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University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 23 



Pasiphaea magna Faxon ? 



Pasiphaea magna Faxon, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 24, 209, 1893; Mem. Mus. 



Comp. Zool., 18, 176, pi. 45, figs. 2-2c, 1895. 

 Pasiphaea magna? Kathbun, H. A. E., 10, 19, fig. 1, 1904. 



Fig. 13. Pasiphaea magna, a, lateral view of carapace, X % (after Faxon) ; 

 b, telson, X 1% (from Eathbun, U. S. N. M,). 



Miss Eathbun had a number of specimens from California which she doubt- 

 fully referred to this species. Eegarding them, she said (1904, p. 19) : 



' ' The identification of these specimens with P. magna is doubtful, but as I 

 have not had the opportunity of comparing them with the type, they are placed 

 here provisionally. Though from the same depth of water, the integument is much 

 firmer in our examples than in the type, the carapace is deeper and its dorsal 

 outline less arched, the branchial ridge is straighter throughout the posterior half 

 of its course, the palm of the first pair of chelae is longer than the fingers. 



The largest specimen, an ovigerous female ... is 155 mm. long. The telson 

 is a little longer than the sixth segment of the abdomen, and reaches about to 

 the end of the inner uropod; it is broadly channeled, extremity truncate or slightly 

 convex, and armed with about 13 slender bristles. ... In the first pair of legs the 

 palm is about one-third longer than the fingers; in the second pair the right 

 merus has 14 spines, the left 13. 



Characters. — Of Pasiphaea magna, taken from Faxon: Carapace a little less 

 than two-fifths of the length of the whole body; laterally compressed, dorsally 

 carinate; carina rounded, except on anterior part of gastric area, where it assumes 

 the form of a sharp keel, and is continuous with the acute-tipped, blade-like tooth 

 which simulates a true rostrum; this tooth reaches forward nearly to the anterior 

 extremity of the eyes; its lower margin is convex, with its hinder part resting 

 closely upon and apparently anchylosed with the frontal region of the carapace. 

 Palm of first pair of legs somewhat shorter than the dactylus; merus armed with 

 four or five spines on its inferior edge. Second pair of legs a little longer than 

 the first pair, with a longer and more slender chela. The second segment (basi- 

 podite) is armed with a small spine at the distal end of the inferior edge; inferior 

 edge of merus armed with thirteen spines; carpus armed with one long spine at 

 distal end of lower margin. All abdominal segments dorsally carinated; carina 

 obsolescent on first segment. 



Dimensions. — Type of P. magna: length 145 mm.; carapace, including anterior 

 dorsal tooth, 55 mm. 



Type Locality. — Gulf of Panama, 458 fathoms ("Albatross" station 3384). 



Distribution. — Also taken by the "Albatross" from off Point Arena to off 

 Point Loma, California, 276 to 552 fathoms. 



