DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS OF THE WEST INDIES 



177 



tooth on extensor margin; dactyl slightly shorter than extensor 

 margin of propodus. Denuded first pleopod of male terminating in 

 posterior view in narrowly triangular endpiece directed antero- 

 laterally (fig. 58e) . A medium-sized species, maximum carapace length 

 in midline about 18 mm. 



Habitat. — Among mangrove roots. 



Distribution. — Nicaragua to Uruguay (Trinidad). 



Genus Aletopaulias 



67. Metopaulias depressus Rathbun 



Figures 57, 58/ 



Metopaulias depressus Rathbun, 1896, p. 144 [type-locality: Newport, Manchester 

 Parish, Jamaica]; 1918, p. 318, pi. 97: figs. 3, 4.— Laessle, 1961, p. 511.— 

 Hartnoll, 1964, pp. 145-159, 166-168, figs. 1, 2a, d-f, 3-11, table 1. 



Diagnosis. — Carapace more or less subquadrate, about nine-tenths 

 as long in midline as wide, extremely flat except for grooves delimiting 

 mesogastric and cardiac regions and for transversely convex lateral por~ 

 tion of branchial region, surface polished, obscurely punctate, not 



^^ 



Figure 57. — Metopaulias depressus, based on male (carapace length 13.8 mm) from Mande- 

 ville, Jamaica (W. G. Lynn). 



striate; lateral margins mostly subparallel but converging anteriorly, 

 with subrectangular tooth posterior to outer orbital angle, fronto- 

 orbital distance nearly nine-tenths of maximum \vidth of carapace; 

 front distinctly less than half as wide as carapace, abruptly deflexed, 

 margin appearing distinctly quadrilobate in dorsal view, postfrontal 



