Oxypleurodon carbunculum ( Rathbun, 1906 )

Forges, Bertrand Richer De & Ng, Peter K. L., 2009, New genera, new species and new records of Indo-West Pacific spider crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Epialtidae: Majoidea), Zootaxa 2025, pp. 1-20 : 6

Oxypleurodon carbunculum ( Rathbun, 1906)

Figs. 2 A–C, 3E, F

Sphenocarcinus carbunculus Rathbun, 1906: 879 , Pl. 14 fig. 6. – Rathbun 1916: 542. – Guinot & Richer de Forges 1986: 33, fig. 1E.

Oxypleurodon carbunculus — Richer de Forges 1995: 54, Pl. 1B, figs. 1E, 4G, H. Oxypleurodon carbunculum — Ng et al. 2008: 104.

Material examined. Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii, Albatross, stn. 38, TC 33, 2 males (19.9 x 16.5 mm, 12.6 x 10.9 mm), 1 ovigerous female (13.3 x 16.6 mm) ( BPBM Acc. N° 1981.136).

Remarks. This species was originally described by Rathbun (1906) as a species of Sphenocarcinus . Collected by the Albatross, this is a species which is rarely mentioned and apparently never recorded since its original description. The discovery of the three BPBM specimens is thus important. The morphology of this species is very different from all congeners. Its carapace is distinctively more rounded; the rostrum very short with two subparallel sharp spines; the plates are small, rounded and raised; and, most significantly, the two plates situated below the cardiac plate are uniquely structured.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Oxypleurodon carbunculum (Rathbun, 1906), male (19.9 x 14.4 mm) (BPBM Acc. N ° 1981.136). A, overall dorsal view; B, thoracic sternum and abdomen; C, lateral view of carapace.