CLAWED LOBSTERS (CRUST ACEA : DECAPODA : NEPHROPIDAE) OF TAIWAN

Abstract

This report describes and illustrates two genera ~nd four species of clawed lobsters (Nephropidae) found in the waters of Taiwan. They are Nephrosis stewa;t( WoodMason, 1872, Metanephrops japonicus (Tapparone-Canefri, 1873), M. thom,sfJni (Bate, 1888) and M. formosanus Chan and Yu, 1987. The previous record of M. japonicus by Chang (1965) was actually a misidentification of the newly described species M. formosanus. Therefore, the distribution of M. japonicus, as well as ,N. stewarti, in Taiwan are confirmed here. A key is also provided for their easy identification.