PARTHtiNOPEANS.] 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



31.1 



small species from the coasts of China, remarkable 

 for the great ana^ular prolongation on each side of 

 the carapace. The upper surface of the carapace 

 is minutely granulated. The rostrum is wide and 

 flat. The anterior limbs are armed with a strong 

 spine, occupying; the lower border of the carpal 

 joint, and two small points are placed on the claw. 

 The pincers are armed with rounded teeth. Colour 

 bronzed black. 



Allied to the former is the genus Euryonome; 

 in which the carapace is nearly triangular, with a 

 rounded base, much embossed and covered with 

 asperities. The rostrum is horizontal, and divided 

 into two triangular horns. The internal antenna; 

 are bent back longitudinally ; the external antennae 

 are under the rostrum, and appear to spring from 

 the internal angle of the orbits. The first pair 

 of limbs are rather long in the male ; short in 

 the female. Abdominal segments seven in both 

 sexes. 



Figs. 3179 and 3180 represent the -Euryonome 

 aspera, a small species, not exceeding half an inch 

 in length ; found in the British Channel, and on 

 some parts of the coast of France, at considerable 

 ■depths. Its colour is a roseate red, with bluish 

 tints. The carapace presents a large triangular 

 tooth at the external angles of the orljit, and three 

 or four small teeth along the lateral margin. The 

 limbs, except the first, are hairy. 



We now advance to the gonus Lambrus. In this 

 singular form the carapace is as long as it is wide, 

 rounded on the sides and narrowed forwards. The 

 rostrum is small, but rather advanceable ; the eyes 

 are retractile, and placed on nearly circular orbits, 

 which are fissured above, and present a deep and 

 wide gap below the internal edge. The internal 

 antennae bend backwards obliquely, and the fossets 

 in which they lodge are in general continuous with 

 the orbits. The external antennae are short. The 

 first pair of limbs are of very great length, and 

 form a right angle with each side of the body ; the 

 claw which terminates them is small, and suddenly 

 curved downwards and inwards, so as to form an 

 angle with the preceding joint. The other feet are 

 short and slender. In many species the carapace 

 is rugose above and covered with spines or tubercles, 

 and the anterior limbs are spiny. In the male the 

 abdominal segments are blended, so as to make 

 only four or five distinct. 



Figs. 3181 and 3182 represent the Lambrus longi- 

 mamis. In this species the rostrum is minute and 

 trifid ; the carapace is spinose above, and armed at 

 its edges with strong serrations. The anterior limbs 

 are very long, and rough with irregular spines on 

 the upper border, and dentilated on the exterior 

 border. This remarkable crustacean is about an 

 inch in length, that is, with respect to the carapace. 

 It is a native of the coasts of Pondicherry, Am- 

 boyna, &c. 



The restricted genus Parfhenope is distinguished 

 principally by the disposition of the external an- 

 tennae, of which the basal joint is not soldered to 

 the neighbouring parts. In all essentials it agrees 

 with Lambrus ; see Cuvier, 'Rdgne Animal,' vol. iv. 

 p. 56. 



As now restricted, the genus Parthenope contains 

 snly one species, viz., Parthenope horrida, Fig. 

 3183. In this very singular crustacean the cara- 

 pace is pentagonal, wider than it is long, strongly 

 embossed and tuberculous above ; the rostrum is 

 short and angular, and armed below with a strong 

 tooth between the antennae. The lateral borders 

 of the carapace are armed with bold spines. The 

 anterior limbs are very large and robust, of unequal 

 size, and covered with great spiny tubercles ; the 

 claws are compressed. The succeeding limbs are 

 armed with very large spines, exceedingly sharp, 

 and disposed in two rows below and one above. 

 This species is found in the Indian and Atlantic 

 Oceans. 



To the genus Parthenope succeeds the genus 

 Cryptopodia, which appears to be a form inter- 

 mediate between Lambrus and Qithra. The cara- 

 pace is slightly tumid, and in the form of a triangle, 

 which is very wide, very short, and rounded at the 

 base ; it is nearly twice as wide as it is long, but 

 this great width does not depend on that of the 

 body itself, but is due to the existence of the lamel- 

 lar prolongation which surrounds the three posterior 

 fourths of the dorsal buckler: behind, this prolon- 

 gation extends very far beyond the insertion of the 

 abdomen ; but it is especially considerable on the 

 lateral parts, for there it forms an enormous vault 

 on each side, which completely hides the four last 

 pairs of feet. Rostrum triangular, horizontal, and 1 

 rather a<lvanced. Eyes very small and completely ] 

 retractile. Internal antennie like those of CEthra ; '. 

 their first joint quadrilateral and flat ; the second | 

 rather longer, and reaching to the front ; the third i 

 lodged nearly entirely in the slit which exists be- 

 tween the front and the internal angle of the lower 

 orbilal border; the terminal stem which thus springs 

 from the internal canthus of the eyes is very short. 



