DECAPODS 



149 



Family AXIIDM, 

 Genus Axius Leach. 

 AXIUS SPINULICAUDA Rathbun. 

 Axius spinulicauda Rathbun, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xxiv, 886, 1902. 



Carapace (rostrum included) measured in the middle line, as long as 

 the first 5 abdominal somites, cervical groove deep, branchial groove 

 indistinct. Gastric region traversed by 5 carinae, all of which fade out 

 before reaching the cervical groove ; the median extends along the basal 

 third of the rostrum and is armed with 4 spines just behind the line of 



Fig. 90. Axius spinulicauda. 9 (X2)/ Station 3172. a. Carapace and 

 antennae, b. Swimming-fan. 



the orbits ; the posterior of these spines is broken off in the unique type ; 

 the outer carinse are a continuation of the side margins of the rostrum ; 

 they, as well as the shorter intermediate carinse, are unarmed. The sur- 

 face is covered with rather distant scabrous granules. In front of the 

 narrow median posterior lobe, the surface is compressed or pinched to 

 form a short smooth ridge. The rostrum reaches the middle of the 

 second joint of the antennular peduncle, is slightly deflexed, longitudinally 

 channeled, sharp-pointed, armed with 5 spines on one side and 6 on the 

 other. 



Eyes black, of the same diameter as the stalk, not reaching the middle 

 of the basal antennular segment. The basal expansion of this segment 

 has convex side margins, an antero-external spine, and reaches just beyond 

 the middle of the segment ; the second segment is a little longer than 

 the third, and the two together are shorter than the first. The entire pe- 



