The species was more widely known in scientific literature by its junior synonym Ocypode pygoides in the early 20th century due to the uncertainty regarding the original descriptions and illustrations by Quoy and Gaimard.

In 1837, the French zoologist Henri Milne-Edwards used Quoy and Gaimard's French "translation" of the name, Ocypode bombé (writing it as Ocypode bombée), instead of the Latin name, Ocypode convexus.
However, he also declared that the species "hadn't been described or illustrated in enough detail for it to be recognised in some way".
The British zoologist Edward J. Miers also regarded it as a possible synonym of either Ocypode kuhlii or Ocypode cordimanus in 1882, again due to the vagueness of the original descriptions.
In 1894, the Prussian-American zoologist Arnold Edward Ortmann described Ocypode pygoides without consulting Quoy and Gaimard's original work.
Although he did posit the possibility that Ocypode pygoides and Ocypode convexa might actually be the same species later on in 1897.

In 1957, due to the discovery of a name conflict with an unrelated crab species also originally described as Ocypode convexus by the Dutch zoologist Wilhem de Haan in 1833, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) suppressed Quoy and Gaimard's Ocypode convexus.
This ruling was made on the basis that the consulted specialists regarded Quoy and Gaimard's Ocypode convexus as nomen dubium.

It wasn't until 1965 when the Australian carcinologists Ray W. George and Mary E. Knott finally clarified the confusion surrounding the name by demonstrating that Ocypode pygoides and Ocypode convexa were identical and formally synonymised the former with the latter.
The name Ocypode convexa is now regarded as the valid name and the species has been referred to as such in subsequent publications.

Ocypode stimsponii, a different species found in East Asia, was also initially described by the American zoologist William Stimpson as Ocypode convexa in 1858.
Like de Haan, Stimpson was unaware that the name had already been used previously by Quoy and Gaimard.
Ortmann realised that Stimpson's name for the species was a junior homonym in 1897 and renamed the species Ocypode stimpsonii.
Ocypode nobilii, another species from Southeast Asia, was also mistakenly identified as Ocypode convexa on its discovery in 1899 by the Italian carcinologist Giuseppe Nobili.
In 1902, the Dutch biologist Johannes Govertus de Man recognised that it was actually a new species and named it Ocypode nobilii in honour of Nobili.
The species was more widely known in scientific literature by its junior synonym Ocypode pygoides in the early 20th century due to the uncertainty regarding the original descriptions and illustrations by Quoy and Gaimard. 
In 1837, the French zoologist Henri Milne-Edwards used Quoy and Gaimard's French "translation" of the name, Ocypode bombé (writing it as Ocypode bombée), instead of the Latin name, Ocypode convexus. However, he also declared that the species "hadn't been described or illustrated in enough detail for it to be recognised in some way". The British zoologist Edward J. Miers also regarded it as a possible synonym of either Ocypode kuhlii or Ocypode cordimanus in 1882, again due to the vagueness of the original descriptions. In 1894, the Prussian-American zoologist Arnold Edward Ortmann described Ocypode pygoides without consulting Quoy and Gaimard's original work. Although he did posit the possibility that Ocypode pygoides and Ocypode convexa might actually be the same species later on in 1897.
In 1957, due to the discovery of a name conflict with an unrelated crab species also originally described as Ocypode convexus by the Dutch zoologist Wilhem de Haan in 1833, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) suppressed Quoy and Gaimard's Ocypode convexus. This ruling was made on the basis that the consulted specialists regarded Quoy and Gaimard's Ocypode convexus as nomen dubium.
It wasn't until 1965 when the Australian carcinologists Ray W. George and Mary E. Knott finally clarified the confusion surrounding the name by demonstrating that Ocypode pygoides and Ocypode convexa were identical and formally synonymised the former with the latter. The name Ocypode convexa is now regarded as the valid name and the species has been referred to as such in subsequent publications.
Ocypode stimsponii, a different species found in East Asia, was also initially described by the American zoologist William Stimpson as Ocypode convexa in 1858. Like de Haan, Stimpson was unaware that the name had already been used previously by Quoy and Gaimard. Ortmann realised that Stimpson's name for the species was a junior homonym in 1897 and renamed the species Ocypode stimpsonii. Ocypode nobilii, another species from Southeast Asia, was also mistakenly identified as Ocypode convexa on its discovery in 1899 by the Italian carcinologist Giuseppe Nobili. In 1902, the Dutch biologist Johannes Govertus de Man recognised that it was actually a new species and named it Ocypode nobilii in honour of Nobili.
Golden ghost crab