First pair of limbs very large and nearly prismatic : 

 in direction and form nearly the same as in Lam- 

 brus. Four last pairs very small, and nearly of the 

 same length ; they scarcely reach beyond the vault 

 which covers them. The abdomen in the female 

 consists of seven joints. 



Figs. 3184 and 3185 represent the Cryptopodia 

 fornicata, so called from the vaulted (ibrnicata) 

 expansion of the carapace over the posterior limbs. 

 Fig. 3184 shows the under surface of this crab ; 

 Fig. 3185, the upper surface. It is a native of the 

 Indian Ocean. The carapace is smooth above, and 

 dentilated on its borders. The rostrum is entire, 

 and as long as it is wide ; the anterior feet are 

 about half as long as the carapace, with the third 

 joint dilated very much, posteriorly, and armed 

 with spines on the anterior border. The posterior 

 pairs of limbs are furnished, both above and below, 

 with a dentilated crest along the third joint. 



This species is the Parthenope fornicata of Fa- 

 bricius ; it is regarded by Latreille as forming a 

 subgenus under CEthra : see Cuvier's ' Rogne 

 Animal,' vol. iv. p. 67. CEthra is doubtless closely 

 allied to Calappa, which Latreille places in his 

 group of Cryptopodia, an arrangement which we 

 think very natural, but which dilfers from that of 

 Milne Edwards, who associates together the Ci-yp- 

 topoda orbiculata, and Notdpods of Latreille, as 

 tribes of a group to which he gives the name of 

 Oxystoma, and which he divides into — 1. Leuco- 

 sians; 2. Calappeans (Cryptopods) ; 3. Corys- 

 tians (orbiculata), and Dorippians (Notopods). 

 The Leucosians form part of the Orbiculata of 

 Cuvier, and approximate to the Parthenopeans. 



The group Oxystoma, as founded by Milne Ed- 

 wards, presents the following general characters, to 

 which indeed others might be added, but which the 

 general reader would not appreciate. The cara- 

 pace is generally more or less circular ; the eyes are 

 ordinarily small ; the antennae are variable ; the 

 buccal frame triangular, to which the external jaw- 

 feet are adapted. The anterior limbs are almost 

 always short. 



In the Leucosians, the carapace is in general 

 circular, presenting anteriorly a rather strong pro- 

 jection at the extremity of which are often found 

 the front and the orbits. The front is narrow, and 

 the orbital cavities very small and nearly circular. 

 The internal antennae bend back, generally trans- 

 versely or obliquely, under the front. The external 

 antennae, which are inserted in a narrow but deep 

 notch of the internal orbitary angle, are nearly 

 rudimentary. The buccal frame is in general regu- 

 larly triangular, and the external jaw-feet of the 

 same form do not show uncovered the stemlet, 

 which supports their third joint. The palp or lateral 

 branch of these organs is very large, and their base 

 is distant from that of the anterior limbs. The 

 apertures for the admission of water to the branchiae 

 are in the form of two canals. The number of abdomi- 

 nal articulations is three or four. Under this tribe are 

 arranged the genera, Arcania, Philyra, Myra, Ilia, 

 Guaia, Leucosia, Persephona, Nursia, EbaJia, Oreo- 

 phorus, Iphis, and Ixa. 



Referring to our pictorial specimens, we perceive 

 one of the genus Persephona. 



In this form the anterior limbs are large and 

 strong ; the carapace is dilated on each side with 

 the front advanced ; the great joint of the abdomen 

 of the male is composed of three pieces soldered 

 together. 



Fig. 3186 represents the Persephona Latreillii; 

 the shell is covered with granulations, and presents 

 on its hinder margin three recurved spines. The 

 arms are tuberculous. Length three inches and a 

 half. Its locality is unknown. 



The Calappians are a remarkable tribe of crusta- 

 ceans, and Cuvier has well named them Cryptopods, 

 from the precise manner in which they are able to 

 conceal their limbs ; the four posterior pairs they 

 withdraw close under a vaulted shield formed by 

 the carapace, while the anterior pair are folded ; and 

 so nicely are the joints adjusted to each other, and 

 the whole to the anterior margin of the carapace, that 

 the expanse of the upper surface seems one uniform 

 undivided piece. \\ e never observe these animals 

 without thinking of the box-tortoises, which shut 

 themselves up within their shells, nor do we think 

 the analogy overstrained. 



We have already alluded to the Parthenope 

 fornicata as an intermediate form between these 

 crustaceans and Lambrus, &c. 



