Grapsus plicatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837

(Fig. 5D)

Grapsus plicatus H. Milne Edwards, 1837: 89 .

CURRENT TAXONOMIC STATUS. — Pachygrapsus plicatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), accepted recombination (see Kingsley 1880: 200; Poupin et al. 2005: 37, 38; Castro 2011: 117).

LECTOTYPE (designated by Poupin et al. 2005: 37, 38). — MNHN-IU-2000-3585 (= MNHN-B3585), ♀ 15.0 × 19.0 mm, Sandwich Islands [Hawaiian Is.], coll. Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet, 1817-1820. — Original labels: “ Pachygrapsus plicatus (Stimp.), Grapsus plicatus Edw., Type, Iles Sandwich, M. Freycinet ” and on the back of the cardboard box “Type de Grapsus plicatus (M. Edw.), c’est un Metopograpsus ” (“Type of Grapsus plicatus (M. Edw.), it is a Metopograpsus ”).

PRESERVATION OF THE LECTOTYPE. — Dry. Carapace with a crack on the left cardiac/branchial region; RP1, LP3 missing; pleon damaged.

PARALECTOTYPE (designated by Poupin et al. 2005: 37, 38). — MNHN-IU-2000-1103 (= MNHN-B 3585), 1♀ 12.0 × 16.5 mm, same data as lectotype.

PRESERVATION OF THE PARALECTOTYPE. — Dry. Left side of carapace cracked, intestinal region with a gap; LP 1, LP 3, LP 2 dactlyus missing; only coxa LP 4; pleon intact.

REMARKS

Based on the examination of the two MNHN female syntypes from Hawaiian Islands, the lectotype and paralectotype designation by Poupin (2005) (see also Castro 2011: 117) for the lot MNHN-IU-2000-1103 (= MNHN-B3585) is valid. Previously, Fransen et al. (1997: 126) recorded the RMHN D 42256 specimen from Indonesia as a type of P. plicatus, which actually refers to a nomen nudum of Herklots (1861). Similarly, the Indonesian specimens RMHN D 42234, D 42235, D 45029, and D 45030 that are indicated as “types of Grapsus plicatus (de Haan, MS) Herklots, 1861, nomen nudum” by Fransen et al. (1997: 125, under Metopograpsus frontalis Miers, 1880) are not in any way part of the type material of P. plicatus; this was confirmed by C. Fransen (pers comm., December 2012). These erroneous data from Fransen et al. (1997) were confusing for Davie (2002: 218) and Castro (2011: 117) who presumed that a part of the type material of P. plicatus could be in the RMHN. We are unsure as to what Castro (2011: 117) is referring when he mentions in the synonymy of Pachygrapsus plicatus “ Poupin et al. 2005: 37, figs 11, 14e, 15e [type material, O’ahu]”, the mention of the island O’ahu not being cited anywhere in the original publication.