Taxonomy / Taxinomie New genus and species of brachyuran crab from the southern East Pacific Rise

Abstract – A new genus and species of a brachyuran crab, Allograea tomentosa n. gen. and n. sp., of the family Bythograeidae, collected at a hydrothermal vent locality south of the Easter Microplate (31°09’S) on the southern East Pacific Rise, is described. The genus Allograea is distinguished by lacking modifications of the fronto-orbital region, and by the absence of coloured fields and setal patches on the carapace and chelipeds. The body and legs are smooth but densely covered by a brown tomentum, the eyestalks are not reduced, but the cornea is unfaceted and unpigmented. Comparison of mitochondrial DNA sequences among all known bythograeid genera confirms the novelty of this taxon. To cite this article: D. Guinot et al., C. R. Biologies 325 (2002) 1143–1152. © 2002 Académie des sciences / Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SA