388 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL.21 



Front formed of two horns of medium length, pointed and divergent, 

 on each side a strong spine formed by the basal article of the external 

 antennae. Supraorbital margin little advanced and bearing in front a 

 very small spine. Lateral margins bristling with a series of spines. Two 

 very small ones on the hepatic region, three others of the same size 

 occupying the epibranchial lobe, two other large strong ones arming the 

 metabranchial lobe. 



In the male, chelipeds very robust, hand greatly elevated and a little 

 compressed, fingers [gaping]. In the female, chelipeds slender and hand 

 nearly cylindrical. In both sexes, arm decorated above with about three 

 spines. Legs short and stout; those of the second pair, longer than the 

 following ones, armed on the merus and carpus with a series of sharp 

 spines, the other legs having them only on the carpus. (A. Milne Ed- 

 wards, modified, of specimens from Guadeloupe) 



Material examined: U. S. National Museum material: 31 specimens 

 from Guayaquil, Ecuador (?), and Paita, Peru, all obtained by Waldo 

 L. Schmitt. (See Table 80) 



Measurements: Largest specimen, male: length 33.9 mm, width in- 

 cluding spines 32.4 mm, width without spines 27.6 mm, rostrum 6.9 

 mm, width 4.4 mm, cheliped 45 mm, chela 23 mm, dactyl 11.7 mm, 

 height of palm 9.7 mm, ambulatory legs 32.5, 26, 23, and 19 mm, re- 

 spectively. Ovigerous female: length 30.4 mm, width including spines 

 29.3 mm, without spines 26.0 mm. 



Color in life: The carapace is a reddish brown; the legs have the 

 same color, tinged with violet. (A. Milne Edwards) 

 Habitat: Rocky shore. 

 Depth: Intertidal. 



Size and sex: The series contains young from 10.5 mm, males from 

 12.2 to 33.9 mm, females from 15.7 to 30.4 mm, and ovigerous females 

 from 26 to 30.4 mm. 



Breeding: Ovigerous females were taken by W. L. Schmitt at Paita, 

 Peru, in October. 



Remarks: Its large size sets Microphrys weddelli off at once from 

 its North Pacific congeners, although not from M. aculeatus, another 

 Peruvian species found also in the Galapagos Islands. The two hepatic 

 spines, diagnostic of the species, are not large in Peruvian specimens. 

 However, the two branchial spines, the anterior one located at the widest 

 portion of the carapace, are strong and sharp. In large males the manus 

 is swollen, the palm is high, and there is a prominent tooth in the gape 

 not shown in H. Milne Edwards's figure. 



