In a significant addition to India's marine biodiversity, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recorded the pebble crab species Lyphira ngankee for the first time in Indian waters. Four specimens of the leucosiid crab, one male and three females, were collected in 2023 from the Bahabalpur fish landing centre in Balasore district, Odisha. Previously, this species was known to exist only in the South China Sea.
Discovery and Identification
Following detailed examination and taxonomic analysis at the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of ZSI in Gopalpur, Ganjam district, researchers confirmed that the specimens belonged to Lyphira ngankee. The findings have been published in the latest issue of Nauplius, the journal of the Brazilian Crustacean Society.
Often referred to as nut or pebble crabs due to their resemblance to small pebbles, these crabs are typically found in sandy and silty substrates of inter-tidal and sub-tidal zones, indicating a preference for soft-bottom marine habitats, said Anil Mohapatra, senior scientist and in-charge of EBRC, who is the lead author of the study.
Morphological Features
The species can be identified by a combination of morphological features, including:
- Two prominent frontal spines on the carapace
- Well-developed tubercles across the carapace surface
- Petal-shaped maxillipeds
- A slender male gonopod with a blunt tip
- A distinct tooth on the sixth abdominal segment
Co-author Sandeep Kumar Mohapatra highlighted these distinguishing characteristics. Lyphira ngankee was originally described from South China. “The present record represents the first report of the species beyond its type locality, thereby expanding its known geographical distribution,” said another co-author, Chitrak Dey.
Future Research
The researchers emphasized that further studies are required to better understand the ecology, distribution, and biology of the species. This discovery underscores the importance of continued marine biodiversity surveys along the Indian coast.
