The Synonymy of the Supratidal Crab Species Parasesarma cognatum Rahayu & Li, 2013 with P. liho Koller, Liu & Schubart, 2010 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Sesarmidae) Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence, with a Note on P. paucitorum Rahayu & Ng, 2009
Parasesarma liho Koller, Liu & Schubart, 2010 and P. cognatum Rahayu & Li, 2013 from East and Southeast Asia are similar species that have been confused in several studies. Here, we re-examined the type specimens of both species and found identical main characters, which is supported by the molecular identity of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. As a result, we treat P. cognatum as a junior subjective synonym of P. liho. We also show that the male paratype of P. paucitorum Rahayu & Ng, 2009 is conspecific with P. liho, although P. paucitorum s. str. remains a distinct but allied species. The distribution of P. liho is updated to include Japan (Ryukyus), Taiwan, Philippines (Cebu) and Indonesia (Sulawesi).
Keywords
Parasesarma, P. liho, P. cognatum, P. paucitorum, Morphology, Mitochondrial COI.
