FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Xanthidae 1099
Key to species of interest to fisheries occurring in the area
1a. Anterolateral margins almost entire except for a
weak lateral tooth (Fig. 1) . . . . . . . . Atergatopsis signatus
1b. Anterolateral margins multidentate to multispinate . . . . . → 2
2a. Anterolateral margins each with first 2 teeth lobiform,
not spine-tipped; adult chelipeds elongate;
margins of legs unarmed (Fig. 2) . . . . . . Etisus laevimanus
2b. Anterolateral margins with teeth distinct, sharp;
adult chelipeds normal; margins of legs armed
with sharp granules or spines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 3
3a. Anterolateral margins each with 8 strong, equal-sized teeth which curve distinctly
forward (Fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Etisus utilis
3b. Anterolateral margins each with 6 strong, equal-sized triangular teeth which do not
curve distinctly forward, often with 4 to 5 smaller teeth between them (Figs 4 and 5) . . . . . . → 4
4a. Frontal lobes separated by narrow groove; carpus of cheliped with 1 spine on inner
margin (Fig. 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Etisus dentatus
4b. Frontal lobes separated by shallow, broad, V-shaped sulcus (cleft); carpus of cheliped
with 2 spines on inner margin (Fig. 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Etisus splendidus
List of species of interest to fisheries occurring in the area
The symbol is given when species accounts are included.
Atergatopsis signatus (Adams and White, 1848)
Etisus dentatus (Herbst, 1785)
Etisus laevimanus Randall, 1840
Etisus splendidus Rathbun, 1906
Etisus utilis Jacquinot, 1852
Fig. 2 Etisus laevimanus
Fig. 4 Etisus dentatus
first 2 teeth
lobiform
narrow
groove
a single weak
lateral tooth
Fig. 1 Atergatopsis signatus
Fig. 3 Etisus utilis
Fig. 5 Etisus splendidus
8 strong,
equal-sized
teeth
V-shaped
sulcus
References
Alcock, A., 1898. Materials for a carcinological fauna of India. No. 3. The Brachyura Cyclometopa. Part I. The family
Xanthidae. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 67(2), No. 1:67-233.
Serène, R. 1984. Crustacés Décapodes Brachyoures de l’Ocean Indien occidental et de la Mer Rouge. Xanthoidea:
Xanthidae et Trapeziidae. Addendeum Carpiliidae et Menippidae - A. Crosnier. Faune Tropicale (ORSTOM),
24:1-400.