FSFL EM411 (1♂-42°01′S, 63°58′W, 106 m deep; June 2, 1978); EL869 (1♂-40°01′S, 61°01′W, 40 m deep; June 4, 1978); EL873, EL874 (3 ovig. ♀♀-40°06′S, 56°15′W, 155 m deep; June 8, 1978). Breadth of carapace including lateral tubercles, 3.8-9.2 cm.
Description:
Typical maid crab having long ambulatory legs. Carapace roughly triangular in its outline; dorsal surface divided into regions by shallow furrows, branchial regions of both sides occuping for its large part; regions covered with many tubercles of variable size, which are symmetrically disposed; gastric region with 3 on median line and 2 on protogastric part; hepatic region flattened and tipped by a sharp tubercle on its lateral margin; cardiac region small, but conical, with a sharp tubercle; intestinal tubercle strong; branchial region rather thickly covered with tubercles, of which the one at lateral angle of carapace is as large as the intestinal tubercle and directed laterally; some tubercles on posterolateral margin of branchial region as large as cardiac tubercle. Rostrum short and bifurcated at its distal third. Supraorbital angle sharply tuberculated and directed obliquely outward. External orbital angle cupped to receive cornea. Chelipeds long and stouter than ambulatory legs in male, being thickly covered with fine granules; merus with 4 blunt margins, and palm more or less compressed with obtuse upper and lower margins; fingers sharply and regularly toothed throughout their lengths. Ambulatory legs long and subcylindrical, being covered with thick fine granules.
Distribution:
From Valparaiso, Chile through the Straits of Magellan to off the Gulf of San Matias, Argentina; 30-155 m deep.
Remarks:
Another representative of the genus, L. smithii (Miers) from the Chilean coast, has the longer and deeply bifurcated rostrum with tip directed obliquely outward, and the very long main tubercles on the carapace.
(Masatsune TAKEDA)
Distribution of Libidoclaea granaria in Patagonia.