Liomera schubarti, a new species of xanthid crab (Brachyura, Xanthidae) from the Persian Gulf, northwestern Indian Ocean

Abstract This taxonomic study describes Liomera schubarti n. sp., a newly discovered xanthid crab inhabiting live coral in the Persian Gulf. The new species shares a general resemblance with four other species of this genus, L. bella , L. margaritata , L. rugata and L. yaldwyni , particularly in carapace morphology, but it can be distinguished by the fusion of carapace areolets, specific pattern of granules on the outer surface of the chela and the unique structure of the male first gonopod. This contribution enriches our understanding of the xanthid crab diversity in the Persian Gulf.