Herbstia rubra A. Milne-Edwards 1869

Herbstia rubra A. Milne Edwards, 1869

Herbstia rubra A. Milne Edwards, 1869:354.—Miers, 1886:49, pl. 7: fig. 1, 1a.—Rathbun, 1893a:93 [listed].—A. Milne Edwards and Bouvier, 1900:128, pl. 19: fig. 17 [fig. 16 in text].—Balss, 1922:73 [listed].—Monod, 1956:482, fig. 649 [part, not fig. 650].—Guinot and Ribeiro, 1962:73.—Ribeiro, 1964:19.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Pillsbury Material: None.

Other Material: Cape Verde Islands: São Vicente, 20 m, 26 Jul 1883, Talisman, 1, 1 (L, W). São Vicente, Challenger, BMNH 84.31, 1. Harbor of Porto Grande, São Vicente, Valhalla, BMNH 1908.11.7.2, 1.

DESCRIPTION.—Carapace (Figure 81a) pyriform, surface appearing smooth, minutely punctate, regions moderately well marked, short setae present dorsally, heavier laterally. Gastric, cardiac, and intestinal regions each with low, rounded elevation. Gastric region with 3 tubercles in transverse line (Figure 81a). Cardiac and intestinal regions each with single tubercle in some specimens. Intestinal region with single, rounded, posteriorly projecting prominence on posterior margin of carapace. Hepatic region with 1 spine and several smaller tubercles; subhepatic region with row of tubercles. Branchial region with 4 lateral spines, flanked laterally by several smaller tubercles, additional low tubercles usually present dorsally. Rostral teeth short but sharp, apices slightly divergent. Preorbital spine blunter than postorbital. Basal antennal article with long anterior spine visible in dorsal view, small but sharp proximal tooth present on inner margin below orbit; 1 or 2 postorbital tubercles also present ventrally.

Chelipeds enlarged in adult males, slightly shorter than carapace in young of both sexes, longer than carapace in adult male, variously ornamented with bristles and stiff setae. Merus tuberculate, with row of spines on upper and lower margins. Carpus with numerous tubercles and 2 larger spines on outer margin. Palm inflated in males, with 2 spines on dorsal articular knob in juveniles, remainder of surface smooth in female, with irregular row of small dorsal tubercles in male. Fingers shorter than palm, cutting edges more strongly toothed than in H. nitida.

Walking legs stout, short, fifth leg as long as or shorter than carapace, ornamented with corneous bristles and longer simple setae. Merus of walking legs with row of spines dorsally and posteroventrally. Dactylus shorter than propodus, ventral margin with slender spines but no triangular teeth (Figure 81b).

Male abdomen and gonopod as shown (Figure 81c–e).

MEASUREMENTS.—Carapace lengths of male 9.5 to 11.5 mm, of female 9.5 mm. Larger specimens identified with this species by Guinot and Ribeiro (1962: male, 20.6 mm) and Monod (1956: female, 24 mm) may well prove to be H. condyliata.

DISTRIBUTION.—West Africa, from the Cape Verde Islands (the type-locality) and possibly the Azores; most records in the literature require verification. They include the following:

Cape Verde Islands: No specific locality (A. Milne Edwards, 1869). São Vicente (Miers, 1886). Praia Matiota, São Vicente, shore, and Porta da Furna, Brava, 6–20 m (Guinot and Ribeiro, 1962; Ribeiro, 1964). Between Ilhéu Branco and Ilhéu Raso, 75 m (A. Milne Edwards and Bouvier, 1900). Ponta do Sol, Ilha de Santo Antão (Monod, 1956).

Micropisa Stimpson, 1858a:218 [type-species: Micropisa ovata Stimpson, 1858, by monotypy; gender: feminine].