Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

—558 COLLECTIONS FROM THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN,spots of a similar colour, which are larger than those with whichthe hand is covered.To this variety are referred specimens from the Philippines, Corregidor{Cuming) ; the island of Ty-pin-san (H.M.S. Samarang ' ');Keeling or Cocos Islands {Lt. Biirnahy) ; and Fijis, Ovalau {H.M.S.'Herald ').11. Petrolisthes annulipes, White (med.), Miers.Seychelles, 4-12 fms. (IN'o. 194) ; an adult female and small male.The occurrence of this species (described in the preceding part ofthis <strong>Report</strong>) in the western limits of the Indo-Pacific region provesits wide geographical range, and it may be that it will prove to benot specifically distinguishable from its near allies P. scahrieula,Dana, from the Sooloo Sea, and P. militaris, Heller, from the Nicobars; but even if it should be necessary to unite the three forms,the distinctions referred to in my description of P. annulipes wouldapparently suffice to constitute it a very distinct variety, and I donot venture to unite them in the absence of types of the two firstmentionedspecies for comparison.A small specimen obtained at He des Neufs, 15 fms. (No. 187),more nearly resembles P. scahrieula in having the outer margin ofthe palm of the chelipedes pubescent, and a series of spinules extendingalong the whole length of the posterior margin of the wrist,but in this specimen the palms arc pubescent, but not transverselvstriated ; it is probably not fully grown, but 1 think belongs to adistinct species.12. Petrolisthes maculatus, M.-Eclw.Since I identify this species with the very short diagnosis ofP. maculatifs with much uncertainty, I append the following description:The carapace is rather convex, smooth, and polished, and verymuch longer than broad : the front is slightly deflexed, very prominent,of a rounded triangulate form, with a slight lateral sinusor dilatation above the inner orbital angle ; the outer orbital angleis obtuse ; there is a spinule on the lateral margins of the carapace,at some distance behind the outer orbital angle ; on the sides of thecarapace, below the lateral margins, is a longitudinal furrow. Thesecond joint of the peduncle of the antennae bears an acute lobe orspine. The chelipedes are smooth and naked ; the merus-joint isvery short, with a tooth or lobe at its antero-interual angle ; theanterior margin of the wrist is armed with a prominent acute subbasaltooth or lobe, followed by one or two very indistinct smallerteeth ; the posterior margin is entire ; the palm is flat and smoothabove, its anterior margin bordered by a raised line, its posteriormargin (and that of the immobile finger) cristiform and acute ; tho