Abstract The monotypic xanthid crab genus Pulcratis Ng and Huang, 1997, previously known only from the South China Sea, is recorded for the first time in the Indian Ocean. The new material was collected by commercial trawlers fishing off the coast of Tamil Nadu state, in southeastern India, and represents a new species, herein described. Pulcratis amabilis n. sp. is similar to the only other congener and type species, P. reticulatus Ng and Huang, 1997, in the general form and fresh coloration, but differs mainly in the outline of the carapace, and morphology of the chelipeds, and the male pleon and gonopods. The subfamilial classification of Pulcratis within Xanthidae is also discussed.