32 



pa. Mclaughlin 



morphologically similar Clibanarius species, C. longitarsus (De 

 Haan, 1849) from Durban Bay, S.A., has been examined. One 

 measurement, shield length (SL), measured from the tip of the 

 rostrum to the midpoint of the cervical groove provides an 

 indication of specimen size. The type material of C. astathes has 

 been returned to the Natural History Museum, and Barnard's C. 

 virescens to the South African Museum. Two specimens of C. 

 longitarsus used in the comparison also have been deposited in 

 The Natural History Museum (NHM 1995.163-164), the 

 remaining have been retained in the author's personal collection. 



SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT 



Clibanarius astathes (Stebbing, 1924) 



Figs 1,2 



Calcinus astathes Stebbing, 1924: 239, pi. 2 (CXVII of 

 continuing series). Clibanarius virescens: Barnard, 1947: 376 (in 

 part); 1950: 435 (in part). Lectotype (herein selected). Female 

 (SL - 7.3 mm), NHM reg. 1928.12.1.264 Paralectotypes. Two 

 females (SL = 6.3, 6.3 mm), 2 males (SL = 5.8, 6.9), NHM reg. 

 1928.12.1.265-266. 



Type locality. Delagoa Bay (25°50'S, 32°50'E), 

 'Mosambique', Ethiopian region, Indian Ocean, 1912. 



Diagnosis. Rostrum with simple or bifid termination. Ocular 

 peduncles 0.66-0.75 length of shield; little if at all overreached 

 by antennular peduncles; antennal peduncles not reaching to 

 bases of corneae. Ocular acicles with acute, simple or bifid 

 termination. Basal segment of antennular peduncle with 1 or 2 

 small spines. 



Chelipeds subequal, right somewhat larger. Right cheliped 

 with dactyl equal to or slightly longer than palm; dorsomesial 

 margin and dorsal surface with rows of corneous-tipped spines. 

 Dorsomesial margin of palm with row of low spines and tufts of 

 long setae, second adjacent row of spines and one large tubercle 

 at proximal margin, dorsal surface sloping, with few spines 

 distally and on proximal portion of fixed finger. Dorsomesial 

 distal angle of carpus with acute spine, low protuberances and 

 tufts of setae on dorsomesial margin. Merus with few low, 

 somewhat spinulose protuberances on ventromesial margin; 

 ventrolateral distal angle with three acute spines. Left cheliped 

 with few more spinules on dorsal surface of palm. Carpus with 

 two strong corneous-tipped spines on dorsomesial margin and 

 blunt protuberance in line with tubercle on proximal margin of 

 palm. Ventromesial margin of merus with row of few small 

 spines or two small spines distally; lateral face with two spines at 

 ventrolateral distal angle. 



Ambulatory legs similar from left to right. Dactyls 

 approximately 1.5 times longer than propodi; dorsal surfaces 

 flattened; ventral margins each with row of minute corneous 

 spinules ( 10-1 3 in distal half and one or two proximally). Lateral 

 faces of propodi each with very strongly developed dorsolateral 

 margin; dorsal surfaces somewhat flattened; ventrolateral distal 

 angles each with one or two spines. Carpi each with spine at 

 dorsodistal angle. Meri each with acute spine at ventrolateral 

 distal angle. Sternite of third pereopods with subrectangular 

 anterior lobe, anterior margin slightly rounded. Fourth 

 pereopods each with acute spine at dorsodistal margin of 

 carpus. 



Telson with slightly asymmetrical posterior lobes, separated 



by small median cleft; terminal margins each with three to five 

 small spines, larger on left. 



REDESCRIPTION 



Shield longer than broad; anterior margin between rostrum and 

 lateral projections straight or very faintly concave; anterolateral 

 margins sloping; posterior margin roundly truncate. Dorsal 

 surface of shield with scattered setae and distinct 'Y'-shaped 

 suture medianly in posterior portion. Rostrum triangular, 

 terminating acutely or minutely bifid, overreaching lateral 

 projections. Lateral projections broadly rounded or obtusely 

 triangular, with terminal spinule or blunt small projection. 



Ocular peduncles slender, 0.66-0.75 length of shield, with 

 scattered setae dorsally and mesially; corneae not dilated. 

 Ocular acicles narrowly triangular, dorsally rounded (convex), 

 with simple or bifid acute termination; separated by less than 

 basal width of one acicle and tending to become approximate 

 distally. 



Antennular peduncles overreaching distal margin of corneae 

 little if at all. Ultimate and penultimate segments with scattered 

 setae. Basal segment with one or two very small spinules on 

 ventrolateral distal margin. 



Antennal peduncles reaching approximately to bases of 

 corneae; with supernumerary segmentation. Basal segment 

 without spine on laterodistal margin, but with acute spine on 

 ventrodistal margin laterally. Second segment with dorsolateral 

 distal angle produced, with small terminal spine, dorsomesial 

 distal angle rounded. Third segment with small spine on 

 ventrodistal margin. Fourth and fifth segments with scattered 

 setae. Antennal acicle reaching almost to distal margin of fourth 

 peduncular segment, triangular, armed on mesial margin with 

 one to three spines and tufts of setae, terminating in acute spine. 

 Antennal flagellum overreaching chelipeds, and approximately 

 as long as ambulatory legs; each article with two or three minute 

 bristles. 



Chelipeds subequal, right somewhat larger. Right cheliped 

 with dactyl equal to or slightly longer than palm; dorsomesial 

 margin with row of corneous-tipped spines, dorsal surface with 

 two rows of appreciably stronger, corneous-tipped spines; 

 surfaces all with numerous tufts of moderately long setae; 

 cutting edge with two prominent calcareous teeth in proximal 

 half and broad terminal corneous hoof-shaped claw. Palm 

 slightly longer than carpus; dorsomesial margin with row of low 

 spines and tufts of long setae, second adjacent row of spines and 

 one large tubercle at proximal margin, dorsal surface sloping, 

 with no delimitation of dorsolateral margin, surface with few 

 spines distally and on proximal portion of fixed finger, also with 

 tufts of long setae; fixed finger with two rows of small spines on 

 dorsal surface, all surfaces with tufts of long setae; cutting edge 

 with three calcareous teeth in proximal half, distal-most 

 strongest; terminating in corneous hoof-shaped claw. Carpus 

 slightly more than half length of merus; dorsomesial distal angle 

 with acute spine, low protuberances and tufts of setae on 

 dorsomesial margin; dorsal surface with indications of points of 

 original tufts of setae (no longer present), dorsolateral margin 

 not delimited; mesial face with few scattered tufts of setae. 

 Merus subtriangular; dorsal margin with tufts of setae; 

 ventromesial margin with few low, somewhat spinulose 

 protuberances and tufts of setae; ventrolateral distal angle with 

 three acute spines, ventrolateral margin proximally and lateral 



