1921 1 Schmitt: The Marine Decapod Crustacea of California 203 



Fig. 125. Epialtus nuttallii, ?, X % (after Bandall). 



Epialtus bituberculatus Milne Edwards 



Epialtus bituberculatus Milne Edwards, Hist. Nat. Crust., 1, 345, pi. 15, 

 fig. 11, 1834; Eathbun, Bull. U. S. Fish. Comm., 20, pt. 2, 60, 1900 

 (1901) ; H. A. E., 10, 173, 1904. 



Fig. 126. Epialtus bituberculatus, natural size (after Milne Edwards). 



Characters. — Carapace subpentagonal, with two tubercles on gastric region 

 and two lateral teeth or lobes very variable in shape and relative size. In the 

 typical form the lobes are separated by a shallow sinus, the carapace is distinctly 

 wider at the posterior lobe ; the rostrum is triangular, obtuse, and entire. In the 

 varieties the width at the hepatic region may equal that at the branchial region, 

 the anterior lobe is much more prominent, and may be either broad and obtuse 

 or narrow and spiniform. Sometimes one lobe or both has a tubercle on its 

 anterior margin. The rostrum varies in length and shape, and may be either 

 triangular or oblong, entire or emarginate, sometimes constricted near the base. 

 In the typical form the preoeular teeth are obsolete but are present though small 

 in some of the varieties; postocular tooth wanting. Abdomen of male with fourth 

 and fifth segments fused. Chelipeds variable; hand in typical form wide, of 

 moderate length, widening slightly toward distal end; movable finger with a 

 tooth near its base; in the varietal forms the hand may be cristate, widening 

 rapidly toward the fingers. 



