A synopsis of Eurycarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1867 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Pilumnidae)

The taxonomy of the intertidal pilumnid crab Eurycarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1867 is reviewed in the present work. Characters that define Eurycarcinus and distinguish it from the allied genera Heteropanope Stimpson, 1858, Pilumnopeus A. Milne-Edwards, 1867, and Benthopanope Davie, 1989 are discussed. Eurycarcinus can be distinguished from these genera by the smooth features of the carapace, shape and form of the male pleon, and structure of the male thoracic sternum, notably the shapes of sternites 1-4 and whether sternite 8 is exposed when the pleon is closed. Of the four species of Eurycarcinus, E. bengalensis Deb, 1999, is here assigned to Heteropanope. Furthermore, Eurycarcinus species are known for certain only from the western Indian Ocean.