IQ PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 122 



specimens have distinctly granular carapaces, with fine granules 

 near the periphery, with diffuse patches of moderate-sized granules 

 in the protogastric region, with even larger granules in the meso- 

 gastric region, and with moderate-sized granules again in the cardiac 

 region. In these respects, they resemble Barnard's material. 



Barnard also shows a single elevation in the cardiac region tapering 

 away posteriorly, which is visible on the present specimens but not 

 on Crosnier's figiu-e. Edmonson (1954, fig. 17b) shows a similar 

 embossing of the carapace on a Hawaiian specimen, but in Rathbun's 

 plate (1906, pi. 12: fig. 4) a different shape of the cardiac region is 

 shown and also conspicuous metagastric ridges. Thus, merely on 

 the basis of carapace ornamentation, three forms could all have been 

 called P. orbicularis: (1) Richters' and Crosnier's, and presumably 

 Alcock's (2) Barnard's, Edmondson's, and the present specimens, 

 and (3) Rathbun's. 



The male pleopod figured by Crosnier (fig. 101) also differs from 

 that of Edmondson (1954, fig. 16d), but the extent to which this is 

 due to Edmondson's draftsmanship is unknown. 



It is evident that a careful re-examination of all available material 

 of the present "species" should be made. The authors are reluctant 

 to erect a new species without a male specimen being available. 



Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus) 



Cancer pelagicus Linnaeus, 1766, p. 1042. 



Nepiunus pelagicus (L.).— Sakai, 1939, pp. 3S7-8, pi. 49. 



Portunus pelagicus (L.). — Stephenson and Campbell, 1959, pp. 96-8, figs. 2A, 

 3A, pi. 1 (fig. 1), pis. 4A, 5 A.— Crosnier, 1962, pp. 43-5, figs. 58, 61, 67.— 

 Sakai, 1965, p. 117, pis. 55, 56.— Stephenson and Rees, 1967, p. 34. 



Material examined. — 2 females (33.5, ca. 40 mm) (cephalothorax 

 only, specimens soft), Anton Bruun Cr. 1, Thailand, Patong Phuket; 

 Mar. 22, 1963; coll. Taylor, Tyler, Sterling, and Rogers. 



Either shore or dipnet collection. 



Distribution. — East Africa to Tahiti, also Mediterranean. 



Portunus pulchricristatus (Gordon) 



Neptunus (Hellenus) spinipes Alcock, 1899a, pp. 31-2, 39-40. 

 Nepiunus {Hellenus) pulchricristatus Gordon, 1931, p. 534, figs. 8, lOA. 

 Portunus pulchricristatus (Gordon). — Stephenson and Rees, 1967, p. 35. 

 Not Neptunus (Amphitrite) spinipes Miers, 1886, p. 178, pi. 25 (fig. 1). 



Material examined. — 6 males (18.5-23.5 mm), 1 female 

 (20 mm), 5 ovig. females (19.5-ca. 23 mm), Sta. No. AB 41-63. 4 

 males (24-26 mm), 1 female (23.5 mm), 1 ovig. female (20.5 mm), 



