Pseudosesarma boulengeri (Calman, 1920)

(Figs. 22H, 25G, 27H, 30H, 37J–O, 44 F)

Chiromantes boulengeri Calman, 1920: 63, fig. A.

Sesarma (Holometopus) boulengeri – Serène, 1968: 107.

Chiromantes boulengeri – Ng & Liu, 1999: 229; Apel & Türkay, 1999: 133; Apel, 2001: 116; Naderloo & Schubart, 2009: 61; Naderloo, 2011: 15, figs. 6a–f, 7a, b; Naderloo & Turkäy, 2012: 47; Naderloo, 2017: 348, figs. 31.1, 31.2, 31.6, 31.11a.

“ Chiromantes ” boulengeri – Ng et al., 2008a: 220.

Material examined. Lectotype male (26.9 × 23.5 mm) (NHM 1919.11.14.1), Basra, Ashar Creek, Iraq (Mesopotamia), coll. C.L. Boulenger. Paralectotypes – 1 male (21.0 × 17.8 mm), 1 ovigerous female (23.8 × 20.4 mm, 26.7 × 22.4 mm) (NHM 1919.11.14.2–4) (same data as lectotype). Others: IRAQ – 1 male, 1 female (NHM 1892.9.16.7.20), Fao; 1 male (NHM 1999.124), Fao. IRAN – 3 males (ZUTC Brach 1151), Bahmanshir River, coll. E. Gholinezhad, summer 2006 ; 1 male, 1 female (ZUTC Brach 1153), Bahmanshir River, coll. E. Gholinezhad, summer 2006; 16 males, 25 females (16 ovigerous), 3 juveniles (SMF 33818), 2 males, 2 females (ZRC 2014.0335), Abadan, Bahmanshir River, Pole Tanki Abolhassan, 30°21′01.5″N 48°18′35.9″E, coll. R. Naderloo & A. Kazemi, 20 May 2008 .

Diagnosis. Carapace squarish; epibranchial tooth absent, lateral margin entire; posterolateral margins gently converging towards posterior carapace margin; outer surface of chela gently convex, covered with large rounded granules in adults, ventral margin of palm sinuous, unarmed; male pleon triangular, appears more elongate; suture between male thoracic sternites 3 and 4 distinct; male sternopleonal cavity with press-button of pleonal locking mechanism on sternite 5; distal part of G1 gently swollen with main chitinous part forming beak-like structure and smaller projection basally. In life, chelae beige to cream.

Colour. In life, the carapace and appendages are cream to buff, with the dorsal surface of the carapace possessing darker blotches (Fig. 56H) (see also Naderloo, 2011: 7 a, b; Naderloo, 2017: fig. 31.1).

Remarks. The taxonomy of this species has been treated at length by Naderloo & Schubart (2009).

Biology. In Iran, the species lives in burrows along the muddy banks of rivers subject to tidal influence (Naderloo & Schubart, 2009). The type from Iraq, however, was found in Ashar Creek, 96 km from the sea, and presumably freshwater (Calman, 1920).

Distribution. Iraq and Iran, Persian Gulf (Calman, 1920; Naderloo & Schubart, 2009).