In the Calappians the carapace is sometimes cir- I 

 cular, sometimes widened, but always more or less i 

 convex. The front is of moderate width, and the 

 lateral borders of the carapace delicate and more or 

 less dentilated. The external antennae are small, but 

 very distinct. The first pair of limbs are strong, 

 compressed, and curved so as to apply themselves 

 against the buccal region, and armed above with 

 a more or leas elevated crest. The respiratory 

 apertures are disposed as usual. In the restricted 

 genus Calappa the antennae resemble those of the 



I ordinary crab (Cancer). The third articulation of 

 I jaw-feet, or pedipalpi, is terminated by a sort of 

 j pointed hook. The Chelas are equal, very large, 

 and compressed; their upper edge is elevated, 

 notched or crested ; they are so formed as to fit 

 exactly to the external border of the carapace, so as 

 to coyer the entire region of the mouth ; the rest of 

 the limbs are short and simple. The carapace is 

 short, convex, wider posteriorly than anteriorly, and 

 forming behind a vaulted shield under which the 

 posterior limbs are hidden, when the animal is in 

 a state of repose or threatened by enemies. The 

 eyes are mounted on short pedicles and approxi- 

 mate together. The Calappae are called Migranes, 

 Coqs de mer, and Crabes honteux, by the French • 

 they are very extensively spread ; they inhabit the 

 seas of India, Australia, South America, the Medi- 

 terranean, &c. 



Fig. 3187 represents the Calappa tuberculata, a 

 native of the Mediterranean, and found in tolerable 

 abundance in the fissures of rocks near Nice, where 

 they reach to the depth of near ninety feet. Ac- 

 cording to Risso, the females deposit their eggs in 

 the summer. 



The carapace of this species is verrucose, and 

 marked with four longitudinal furrows. On each 

 side, anterior to the dilated part, are three teeth 

 very short and obtuse ; these are followed by four 

 others on the borders of the enlarged part, strong 

 and pointed ; there are two smaller teeth behind. 

 The general colour is flesh-red, sprinkled with spots 

 of carmine — some are of a pale rose-colour, with the 

 terminal joint of their limbs brown ; length nearly 

 four inches. 



Referring to Fig. 3188 a represents the crab, 

 with the limbs exserted; b, the right chela, in 

 which the singular form of the terminal pincers is 

 well displayed. 



The genus CEthra forms exclusively the Crypfo- 

 pod cancerian tribe of Milne Edwards, but not, as 

 we have seen, of Latreille. The latter naturalist 

 consequently regards it as intimately allied to Ca- 

 lappa, from which he says it differs by the great 

 flatness of the carapace ; by the chelae, which are not 

 raised perpendicularly, and do not cover the front of 

 the body; and by the almost square form of the 

 third joint of the external pedipalpi. Mr. Milne 

 Edwards considers the genus (Ethra as approximate 

 in organization to the ordinary Crabs or Cancerians, 

 and that it has some affinity with the genus Cryp- 

 topodia, belonging to the family of the Oxyrhynchi, 

 not, however, without some degree of affinity to 

 Calappa. 



In the genus CEthra the whole surface of the 

 body is rugged, and appears as if eroded. The 

 carapace is a third wider than it is long, oval, 

 strongly knobbed above, and with the lateral bor- 

 ders strongly dentilated and a little curved upwards. 

 Front entire, and a little more projecting in the 

 middle than on the sides. The eyes are very small ; 

 the orbits nearly circular, their upper border with 

 two small fissures, and the lower border separated 

 from the front by a very large gap. Abdomen 

 with seven segments in the female, and five only in 

 the male. 



The species of this genus are distributed in the 

 Indian and African Seas. 



Fig. 3188 represents the CEthra scruposa, a native 

 of the seas of the Indian Archipelago. It is of a 

 greenish colour, and measures Irom two to three 

 inches in length, a is an external view of the right 

 chela. 



Another form, intermediate between the Calap- 

 pians and the Cancerians, is presented by the genus 

 Hepalus. In this form the carapace is large, con- 

 vex, regularly arched anteriorly, strongly narrowed 

 posteriorly ; the hepatic regions are very large, and 

 the branchial regions very small. The front is 

 narrow, straight, rather projecting, and placed a 

 good deal above the level of the lateral border of 

 the carapace, which prolongs itself under the orbits 

 to reach the sides of the buccal frame. The orbits 

 are small, circular, and placed on the same level 

 with the front. The internal antennae are somewhat 

 apart, and are bent back very obliquely under the 

 front. The external antennae occupy the internal 

 angle of the orbits, which they separate from the 

 antennary pits; their basilary joint is narrow, but 

 rather long; the second is, on the contrary, small, 

 and their terminal stem is nearly rudimentary. The 

 abdomen is divided into seven joints in both sexes. 



The species belonging to the genus Hepatus are 

 limited in number, two only being, we believe, at 

 present recognized ; both belong to the American 

 Seas. Of these the Hepatus chilensis is found on 

 the coast of Valparaiso ; the other, Hepatus fasciatus 

 (Calappa angustata, Fabr.; Cancer princeps.Herbst), 

 is found in the seas of the Antilles, and on some of the 

 coasts of North America. Fig. 3189 represent.^ 

 Hepatus fasciatus. This species is about the size of 

 a moderate crab ; its shell is yellowish, dotted with 

 red; the margins of the carapace are finely crenu- 

 lated. The limbs are banded with red. 



