Carcinological Fauna of India. 151 



by fissures. In the female, as in the male, the 3rd-5th terga are fused, 

 although the lines of fusion are quite distinct in the former sex. 



Colours in life salmon pink. 



Off Ceylon, 142-400 fms,, and 180-217 fms. 



In the form of the legs, in the ornamentation of the chelipeds, and 

 in the shape of the carapace, this species bears a strong resemblance to 

 Platymera. Even in the articulation of the flagellum with the merus 

 of the external maxillipeds the appearances are somewhat those of 

 Platymera. 



On the other hand the form of the endostomial channels, and of 

 the processes of the first maxillipeds which close those channels ven- 

 trally, as well as the practical symmetry of the chelipeds, are all as 

 in Mursia. 



But a comparison of this species with specimens of Mursia armata 

 and Platymera gaudichaudii leads to the belief that all three are 

 congeneric. 



The dimensions of an adult male are as follows : — 

 breadth of carapace 67 millim., excluding the lateral epibranchial spines; 

 length of carapace 47 millim. 

 length of first pair of ambulatory legs about 90 millim. 



Cryptosoma, Brulle. 



Cryptosoma, Brulle in Webb and Berthelot's Hist. Nat. dea ties Canaries, Crus- 

 taces, p. 16. 



Cryptosoma, Milne-Edwards, Hist. Nat. Crust., II. 110. 

 Cryptosoma, Miers, Challenger ' Brachyura,' p. 292. 

 Cycloes, De Haan, Faun. Japon. Crust., p. 68, and p. 125. 



Carapace heart-shaped or subcircular. 



Front rather narrow, and often emarginate. 



Orbits, as in Mursia, large, oval, with a distinct suture or a fissure 

 in the roof, and with two gaps in the floor, in one of which the slender 

 basal-antennary joint is lodged. Eyes large, eyestalks short and 

 thick. 



The antennules fold obliquely. 



The external maxillipeds meet sufficiently to conceal all the under- 

 lying (i.e., really overlying) parts, and to completely close the buccal 

 frame as far as the front. Concealed by the external maxillipeds there 

 is, however, an endostomial efferent branchial channel closed by lamellar 

 processes from the 1st pair of maxillipeds. 



The antero-interna! angle of the merus of the external maxillipeds 

 is prolonged obliquely forwards to form a prominent lobule above the 

 articulation of the palp. 



156 



