DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS OF THE WEST INDIES 



205 



The light phase is ahnost concolorous and varies from bluish white 

 to yellowish cream. 



The coloration of the dark phase is as follows: Carapace brown with 

 cream to pale tan stripes and spots. Front with pair of posteriorly- 

 diverging submarginal bands paralleling lateral margins; anterior 

 border of carapace with narrow band except for brown anterolateral 

 angles; anterior extension of mesogastric region with slender, median, 

 broken longitudinal stripe expanding in posterior portion of area to 

 form triangular spot; lateral portions of cervical groove marked by 

 hght band narrowing posteriorly and turning anteromesially toward 

 triangle in posterior gastric region; pair of light spots immediately 

 posterolateral to base of front; cardiac region with narrow median 



Figure 68. — Ocypode quadrata, male (carapace length 30.2 mm) from Dominica station 97 



longitudinal stripe similar to that in protogastric region, narrow 

 transverse Ught band anteriorly, and ornate symmetrically arranged 

 white pattern posterior to band. Branchial region with one or two 

 small spots anteriorly; mesial portion with longitudinal stripe origi- 

 nating on Ught anterior border, extending seven-eighths length of 

 carapace, and bearing short horizontal branches on both sides; 

 branchial region with narrow, more lateral stripe forked anteriorly, 

 and, posteriorly, curving mesially and finally anteromesially around 

 posterior end of median stripe, terminating, however, before reaching 

 cervical groove. Lateral wall of carapace pale tan. 



Eyestalks brown with black cornea. Third maxillipeds mostly 

 white but distal podomeres brown. Chelipeds with light basal seg- 

 ments; merus with brown upper and lower portions; carpus brown with 

 light elongate spots proximally; palm bluish lavender above fading to 



