1921 ] Schmitt: The Marine Decapod Crustacea of California 111 



Axiopsis spinulicauda (Rathbun) 



Axius spinulicauda Eathbun, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 24, 886, 1902 ; H. A. E. 

 10, 149, fig. 90, 1904. 



Pig. 74. Axiopsis spinulicauda, 5, X 2; a, dorsal view of anterior portion; o, 

 tail-fan (from Eathbun, IT. S. N. M.). 



Characters.- — Eostrum reaches the middle of the second joint of antennular 

 peduncle, slightly deflexed, longitudinally channeled; armed on either side with 

 five to six teeth. Gastric region of carapace traversed by five carinae, all of 

 which fade out before reaching the cervical groove; the median one extends along 

 the basal third of the rostrum, and is armed with four spines just behind the line 

 of the orbits ; outer carinae are a continuation of the side margins of the rostrum ; 

 outer and intermediate carinae unarmed; in front of the narrow median posterior 

 lobe of the carapace, the surface is compressed or pinched to form a short smooth 

 ridge. Eyes black, of same diameter as the stalk, not reaching middle of basal 

 antennular segment. Outer maxillipeds reach the end of the antennal peduncle. 

 Abdomen smooth above; pleura sculptured and pubescent. 



Dimensions. — Type, female: length of carapace and rostrum along the median 

 line 19.6 mm., length of rostrum 3.5 mm., of abdomen 31.5 mm. 



Type Locality. — Off Bodega Head, California, 62 fathoms ("Albatross" 

 station 3172). 



Bemarks. — This species apparently belongs to the genus Axiopsis Borradaile 

 (1903, p. 538). The exopodite of the uropods shows a suture and the eyes are well 

 pigmented, but as there is a suggestion of a keel at the posterior end of the median 

 line of the carapace that portion of Borradaile 's definition regarding "no keel 

 on the carapace behind the cervical groove" must needs be modified to include 

 this species. Except for the well pigmented eyes it fits almost as well under 

 Calastacus below, as does C. quinqueseriatus Eathbun. 



