Re-evaluation of species allied to Mithrax hispidus (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Mithracidae) based on three mitochondrial genes

Mithrax hispidus, M. caribbaeus, M. pleuracanthus, and M. tortugae are closely related shallow-water crabs that are difficult to distinguish by morphology alone. This led to recent synonymy of the four species under M. hispidus (Herbst, 1790). The use of three mitochondrial genes (12s, 16s, and COI) nevertheless provides evidence for three distinct species (M. hispidus, M. pleuracanthus, and M. tortugae) and the synonymy of M. caribbaeus with M. hispidus. Morphological features of the merus and carpus of the chelipeds serve as characters to separate the three species.