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Language: English
The subfamily Actaeniae comprises four genera and 44 species from India and more than hundred species from the world. Recently, carcinologists have grouped the species, erected a few more genera, shifted the species and splitted the groups but the problems of identification have remained as difficult as before. Rather the work has become more complicated for want of suitable generic and specific keys. Literature is mostly in German and French and is very scattered, and so not easily available for consultation. In most of the cases the reasons and the characters considered for erection of new species and genera are very vague and insignificant. In the majority of cases discussions and remarks given for the new genera are very lengthy and without proper justice shown on the major significant characters. When discussions were made, the age, sex, sizes, number of examples studied, locality, their seasonal variations etc. were not taken into consideration.
The present paper deals with the description of 44 species belonging to this subfamily, keeping in view the above consideration. A key for the species dealt with is suggested for convenience's sake, keeping in mind the textural patterns of the carapace of the small coral crabs, a character that is more prominent than any other.
