gg BULLETIN 1G6, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Genus PAROMOLA Wood-Mason 



Paromola Wood-Mason, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, vol. 7, p. 267, 1891 [type, 

 P. cuvieri (Risso)J. — Alcock, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. 68, p. 156, 

 1899. — Ihle, Die Decapoda Brachyura der Siboga-Expedition, monogr. 39b, 

 p. 69, 1913. 



Differs from Thelxiope in its greatest breadth behind; the linea 

 anomurica very conspicuous and well inside the lateral border; 

 rostrum a simple cylindrical spine flanked on either side at base by a 

 single spine of equal or greater size ; second article of antennal peduncle 

 not produced or specially acute at antero-external angle. 



Mediterranean Sea; Indian Ocean; Pacific coast of America. 



KEY TO THE AMHRICAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS PAROMOLA 



A^ Terminal joint of eyestalk swollen at extremity faxoni (p. 68; 



A?. Terminal joint of eyestalk diminishing toward extremity. _rathbuni (p. 69) 



PAROMOLA FAXONI (Schmitt) 



Plate 18; Plate 19, Figure 1 



Homola faxoni Schmitt, Univ. California Publ. Zool., vol. 23, p. 184, pi. 31, fig. 

 7, 1921 (type locality, off Point Loma, Calif.; type, U.S.N. M. no. 53331). 



Diagnosis. — Termmal joint of eyestalk swollen at extremity. 

 Chelipeds of male slender. Chelipeds and legs not rough on the 

 sides. Orbital spine at base of rostrum. 



Description. — Carapace, exclusive of rostral spine, a little longer 

 than broad, greatest width at about posterior fourth; entire surface 

 more or less obscured by a thick short pubescence. The supraorbital 

 spines, one on either side of base of rostrum, are stout, surpassing the 

 rostrum somewhat in size and length ; each is provided on its posterior 

 margin with two small hooked spines. Behind and a little closer 

 together than the supraorbital spines there are two much less promi- 

 nent ones on the anterior part of gastric region. External to each 

 of these three is a spine of like size, about in line with the tubercle on 

 the apex of the gastric cavity and the superior hepatic spine at 

 anterolateral angle of carapace; a tubercle also between the median 

 gastric tubercle and the outermost of the anterior gastric spines, one 

 on each side. Hepatic region well developed; below the stout spine 

 at anterolateral angle of carapace there is a smaller, inferior hepatic 

 spine. Marking the lateral margin of the dorsal surface of the 

 carapace behind the superior hepatic spine there is a row of four 

 slightly smaller spines on the branchial region, paralleling the linea 

 anomurica, and decreasing in size from before backward. There are 

 sundry other tubercles rather regularly arranged in more or less 

 definite groups on the various regions of the carapace. 



Hairs covering chelipeds and legs longer than those of carapace; a 

 row of sharp, hooked spines on upper margin of merus of all except 



