THE SPIDER CRABS OF AMERICA 39 



PODOCHELA SIDNEYI'5 Rathbun 



Plates 12 and 13 



Podochela reisei A. Milne Edwards, Crust. R6g. Mex., 1879, p. 193, pi. 34, 

 figs. 1 (ambvilatory legs excepted), la. 



Podochela riisei Smith, Rept. U. S. Fish Commr. for 1885 (188G), p. 620 [16], 

 not synoiij'iny. 



Podochela sidneyi Rathbun, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 64, art. 14, 1924, 

 p. 1 (type-locality, off Cape Hatteras, North Carohna, 49 fathoms, sta- 

 tion 2297, Albatross; 1 male holotype, Cat. No. 7253, U. S. N. M.). 



Diagnosis. — Dactyls of last three legs elongate, more than half as 

 long as their respective propodites. Palm of adult male very slightly 

 inflated. Sternal segments of male forming flat, sharp-edged plates. 



Description. — Closely related to P. riisei; most easily distinguished 

 by the longer and straighter dactyli of the last three ambulatory legs. 

 Cardiac and posterior gastric prominences more produced than in 

 riisei, spiniform. Rostrum a little narrower at base and in conse- 

 quence more triangular. Pterygostomian region bearing a long thin 

 lamina which may be subtriangular or produced dowmward in a lobe. 

 The sternal segments are flat, and the flat surfaces have sharp, cristate 

 margins; the flat, elongate tubercles in front of the abdomen are 

 more triangular and in an oblique plane, enclosing the end of the 

 abdomen. The margins of the basal antennal article are thinner, 

 deeper, and more convergent anteriorly, the lobe at the posterior end 

 of the outer margin is more pronounced. 



Chelipeds of adult male with manus less dilated than in riisei, 

 gape narrower, prehensile teeth more numerous and more uniform 

 in size. Legs longer than in riisei; first leg three or more times as 

 long as carapace, dactylus about one-seventh as long as propodus; 

 second leg two and a half to two and two-thirds as long as carapace, 

 fourth leg about twice as long as carapace. Dactyli of last three 

 pairs less curved than in riisei and distinctly longer; second propodus 

 no more than twice as long as its dactylus, third propodus from one 

 and a half to one and three-fourths time its dactylus, fourth propodus 

 from one and a third to one and a half times. 



Measurements. — Male, holotype, length of carapace 14, width 10.7 

 mm. Larger male (4S676), length 17.3, width 13 mm. 



Range. — North Carolina; eastern part of Gulf of Mexico (sparingly 

 on west coast of Florida) ; northwestern Cuba and Yucatan Channel. 

 Depth, 2 to 49 fathoms. 



Material examined. — See table, page 40. 



" Named for Prof. Sidney I. Smith. 



