WILLIAMS: MUD CRAB, PARTITION INTO SIX SPECIES 



Measurements in mm. — A set of measurements for 

 length and width of the carapace of this species is 

 summarized in Tables 1 and 2 and graphically rep- 

 resented in Figure 9. 



Color. — Third maxillipeds of males with red spot 

 near base of inner surface of ischium. No other reli- 

 able color pattern is evident in preserved material. 



Known range. — The only specimens known are those 

 from the type- locality. 



Name. — The specific name is derived from the Latin 

 "meridionalis" southern, in reference to the extreme 

 southern distribution. 



Remarks. — This species has acute, forwardly swept 

 anterolateral teeth that recall those of P. simpsoni 

 from the Gulf of Mexico. Granulation of the chelipeds 



is smooth as in P. simpsoni and P. herbstii, but the 

 tooth arrangement on the fixed finger of the major 

 chela is closer to that of P. obesus or P. austrobesus. 

 Panopeus meridionalis thus occupies an intermediate 

 position between the herbstii-simpsoni group and the 

 obesus, austrobesus, lacustris group of this genus. 



Panopeus obesus Smith, new rank 



Figures 6, 7 



Panopeus herbstii var. obesus Smith 1869a:278 (part, 

 the Egmont Key specimen). — Coues 1871:120. — 

 Kingsley 1878:318 (3] (part). 



Panopeus herbstii. — Kingsley 1880:437 (part). — 

 Rathbun 1884:772 (part).— Hay and Shore 1918: 

 437 (part).— Lunz 1937:13 (part).— Williams 1965: 

 196 (part).— 1984:412 (part).— F elder 1973:69 

 (part, key).— Powers 1977:102 (part, notes). 



FlGCRE 6. — Panopeus obesus. Male from Beaufort. 

 N.C. (USNM 191157); a. Carapace in dorsal view; b. 

 Major chela in frontal view; 10 mm indicated. 



873 



