Jacquinot and Lucas (1853); Haig (1955); Retamal (1981).
(武田正倫)
Material examined:
FSFL V893 (2 ovig. ♀♀, 1♀-53°4.5′S, 67°53.5′W, 40 m deep; Jan. 16, 1970). Breadth of carapace, 8.5-9.5 cm.
Description:
Carapace triangular or rather pentagonal; dorsal surface strongly convex, with distinct gastric and cardiac regions demarcated by narrow furrows; gastric region longitudinal, convex from side to side and separated from cardiac region by smooth furrow, being associated with a long oval depression at each posterolateral part and with a wartlike tubercle at each anterolateral part; cardiac region longitudinally pentagonal; branchial region convex as a whole and deeply concave at its anterolateral part; dorsal surface of carapace entirely covered with scattered sharp granules and with larger tuberculate granules made each by some aggregated smaller granules. Frontal region deflexed; median spine short and dorsally armed with a pair of spiniform teeth at its basal part. Hepatic margin with 4 or 5 teeth and branchial anterolateral margin with 7 or 8 sharp teeth, both margins being very shallowly separated; branchial anterolateral margin oblique, but its lateral margin is almost longitudinal, with rather depressed median part indicated by interruption of granules or tubercles; posterolateral part of lateral margin weakly lamellate. Chelipeds and ambulatory legs covered with sharp tubercles. Ambulatory legs fringed with sharp tubercles associated each with a blush-like bundle of bristles on anterior margins.
Distribution:
Southern South America from the vicinity of Chiroe Island through the Magellan district and the Falkland Islands northward to off Lio de Janeiro; lower littoral zone to 100 m deep.
Remarks:
The general formation of the carapace, chelipeds and ambulatory legs is similar to that of P. dofleini Balss from Japanese waters. In the present species, however, the granules are sharp, small and fewer, and the lateral margins of carapace and the anterior margins of ambulatory legs are fringed with sharp spiniform teeth.