Iridopagurus iris (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880)

(Figs 1 E, 2E, 3E)

Spiropagurus iris A. Milne-Edwards, 1880: 44 [partim]. — Perrier, 1893. — A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1893: 112 [partim], pl. 8, figs 14–25. — Alcock, 1905: 188 [partim.]. — Gordan, 1956: 341 [partim]. — Rabaud, 1941: 190, fig. 1. — Hazlett, 1966: 88.

Iridopagurus iris . — Saint Laurent-Dechancé, 1966a: 159 [partim], figs 1, 3–9, 17–20, 24, 29, 34. — García-Gómez, 1983: 16. — Coelho & Ramos-Porto, 1986: 44. — Rieger, 1998: 417. — Melo, 1999: 110, fig. 58. — McLaughlin et al., 2010: 30.

Material examined. Brazil: Amapá – Proj. Pesca Norte, Drag. II, 2 spec. (DOUFPE- 3670). Rio de Janeiro – Proj. Monitoramento, st. 11, 1 spec. (MZUSP-13878). Uruguay: Proj. GEDIP, st. 465, 1 spec. (MZUSP-13861).

Diagnosis. Shield as broad as long. Rostrum obtusely triangular, with rounded tip. Lateral projections with spinule obliquely turned outward. Ocular peduncles strong, distally dilated; ocular acicles small, narrow, acuminated, with inner subterminal spine (bifid aspect). Chelipeds and ambulatory legs thickly spinose. Left cheliped with strong spine on dorsodistal margin of merus. Sternite of third pereopod with anterior lobe semisubcircular.

Distribution. Western Atlantic: United States (Florida), Antilles, Brazil (Amapá, Alagoas, Rio de Janeiro) and Uruguay.

Habitat. From 60 to 700 m.

Remarks. Iridopagurus iris can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the presence of more spines on the chelipeds and ambulatory legs. The strong spine on the distal margin of the merus of the left cheliped immediately sets I. iris apart from the other species from Brazil.