalothorax; D, H, thoracic sternites, pleonal somites 4–6, and telson. Scale bars: A–C, E–G = 10 mm, D, H = 5 mm. (Figure 27A–D reproduced from Bahir & Yeo (2007: fig. 36A–C)).

FIGURE 28. A–C, Nilgiriana nilgiriensis (Roux, 1931) comb. nov., lectotype male (24.7 × 18.5 mm) (MHNG, uncatalogued); D–F, Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov., holotype male (20.8 × 15.4 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2477). A, right G1 dorsal view; B, right G1 ventral view; C, right G2; D, left G1 dorsal view; E, left G1 ventral view; F, left G2. Scale bar = 1 mm. (Figure 28A–C redrawn from Bahir & Yeo (2007: fig. 35C, D, G)).

FIGURE 29. Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. A–F, holotype male (20.8 × 15.4 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2477); G, H, paratype male (18.3 × 12.6 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.1826); I, J, paratype female (19.1 × 13.3 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.1826). A, mouth parts exposed; B, left maxilliped 3; C, posterior thoracic sternites (s5–s8) showing right G1 and G2; D, pleon and telson; E, G, left G1 dorsal view; F, H, left G2; I, pleonal somites 4–6 and telson; J, thoracic sternites showing vulvae. Scale bars: A–C = 2 mm, D, I, J = 5 mm, E–H = 1 mm.

FIGURE 30. Nilgiriana paloti sp. nov. A, holotype male (20.8 × 15.4 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2477) in its natural habitat and colour in life; B, C, habitats (boulders in shallow and slow-flowing streams) at the type locality, Tadiandamolbetta of Kodagu district, Karnataka; D, survey team collecting crabs among small stones in wet soil adjacent to a slow-flowing stream at the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary of Kannur district, Kerala.

FIGURE 31. Idukkiana giri (Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov., holotype male (18.8 × 14.2 mm) (ZRC 2003.0271). A, overall habitus; B, frontal view of cephalothorax; C, thoracic sternites, pleonal somites 4–6, and telson. Scale bar = 5 mm. (Figure reproduced from Bahir & Yeo (2007: fig. 44A–C)).

FIGURE 32. Idukkiana giri (Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov., holotype male (18.8 × 14.2 mm) (ZRC 2003.0271). A, left G1 dorsal view; B, left G1 ventral view; C, left G2. Scale bar = 1 mm. (Figure redrawn from Bahir & Yeo (2007: fig. 43A, B, E)).