A preliminary revision of the genus Leptodius A. Milne-Edwards, 1863

Abstract

The members of genus Leptodius A. Milne-Edaward, 1863 were all found in the Indo-West Pacific region, often being common and ubiquitous components of the intertidal and shallow subtidal fauna. Ng et al. (2008) recognized 12 valid species in the genus. Recently Lee et al. (2013) synonymized L. exaratus H. Milne Edwards, 1834 in the eastern Indian Ocean and the western pacific, L. nigromaculatus Ser&egrave ne, 1962, and several other nomenclatures into L. affinis (De Haan, 1835) based on the morphological characteristics. In the present study, the systematic of the genus Leptodius was further investigated with observation of holotypes and a large number of specimens collected from the Indo-West Pacific. The results obtained were as follows: 1) L. davaoensis Ward, 1941 and L. leptodon Forest & Guinot, 1961 are not conspecific, which is contradictory to the study of Ng et al. (2008). 2) L. philippinensis Ward, 1941 and L. hombronii (Lucas, in Jacquinot & Lucas, 1853) would be considered to be L. sanguineus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834). 3) L. efferens Rathbun, 1907 and L. waialuanus Rathbun, 1906 would be synonymized as Liocarpilodes efferens and Etisus waialuanus based on morphological characteristics, respectively. Thus the genus Leptodius consists of 10 species at this point of time. The descriptions and illustrations of the corresponding species were also provided. the genus. Recently Lee et al. (2013) synonymized L. exaratus H. Milne Edwards, 1834 in the eastern Indian Ocean and the western pacific, L. nigromaculatus Ser&egrave ne, 1962, and several other nomenclatures into L. affinis (De Haan, 1835) based on the morphological characteristics. In the present study, the systematic of the genus Leptodius was further investigated with observation of holotypes and a large number of specimens collected from the Indo-West Pacific. The results obtained were as follows: 1) L. davaoensis Ward, 1941 and L. leptodon Forest & Guinot, 1961 are not conspecific, which is contradictory to the study of Ng et al. (2008). 2) L. philippinensis Ward, 1941 and L. hombronii (Lucas, in Jacquinot & Lucas, 1853) would be considered to be L. sanguineus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834). 3) L. efferens Rathbun, 1907 and L. waialuanus Rathbun, 1906 would be synonymized as Liocarpilodes efferens and Etisus waialuanus based on morphological characteristics, respectively. Thus the genus Leptodius consists of 10 species at this point of time. The descriptions and illustrations of the corresponding species were also provided.