First record of the pebble crab Alox chaunos from India

A species of pebble crab, Alox chaunos Galil & Ng, 2007 is recorded for the first time from India. The specimen examined was collected from the trawl catch at Digha Mohana, West Bengal state, India. Alox chaunos can be identified based on the carapace surface covered with mushroom-like tubercles, irregular pits, a prominent groove on the surface running parallel to the anterolateral carapace margin, and a slender male first gonopod (G1), slightly twisted in its distal half. The shape of the second gonopod (G2) illustrated in previous studies appears aberrant; an accurate illustration is provided herein. Alox chaunos can be differentiated from its close congener A. rugosum based on carapace shape, groove pattern, long telson, and narrow G1 distally. The species was originally described from specimens collected in the Philippines, redescribed based on specimens from Japan and is reported here for the first time from India.