310 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. XVI, 



The genera exhibit rather complex inter-relations. In the 

 form of the abdomen and in the possession of hairy-edged pouches 

 indicating openings into the branchial cavity Scopiniera is related 

 to Tvnipanomerus , while Dotilla and Dotillopsis agree in the deep 

 sculpture of the upper surface and side-walls of the carapace. On 

 the other hand Scopiniera and Dotilla resemble each other and 

 differ widely from Dotillopsis and Tympanomerus in the structure 

 of the ultimate segments of the second maxilliped. 



The genus Ilvoplnx, which was described in 1858,' is based on 

 a single species, /. ienella, " found at Whampoa, China, along the 

 banks of the Canton River (brackish water), living in holes in the 

 mud, exposed at low water. ' ' The fact that the meral segments 

 of the legs possess tympana indicates that the genus must be referred 

 to the Scopimerinae. Stimpson compares it with M acrophthalmus 

 and remarks that it forms "'' a connecting link between the ^lacro- 

 phthalmidae and the Dotillidae." To my mind it is unquestionably 

 a very close ally of Tympanomerus and I strongly suspect that it 

 will prove to be synonymous with that genus. This, however, 

 cannot be accurately determined until /. tenella has been re- 

 discovered. 



Genus Scopimcra, de Haan. 



1833. Ocypode, subgen. Scopiniera. de Haan, in Siebold's Faun. 'Japan.. 



Crust., pp. 5, 24. 

 1852. Scopiniera, Milne- Fldwards. Ann. Sci. nat.. Zool., (3) XN'III, 



P; 153- 

 igoo. Scopiniera, Alcock, 'jfourn. Asiaf. Soc. Bengal LXIX, p. 369. 

 1918. Scopiniera, Tesch, Decap. Brachyur. ' Sibog/i ' Exped. I, pp 41, 45. 



The species may be distinguished by the following charac- 

 ters : — 



I. Ischium of third maxiiliprds iongXT than merus. 



A. Mid-dorsal surface of carapace with large symmetri- 

 cal puckers or \'esicles ; chela with strong carina near 

 inferior border ; last three segments of abdomen of 

 male racket-shaped, the 5th lineiir, \er\' much nar- 

 rower than 6th or 7th ... ... ... S. crabricauda. 



B. Micl-dorsa! surf.ace of carapace not conspicuously puc- 

 kered ; chela with inferior border rounded ; 5th seg- 

 ment of abdomen of male not linear, little if at all 

 narrower than 6th and 7th. 



1. Tympana on meral segments of walking legs not 



divided b}' a ridge. 



a. Lateral border of carapace defined by a crest 

 throughout its length ; upper surface strongl)' 

 granular; chelipeds of adult male little more 



than twice length of carapace ... .. S.globosa. "> 



b. Lateral border of carapace defined b)' a crest 

 only in its anterior half ; upper surface feebly 

 granular; chelipeds of adult male usually quite 



three times length of carapace. ... . S. piliila. 



2. Tympana on meral segments of walking legs 

 (except for that on upper surface of last leg) 

 divided longitudinally by a narrow ridge. 



1 Stimp.son, Proc. Acad. i\'af.Sci. Pliiladelpliia X, p. 08(1858) and Sniithson. 

 Misc. Coll. XLIX, p. 100 (1907). 



