First record of the Thalassinid Upogebia issaeffi (Balss, 1913) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Upogebiidae) in Korean waters

Several specimens of Upogebia issaeffi (Balss, 1913) found on Namhae Island off the southern coast of Korea, where they were collected in the intertidal boulder habitat, are described and illustrated. This species has been reported from Vladivostok, Russia to Kagoshima, Japan, but this is the first reported occurrence in Korean waters. The species, closely related to the common Upogebia major that have been reported to be in Korean waters by Kim (1973), are distinguished by the morphology of the dactylus of the first pereiopod. Specifically, in male U. issaeffi, the dactylus has a longitudinal crest bearing a row of fine transverse striae, two longitudinal rows of granules on the outer side, a row of 12–16 granules and another row of 10–13 oblique ridges on the inner side. However, in females, the dactylus lacks a row of transverse striae but bears a row of rounded granules instead on the upper margin on outer side. Oblique ridges are also present on the inner side, but they are much shorter and less conspicuous than in males.