Two new subfamilies of Varunidae (Crustacea : Brachyura), with description of two new genera

A number of genera traditionally placed in the Varunidae or Varuninae have been reappraised and found to represent two new subfamilies. The Thalassograpsinae, for Thalassograpsus harpax Hilgendorf, 1892, has a number of unique apomorphies including the form of the frontal margin, maxillipeds, endostome, thoracic sternites, and the male abdomen with segments 5 and 6 functionally fused. The Gaeticinae is remarkable for having mouthparts and sternum highly modified for suspension feeding, and having male abdominal segments 3-6 fused. The subfamily includes the type genus Gaetice Gistel, 1848, and a new genus Sestrostoma split from the Varuninae genus Acmaeopleura Stimpson, 1858. Gaetice americanus Rathbun, 1923, does not belong to Gaetice as here redefined and is transferred to a new genus in the Varuninae.