Achelous spinimanus ( Latreille, 1819 )

Achelous spinimanus ( Latreille, 1819) View in CoL

( Fig. 3B View Figure 3 )

Material examined. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro: Ilha do Governador, Praia do Zumbi , 2 male (cw 7.6–7.8; cl 4.9) MNRJ 309 View Materials ; Arraial do Cabo, Prainha , 1 male (cw 8.8; cl 5.6) and 1 female (cw 5.8; cl 3.9), MNRJ 857 View Materials .

Diagnosis. Carapace considerably less than twice wider than long, finely granulate and pubescent, with number of prominent, curved, coarsely granulate, transverse ridges. Frontal region with eight teeth; median teeth slightly narrowed and more advanced than submedian teeth, all considerably more advanced than lateral frontal teeth 1 and 2. Posterior anterolateral tooth about twice as large as others and usually curved forward. Chelipeds long, pubescent, serratogranulate all over; merus with four, occasionally five strong, curved spines on anterior margin and one spine at distal end; carpus with two spines, inner one much stronger, and with four conspicuous ridges on upper surface and outer spine small. Merus of swimming leg with a very short blunt spine at postero distal angle, followed by a row of spinules on distal margin (modified from Rathbun, 1930 and Williams, 1984).

Measurements. male, cl 65, cw 110; ovigerous female, cl 57, cw 94 ( Williams, 1984). Male, cl 61.7, cw 85.6, width at anterior base of lateral spine77.7. Male (S.U.I.) from Bahama Banks, cl 58, cw 9.5 cm ( Rathbun, 1930).

Color. Pubescence yellowish or reddish brown, ridges of carapace, spines and chelipeds, finger and tips of legs reddish brown; anterolateral teeth reddish at base, white at tips; merus, carpus and hand of chelipeds with white blotches ( Williams, 1984).

Geographic distribution. Western Atlantic: USA (New Jersey to southern Florida), Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico ( USA, Florida to Mexico, Cancun), Antilles, Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil (Amapá to Rio Grande do Sul) ( Mesquita, 1972; Barreto et al., 1993; Coelho and Ramos-Porto, 1992; Melo, 1996; Coelho Filho, 2006).

Type locality. American waters ( Rathbun, 1930).

Habitat. From surface to depths of 90 m. Brackish water of channels and bays, on sand, gravel, broken shells and mud bottom ( Melo, 1996).