1913. ] S. Kemp: Crustacea Stomatopoda of the Indo-Pacific Region. 157 
1907. Gonodactylus chiragra, Borradaile, Trans. Linu. Soc. Zool. (2), XII, p. 211 (including vars. 
affinis, smithi, incipiens, anancyrus, confinis and tumidus). 
1910. Gonodactylus chiragra, I,enz, in Voeltzkow’s Reise in Ost-Africa, II. p. 571 (including vars. 
tumidus, snuthi and incipiens). 
1910. Gonodactylus chiragra, Fukuda, Annot. Zool. Japon., VII, p. 141. 
The carapace is slightly narrower in front than behind and its greatest breadth is 
about three quarters its median length excluding the rostrum. The posterior margin 
is straight or very slightly concave and the anterior margins on either side of the rostrum 
slope forwards, so that the broadly rounded antero-lateral angles are very considerably 
in advance of the rostral base. The rostrum bears a stout median spine which may 
project beyond the middle of the eyestalks ; the lateral margins are anteriorly divergent 
and the antero-lateral angles are subacutely, or, in rarer instances, rather broadly 
rounded. 
The dorsal processes of the ophthalmic somite (fig. 107) consist of two large sub- 
triangular plates, separated distally by a narrow fissure ; the anterior margin of each is 
oblique and is recedent from the middle line. The eyes in well-grown specimens are 
about one quarter the median length of the carapace and reach almost to the middle of 
the second segment of the antennular peduncle. The cornea is set very obliquely on 
the stalk. 
The mandibular palp is composed of three segments. 
The propodus of the raptorial claw is greatly dilated at its distal end in both sexes 
and its upper margin is deeply channelled for the reception of the dactylus. The outer 
edge of this channel is as a rule very finely spinulose, but not pectinate, in its proximal 
half; distally the edges are flattened and both are transversely striate. At the 
proximal end of the inner-edge there is a single mobile spine. The basal portion of 
the dactylus is very strongly inflated ; the slender finger bears microscopic spinules 
on its inner margin and is flexed inwards near the apex. 
The lateral margins of the sixth and seventh thoracic somites are truncate with 
rounded anterior and posterior angles. Those of the eighth somite are produced to a 
bluntly rounded point. The first five abdominal somites are quite smooth except for a 
sharp L-shaped groove running along the lateral and antero-lateral margins. The 
postero-lateral angles of the first four somites are rounded, those of the fifth bluntly 
rectangular. The posterior margin of the sixth somite is straight or slightly convex 
in dorsal view and on the upper surface of this somite there are six longitudinal 
ridges which usually terminate in spines. The latter in young specimens are not in- 
frequently large and stout, while in very old examples they may be wholly obsolete. 
The carinae of the lateral pair terminate in the postero-lateral angles. 
The telson is broader than long and in the middle of its dorsal surface there are 
three smooth longitudinal ridges. Close to the anterior margin, immediately below the 
intermediate carinae of the last abdominal somite, there are two small rounded tubercles. 
In large specimens a small lateral outgrowth is usually visible at the posterior end of the 
median ridge trending forwards on either side, and thus giving to the whole keel the form 
of an anchor. The flukes of this anchor are occasionally wholly absent both in large 
