LAND CRUSTACEANS. 



99 



ance unlike the uniform dark green of typical specimens. Possibly this is due to a state 

 of contraction of the chromatophores at the time of capture. It may be, however, that 

 we have here a local variety of the species. 



Family Oniscidae. Genus Porcellio, Latr., 1802. 



14. Porcellio maldivensis, n. sp. (fig. 22). 



Definition : — A Porcellio with the body oblong-oval, rather 

 more than twice as long as broad, not very convex, covered 

 with large granules ; lateral lobes of front moderate, rounded, 

 anterior border of the same not much produced in the middle ; 

 hinder edge of first free thoracic segment curved forwards at 

 the sides, that of the second less so, that of the third trans- 

 verse ; on the fourth a backward trend appears and grows 

 increasingly strong till the seventh is reached ; hinder angles 

 of first three segments rounded, of fourth rectangular, of fifth 

 to seventh acute ; antennae rather more than half the length 

 of the body, the two joints of the flagella equal ; epimera 

 of third, fourth and fifth abdominal segments of moderate 

 size, very acute; somewhat adpressed ; anal ring long, narrow, 

 very acute, projecting well beyond the epimera of the fifth 

 abdominal segment. 



Colour in spirit : brown mottled with yellowish ; legs 

 yellowish. 



Length of longest specimen 6 mm. 



This species seems somewhat transitional to Metoponorthus. 



Mafaro, Miladumadulu atoll, under damp leaves. 



Fig. 22. Porcellio vialdivensis ( x 8). 

 a. Leg enlarged, b. Portion of segment 

 enlarged to show sculpture. 



15. 



Genus Alloniscus, Dana, 1854. 

 Alloniscus maldivensis, n. sp. (fig. 23). 



Diagnosis: — An Alloniscus with the body oval 

 and convex ; the antennae not quite half the length 

 of the body, the first two joints of the flagellum 

 subequal, the third somewhat longer; the hinder 

 margin of the first trunk segment curved forwards, 

 those of the second and third transverse, that of 

 the fourth slightly recurved at the sides, that of the 

 fifth more strongly so, those of the sixth and seventh 

 bent backwards sharply at an obtuse angle ; the 

 epimera of the third, fourth and fifth abdominal seg- 

 ments moderately large, acute and subequal ; the end 

 segment nearly twice as broad as long, triangular, 

 acute, its sides slightly concave. 



Colour in spirit : yellow marbled with black. 

 Legs yellow with a few black spots. 



Length of longest specimen : 3o mm. 



Hedufuri, Mahlos atoll, under stones at edge of well. 



Fio. 23. 

 enlarged. 6. 

 sculpture. 



Alloniscus maldivensis ( x 6). a. Leg 

 Portion of segment enlarged to show 



13- 



