DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS OF THE WEST INDIES 165 



specimens cardiac region with narrow transverse blue band flanking 

 cervical groove; remainder of cardiac area with splotches mostly 

 arranged in irregular longitudinal series although transverse pattern 

 suggested in extreme anterior and posterior portions. Lateral margins 

 blue. 



Eyestalks bluish cream below with maroon lines and spots above, 

 cornea green to black. Third maxillipeds pale blue with rust margins. 

 Chelipeds with coxa through ischium pale blue, coxa and basis with 

 few rust markings; from distal portion of merus distally, podomeres 

 blue with conspicuous maroon blotches and stripes; both fingers 

 with longitudinal stripe on outer surfaces, and dactyl with broad 

 transverse band in proximal half to three-fourths; palm with irregular 

 massive blotches mesially and longitudinal stripe laterally; in larger 

 specimens blotches and stripes often irregularly fused to make 

 majority of chela maroon; distal portions of both fingers pale blue 

 to white; lower surfaces of palm and fingers lavender. 



Remaining pereiopods with lower surfaces of coxa through merus 

 bluish, those of distal podomeres bluish green to yellowish green, 

 and all articular areas and spines scarlet to straw brown; upper 

 surfaces of proximal podomeres of pereiopods mostly black to maroon 

 with pale blue spots and lines. Merus of second pereiopod mostly 

 blue proximally with maroon to black markings becoming more 

 numerous distally. Propodus and base of dactyl with prominent 

 blue splotches giving leg banded appearance; distal podomeres of 

 thu'd through fifth legs with same pattern repeated although banded 

 condition progressively less conspicuous posteriorly; ischium also 

 with hints of banding but not so obvious as on propodus and dactyl. 

 Merus of each pereio^jod differently marked but essentially with 

 longitudinal submarginal row of spots above and with scattered 

 spots and blotches occasionally arranged in irregular transverse 

 bands. Sternum corresponding to chelipeds with conspicuous pair 

 of large rusty spots. Abdomen blue to bluish cream with articular 

 membranes rust. 



Material examined. — The Dominican collections contain 4 males 

 (carapace lengths 25.7-47.2 mm), 4 females (cl 20.9-35.2 mm), 

 including 1 with eggs (cl 33.7 mm), and 1 juvenile (cl 10.1 mm). 



Ecological notes. — This crab is abundant on both the leeward 

 and windward sides of the island, where it may be seen perched on 

 exposed rocks being washed by the surf or among the stones along 

 rocky beaches within splash distance of the waves or swells. Large 

 numbers of them are usually clinging to the seawall at the mouth 

 of the Indian River at Portsmouth, where they may crawl 6 to 10 

 feet above the water sm'face. 



