Alpheids from Onotoa — Banner 
161 
possibly the distinguishing characteristics 
may be the result of growth and therefore not 
of specific worth. However, in the absence of 
an intergrading series of specimens, the spe- 
cies has been permitted to stand. 
Synalpheus consobrinus de Man, 1909 
For synonymy see Banner, 1957. 
locality: 8 specimens from GOC-53. 
discussion: This group of specimens 
agreed well with the description and varia- 
tions of de Man. In general they ran smaller 
than de Man’s type, mostly 15 mm. long or 
less, yet the females were ovigerous. It is 
likely that these, together with the closely 
related S. carinatus (de Man) and S. amboinae 
(Zehntner), were collected from crinoids on 
the coral reef, but the exact data on their 
capture is lacking. In any case, it seems strange 
that three different but most closely related 
species would be living so close to each other 
in the same basic habitat, and for that reason 
alone the species should be suspect. 
Synalpheus charon (Heller), 1861 
Synalpheus charon obscurus Banner, 1956 
For synonymy see Banner, 1956. 
locality: 3 specimens at GOC-51, two of 
S. charon charon , one of S. charon obscurus. 
discussion: The fact that in this locality 
two specimens of S . charon charon , an oviger- 
ous female and a male, and one ovigerous 
female of S. charon obscurus were found casts 
some doubts as to the validity of the sub- 
species. It may indicate that the two forms 
are mere variations that breed together; it 
certainly indicates that the subspecies are not 
geographically distinct, as the other collec- 
tions have indicated until now. However, as 
no intergrading specimens have been found 
and as the data of this collection do not in- 
dicate that the two subspecies might not 
maintain an ecological isolation, it has been 
decided to leave the subspecies standing. 
Synalpheus paraneomeris Coutiere, 1905 
For synonymy see Banner, 1956. 
localities: 3 specimens at A-7; 5 speci- 
mens at GOC-51. 
Synalpheus coutierei Banner, 1953 
For synonymy see Banner, 1957. 
locality: 1 specimen at GOC-55. 
Synalpheus pachymeris Coutiere, 1905 
Synalpheus biunguiculatus var. pachymeris , Cou- 
tiere, Fauna and Geog. Maidive and Lac- 
cadive Archipelagoes 2(4): 873, pi. 71, fig. 
9, 1905. 
Synalpheus pachymeris de Man, Siboga Exped. 
39a 1 (2): 199, 1911. 
locality: 1 ovigerous female from GOC- 
55. 
discussion: This sole specimen agrees well 
with Couriered description and figures except 
that the orbital teeth are more pointed, with 
their outer lateral margins concave, similar to 
that figured by de Man for S. quadrispinosis 
de Man (1911: pi. 12, fig. 57), 
Synalpheus quadrispinosus de Man 
Synalpheus quadrispinosus de Man, Nederland. 
Dierk. Ver., Tijdschr. II, 11(4): 298, 1910; 
also, Siboga Exped. 39a*(2): 285, pi. 12, 
fig. 57, 1911. 
Synalpheus quadridens de Man, Nederland. 
Dierk. Ver., Tijdschr. II, 11(4): 299, 1910; 
also, Siboga Exped. 39a*(2): 284, pi. 12, 
fig. 56, 1911. 
locality: A male and an ovigerous female 
from GOC-55. 
discussion: de Man described as separate 
species two closely related forms, both char- 
acterized by four spines on the posterior mar- 
gin of the sixth abdominal segment. They 
were separated by a series of characteristics, 
but principally by the form of the orbital 
teeth and the proportions of the small chela. 
