Morphological and molecular characterization of the thunder crab Myomenippe hardwickii Gray, 1831 (Brachyura: Menippidae) from the Malabar coast, India

P. Hari Praved; K.V. Neethu; E.H. Aravind; S. Bijoy Nandan; P.C. Shamily Catherine

doi:10.26881/oahs-2026.1.07

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Morphological and molecular characterization of the thunder crab Myomenippe hardwickii Gray, 1831 (Brachyura: Menippidae) from the Malabar coast, India

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

Volume 55 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)

By: P. Hari Praved, K.V. Neethu, E.H. Aravind, S. Bijoy Nandan and P.C. Shamily Catherine

Open Access

|Mar 2026

Figures & Tables

Map indicating the site of collection (red circle), in Cochin Estuary, Kerala, west coast of India.

M. hardwickii, male (35 mm × 26 mm), MH/HPP4/12-2022. Dorsal habitus and live coloration.

M. hardwickii, male, (35 mm × 26 mm), MH/HPP4/12-2022: (A) Dorsal view displaying three sections of the gastric region; (B) cephalothorax, frontal view; (C) green pigmented cornea ringed with red and extended infra orbital margin; (D) bilobed frontal margin with three teeth each; (E) anterolateral margin with four teeth; (F) anterior thoracic sternum and telson, ventral view; (G) detached pleon, ventral view; (H) mxp3, external view; (I) thoracic sternum and sternopleonal cavity. mxp3, third maxillipeds; N, notch.

M. hardwickii, female (42 mm × 31 mm), MH/HPP1/12-2022: (A) detached female pleon, external view; (B) female thoracic sternum and vulvae, ventral view; (C) left third maxilliped, ventral view; (D) right cheliped with molariform tooth; (E) right P5, ventral view; (F) entire first male left G1, ventral view; (G) distal tip of left G1, ventral view; (H) entire second male right G2, ventral view; (I) distal tip of G2, ventral view.

Molecular phylogenetic tree inferred using the ML method based on the Tamura–Nei model (T93) showing the relationships among M. hardwickii, related Menippe species, and the outgroup Dromia personata. The analysis is based on a COI gene alignment generated after sequence trimming and multiple sequence alignment using MAFFT v7.505. Bootstrap support values (>50%) are indicated at the nodes and branch lengths drawn to scale as substitutions per site. Sequences generated in this study are represented by a red circle. ML, maximum likelihood.

M. hardwickii, male (35 mm × 26 mm), MH/HPP4/12-2022: (B) carapace, dorsal view; (D) left first pleopod (G1), ventral view; (F) right second pleopod (G2), ventral view. M. fornasinii, male: (A) dorsal habitus; (C) carapace, dorsal view; (E) left first pleopod (G1), ventral view; (G) left second pleopod (G2), ventral view. Panels (A) and (C) are adapted and redrawn from Miguel et al. (2025); panels (E) and (G) are redrawn from Serène (1984).

Morphological measurements of M_ hardwickii (Gray, 1831)

Measurements (mm)
No.	CW	CL	AW	AL	PL	PH	Sex	CW/CL
1	42	31	14	22	27	16	Female	1.355
2	56	42	19	28	38	23	Female	1.333
3	64	47	11	32	53	29	Female	1.362
4	35	26	12	18	23	11	Male	1.346
5	83	62	26	43	68	36	Male	1.339

Pairwise comparisons based on TN93 distances between species included in the study

No.	Species name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1	Myomenippe hardwickii OQ948136 (India)
2	Myomenippe hardwickii PQ536003 (Malaysia)	0.0000
3	Myomenipp hardwickii PX457434 (Thailand)	0.0000	0.0000
4	Myomenippe hardwickii OQ954126 (India)	0.0000	0.0000	0.0000
5	Myomenippe hardwickii HM638052 (Singapore)	0.0137	0.0160	0.0160	0.0160
6	Myomenippe fornasinii LK391943 (Australia)	0.0979	0.1170	0.1157	0.1223	0.1299
7	Myomenippe fornasinii NC024437 (Australia)	0.0979	0.1170	0.1157	0.1223	0.1299	0.0000
8	Myomenippe fornasinii PV053328 (Australia)	0.1027	0.1213	0.1213	0.1258	0.1352	0.0046	0.0046
9	Menippe adina MW094166	0.1813	0.1726	0.1697	0.1805	0.1757	0.1717	0.1717	0.1756
10	Menippe mercenaria MW094171	0.1817	0.1761	0.1731	0.1843	0.1757	0.1684	0.1684	0.1720	0.0015
11	Menippe nodifrons MW264437	0.1690	0.1734	0.1731	0.1816	0.1611	0.1849	0.1849	0.1862	0.1355	0.1325
12	Menippe rumphii OL960453	0.1699	0.1740	0.1740	0.1759	0.1682	0.1812	0.1812	0.1827	0.1511	0.1480	0.1506
13	Carpilius convexus HM638025	0.2414	0.2361	0.2360	0.2361	0.2446	0.1957	0.1957	0.2011	0.2127	0.2127	0.2588	0.2607

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.26881/oahs-2026.1.07 | Journal eISSN: 1897-3191 | Journal ISSN: 1730-413X

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Language: English

Page range: 103 - 117

Submitted on: Oct 28, 2025

Accepted on: Mar 3, 2026

Published on: Mar 31, 2026

Published by: University of Gdańsk

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

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© 2026 P. Hari Praved, K.V. Neethu, E.H. Aravind, S. Bijoy Nandan, P.C. Shamily Catherine, published by University of Gdańsk
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 55 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)

Morphological and molecular characterization of the thunder crab Myomenippe hardwickii Gray, 1831 (Brachyura: Menippidae) from the Malabar coast, India

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Morphological measurements of M_ hardwickii (Gray, 1831)

Pairwise comparisons based on TN93 distances between species included in the study

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