Ponmudiana charu Z 2025, comb. nov.

Ponmudiana charu (Bahir & Yeo, 2007) comb. nov. [Beautiful Ponmudi crab] (Figs. 4A–D, 5A–C) Travancoriana charu Bahir & Yeo, 2007: 324, figs. 16, 17. Travancoriana charu – Pati & Sharma 2013: 281 (list, in key).— Klaus et al. 2014: table S1 (list).— Rajesh et al. 2017: 144, fig. 21.—Pati 2020: 162 (list).— Pati & Pradhan 2020: 555836 (list). Type material examined. Holotype: male (CW 40.4 mm, CL 30.7 mm) (ZRC 2003.0241), India, Kerala State, Thiruvananthapuram District, Ponmudi, 8.73861° N, 77.11936° E, elev. 339 m a.s.l., collector and collection date unknown. Other material examined. India– Tamil Nadu State: female (CW 28.7 mm, CL 21.7 mm, CH 11.2 mm, FW 8.0 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2164), Kanyakumari District, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Upper Kodayar Range, Muthukulivayal, 8.493° N, 77.380° E, elev. 1324 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 23 August 2019; 2 males (CW 21.1 –26.0 mm, CL 16.2–19.1 mm, CH 8.3–10.2 mm, FW 6.1 –7.0 mm), female (CW 16.5 mm, CL 12.0 mm, CH 6.3 mm, FW 4.9 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2165), Kanyakumari District, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Upper Kodayar Range, Kanthapanai Odai, 8.538° N, 77.349° E, elev. 1292 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 24 August 2019; female (CW 16.5 mm, CL 13.3 mm, CH 6.6 mm, FW 5.1 mm) (ZSI-WRC C.2321), Tirunelveli District, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Ambasamudram Range, near Marapalam, 8.547° N, 77.375° E, elev. 1276 m a.s.l., coll. R. Babu et al., 25 August 2019. Diagnosis. Large sized crabs (maximum CW 40.4 mm). Carapace transversely broad (CW/CL = ca. 1.2–1.4) (Fig. 4A, B); epigastric cristae slightly anterior to postorbital cristae (Fig. 4A, B); male s2/s3 visible as narrow, shallow groove, not reaching edge of sternum (Fig. 4D); male telson relatively broad, medial length ca. 1.1 times proximal width, with concave lateral margins (Fig. 4D); G1 ultimate article conical, short, ca. 0.3–0.4 times length of penultimate article, with straight tip (Fig. 5A, B); G2 ultimate article long, ca. 0.5–0.6 times length of penultimate article (Fig. 5C). Remarks. Ponmudiana charu comb. nov. can be distinguished from the only known congener, Po. pollicaris comb. nov., by the concave lateral margins of the male telson (Fig. 4D) (versus male telson with almost straight lateral margins; Figs. 4H, 6C, E) and the conical G1 ultimate article with a straight tip (Fig. 5A, B) (versus G1 ultimate article subcylindrical with a conspicuously bent tip; Figs. 5D, E, 6F, G). Ecological notes. Ponmudiana charu comb. nov. is known to dwell under boulders of streamlets in well shaded areas (Bahir & Yeo 2007). Geographical distribution. Ponmudiana charu comb. nov. is an endemic species of the southern Western Ghats in southern India and is known only from Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram district) and Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts) (Bahir & Yeo 2007; Rajesh et al. 2017; present study) (Fig. 1A).