Boone, Crustacea, Cruises of ''Eagle" and "Ara," 1921-28 61 



anteriorly, 12 squarish, finely dentate teeth on the anterolateral mar- 

 gin. Body mud brown with arcuate lines of broken reddish spots. 



Distribution: This species has an extensive range, having been 

 reported from the East Indies (type locality), from the "West Coast 

 of Africa, from Guinea and from the Cape of Good Hope (Herklots) ; 

 from Georgia throughout the West Indies to the shores of Brazil as 

 far south as the mouth of the Amazon. 



Material examined: One male dredged in Limon Bay, Panama, 

 February 26, 1926. Two males dredged by the "Ara" in 5 fathoms, 

 south of Catalina Creek, Cuba, February 14, 1924. 



Habits : This crab spends most of its time burrowed completely in 

 the coral sand, with only its eyes and breathing aperture exposed. Its 

 big claws fit closely together across the front. When these are folded 

 and the small legs withdrawn under the carapace, the animal is shut 

 up, as if in a box. When in danger, it assumes this attitude. 



Color : The carapace is mud brown, covered by small reddish brown 

 spots which are arranged in arcuate lines. This color pattern is con- 

 tinued on the dorsal area of the carpus and hand. The ambulatory 

 legs are alternately banded with broad markings of reddish brown 

 and light yellow. The underside of the animal is creamy yellow. 



Technical description: Carapace broad, convex, evenly rounded 

 anteriorly, decidedly narrowing posteriorly; branchial regions small; 

 hepatic regions greatly developed. The anterior margin of the front 

 is thick. The anterolateral margin is divided into 12 squarish teeth 

 each of which is finely dentate. The orbits are small, subcircular, in 

 line with the front; the line which extends from the outer orbital 

 angle obliquely to the carapace is clearly marked by rounded granules. 

 Antennulae oblique. Antennae situated at inner angles of orbit. 

 Mouthparts typical. Chelipeds strong, when flexed, they fit closely 

 against the surface of the body ; the upper margin of the hand is flat- 

 tened into a slight crest consisting of four major dentations ; the outer 

 surface of the hand is marked by four longitudinal rows of close-set 

 tubercles in high relief and a few scattered tubercles. Ambulatory 

 legs subequal, smooth except for small pore-like depressions; dactyli 

 covered with a velvety coating of minute, golden brown setae which is 

 transversed longitudinally on the outer and inner sides by a narrow, 

 naked line. 



Synonymy. — Cancer princeps Herbst, Natur. Krabben u. Krebse, 

 vol. 2, p. 154, pi. 38, fig. 2, 1794. 



