Brachyuran crabs of the family Macrophthalmidae Dana, 1851 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Macrophthalmidae) of the Persian Gulf

The family Macrophthalmidae Dana, 1851, is one of the best represented brachyuran groups in intertidal habitats in the Persian Gulf. Nine species from two subfamilies are reported from the gulf and the adjacent Gulf of Oman, mainly inhabiting intertidal soft substrates. The subfamily Ilyograpsinae Stevcic, 2005, is represented by Ilyograpsus rhizophorae Barnard, 1950, erroneously recorded as I. paludicola (Rathbun, 1909). Eight species of the subfamily Macrophthalminae Dana, 1851, have been recorded from the area, all belonging to Macrophthalmus Desmarest, 1823. Of these, M. sinuspersici Naderloo & Turkay, 2010, has recently been described and is the only species of the genus occurring on rocky shores. Macrophthalmus graeffei A. Milne-Edwards, 1873, occurs in subtidal water and is hereby recorded for the first time from the northern Indian Ocean. The remaining six species, M. dentipes Lucas, 1836, M. depressus Ruppell, 1830, M. grandidieri A. Milne-Edwards, 1867, M. laevis A. Milne-Edwards, 1867, M. serenei Takeda & Komai, 1991, and M. sulcatus H. Milne-Edwards, 1852, are important elements of the intertidal soft bottom communities. An identification key for the genus Macrophthalmus in the area is provided, and the geographical distribution of the family is briefly discussed.