4 A. Alcock — Carcinological Fauna of India. [No. 1, 



In the Oziinse and Eriphiinse this family approaches the Telphu- 

 sidse : by the Pilumninm and Xanthinse it is linked with the section 

 Carcininse of the Portunidse and, through these, with the Cancridse. ^ 



Family IIT. Portunid^. Carapace transversely hexagonal, some- 

 times subquadrate, occasionally elongate-obovate or even subcircular, 

 but generally broader (typically much broader) than long, the regions 

 often not well defined and seldom areolated. Front remarkably broad, 

 generally well separated from the supra-orbital angles and almost 

 always cut into teeth or lobes which are from two to six in number 

 exclusive of the supra-orbital angles. 



The antennules fold transversely or obliquely transversely. 



The antennal fiagella are almost always long and slender. 



The epistome may be of fair length fore and aft, or may be linear : 

 it may be, but is not usually, encroached upon by the external maxil- 

 lipeds. 



Buccal orifice quadrate, well defined anteriorly, usually, but by no 

 means always, broader than long. 



The last pair of legs are (with a few exceptions in which their 

 dactylus is hook-like or is merely lanceolate) peculiarly modified for 

 swimming, having at least the last two joints compressed, broadly- 

 foliaceous, and paddle-like. 



Sternum broad. 



This family is here divided into 4 sub-families, namely : — 



Sub-family I. Carcininse see ahead pp. 6, 7. 



„ II. Portuninas „ pp. 6, 7. 



„ III. Caphyrinss „ pp. 6, 8. 



„ IV. Lupinse „ pp. 6, 8. 



The Carcininss, by way of Oarcinus, approach the Xanthidae, by 

 way of Hoploxanthus, 



Family IV. Cancridj:. Carapace either transversely oval (Can- 

 crinse) or, more commonly, elongate-oval or subcircular, the regions 

 rarely strongly delimited and areolate. Front not very broad, very 

 often cut into 3 (sometimes 2 or 4) sharp teeth, sometimes rather 

 prominent. 



The antennules fold longitudinally. 



Antennal fiagella usually long, coarse, and setaceous. 



Epistome usually of fair length, often sunken, always overlapped, 

 more or less, by the external maxillipeds, which are commonly, though 

 not always, elongate. Buccal orifice quadrate, commonly a little 

 elongate. 



Legs gressorial. 



Sternum narrow. 



