Key to the Uca species recorded from China
1. Front narrow; outer surface of manus of major cheliped with tubercles ...................................................................... 2
- Front wide; outer surface of manus of major cheliped smooth. ................................................................................. 10
2. Anterolateral margin long; merus of first 3 ambulatory legs wide............................................................................... 3
- Anterolateral margin short; merus of first 3 ambulatory legs slender .......................................................................... 4
3. Carapace strongly arched, postero-lateral striae absent; size large (CW to ~ 37 mm) .................................. U. arcuata
- Carapace not strongly arched, postero-lateral striae present; size moderately small (CW to ~ 25 mm) .......... U. acuta
4. Dactyl of major cheliped without groove; suborbital crenulations large, distinct........................................................ 5
- Dactyl of major cheliped with 1 or 2 grooves; suborbital crenulations small, indistinct ............................................. 7
5. Outer surface of manus of major cheliped with small tubercles; fingers narrow, thick; pollex without groove; female with setae posteriorly on carapace sides ................................................................................................... U. tetragonon
- Outer surface of manus of major cheliped with large tubercles; fingers broad, flat; pollex with 1 groove; female without setae posteriorly on carapace sides .................................................................................................................. 6
6. Pollex of major cheliped with shallow or without distal depression, dactylus deeper than pollex only in young; oblique ridge of major manus low ................................................................................................................ U. borealis
- Pollex of major cheliped with both deep proximal and distal depressions, dactylus not deeper than pollex; oblique ridge of major manus high .............................................................................................................................. U. vocans
7. Floor of orbit with a row of tubercles; fingers of major cheliped with 1 groove ......................................................... 8
- Floor of orbit without a row of tubercles; fingers of major cheliped with 2 grooves................................................... 9
8. Floor of orbit with a long row of tubercles (often ≥ 15); fingers of major cheliped with 1 shallow groove; female without large tooth on either finger ................................................................................................................ U. typhoni
- Floor of orbit with a short row of tubercles; fingers of major cheliped with 1 deep groove; female with a large tooth at least on one finger ................................................................................................................................... U. coarctata
9. Front with distinct narrow median groove; G1 with distal spiniform chitinous process; female without large tooth on either finger; size large (CW to ~ 38 mm) ........................................................................................ U. paradussumieri
- Front almost without discernible median groove, but clearly separated; G1 with distal blunt chitinous process; female always with a large tooth on both fingers; size medium (CW to ~ 27 mm) ................................. U. dussumieri
10. Shallow, triangular depression outside pollex base; 4th ambulatory merus broad, dorsal margin convex U. crassipes
- No triangular depression outside pollex base; 4th ambulatory merus slender, dorsal margin straight....................... 11
11. Dactylus of major cheliped with 2 grooves; posterior carapace medium narrow; orbits very oblique .. U. triangularis
- Dactylus of major cheliped without groove; posterior carapace slight narrow; orbits not oblique............................ 12
12. Pollex of major cheliped without or with small predistal triangular tooth; G1 with posterior flange longer, broader than anterior ..................................................................................................................................................... U. lactea
- Pollex of major cheliped with small to moderate predistal triangular tooth; G1 with anterior flange longer, broader than posterior .............................................................................................................................................. U. annulipes