On new species of Leucosiidae (Crustacea : Decapoda : Brachyura) from Singapore and the South China Sea

Four new species of Leucosiidae, Heteronucia margaritata, Pseudophilyra punctulata, Leucosia major and L. singaporensis, are described from Singapore and the South China Sea. Heteronucia margaritata can be separated from the allied H. xincunensis Chen & Turkay, 2001, by the proportions of the carapace, third maxilliped, chelipeds and legs as well as the form of the dorsal carapace surface and male first pleopod. Pseudophilyra punctulata can be distinguished from P. intermedia Ihle, 1918, by the form of the carapace, front, merus of the third maxilliped, male abdominal segments, fingers of the chela, and proportions of the exopod of the third maxilliped. Leucosia major and L. singaporensis are allied to L. magna Tyndale-Biscoe & George, 1962, but can be distinguished from each other by the appearance of the frontal margin, structure of the thoracic sinus, proportions of the carapace, third maxilliped and sixth male abdominal segment, and the form of the male first pleopod.