A. E. Verrill — Decapod Crustacea of Bermuda. 347 



Eupanopeus Herbstii, var. obesus (Smith). 



Panopeus herbstii, var. obesus S. I. Smith, Proc. Boston Soc. ^at. Hist., xii, 

 p. 278, 1869. Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. (3), i, p. 120, 1871. 

 Kingsley, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., p. 318,1878. A. M.-Edwards, Miss. 

 Sci. Mexique, pt. 5, i, p. 309, 1880, pi. Ivii, figs. 2, 2a. Benedict and Rath- 

 bun, The Genus Panopeus, op. cit., p. 359, 1891, pi. xix, fig. 2; pi. xxiii, 



fig. 11. 



Figure 14, b. Plate XV, Figure 1. 



This is an unusual form in collections from Bermuda. It differs 

 from the preceding chiefly in its more elliptical form, due to the 

 convexity of the flanks or posterior branchial areas, a character 

 indicating, perhaps, enlarged gill-chambers and gills. Benedict and 

 Rathbun (op, cit., 1891) state that this variety was found commonly 

 on the Carolina coasts in holes above high tide, and not extending 

 into the water, while the common form was found in the same 

 vicinity on the oyster beds and below tide. This difference in habit 

 may well be associated with a change in the capacity of the branchial 

 chambers. Other characters are found mainly in the marginal teeth. 

 In this form the teeth are broader, blunter, and less prominent ; the 

 coalesced first two are more unequal in size and prominence ; the 

 third tooth is broader and more arcuate posteriorly. 



Measurements of Eupanopeus Herbstii, var. obesus, from Bermuda. 



Front 



Prof. Smith's original description was as follows : 

 " Carapax strongly convex. Front broad, deflexed, not prominent, 

 the edges as seen from above nearly straight, and not at all four- 

 lobed. Post-orbital tooth not prominent, slightly separated from the 

 second normal tooth of the antei'o-lateral margin by a very shallow 

 sinus ; remaining teeth of the margin not very prominent ; the third 

 broad, and its outer edge truncate ; fourth broad, the anterior edge 

 very short, but slightly hooked forward at the apex, and the outer 

 edge slightly arcuate ; last tooth very short, but acute, and its apex 

 slightly curved forward. Inferior regions, chelipeds, etc., very 

 nearly as in Herbstii. Color of alcoholic specimens, brownish olive, 

 clouded and spotted with dull red on the anterior part of the cara- 

 pax, and on the upper side of the chelipeds ; fingers black or dark 

 brown, lighter at the tips. In all the specimens the hands are 

 spotted externally with red." 

 Trans. Coxn. Acad., Vol. XIII. 25 Jan., 1908. 



