13.07.2015 Views

Download - WordPress – www.wordpress.com

Download - WordPress – www.wordpress.com

Download - WordPress – www.wordpress.com

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

(582 L. A. BORRADAILE.typical members of the Oxyrhyncha—the Maiidae'—have adopted another plan. They hidethemselves by covering their bodies with bits of seaweeds, zoophytes, or sponges, which areheld on by hooked or jagged hairs of special shape found on the body and limbs of thetrue spider-crabs and not elsewhere (PI. XLVII. figs. 3 c and 4 d). They are gathered andplaced in position by the crab itself, which uses for this purpose its chelipeds. These limbsare specially shaped so as to have a mobility not found in other crabs, and are thus ableto reach distant parts of the body and legs. In order that they may adhere better, thefragments of weed, etc. are treated with a secretion given out by glands on the firstmaxilliped"; and they not only remain in a living state, but often continue to grow, sothat in some genera it is not un<strong>com</strong>mon to find the whole crab as <strong>com</strong>pletely hidden bya single sponge as any Dromia. Besides seaweeds, the organisms used include sponges,hydroids, polyzoa, and ascidians, and in some cases barnacles and tubicolous worms addthemselves as self-invited guests. Several different kinds of organisms may sometimes befound on the back of one crab, but in most cases, very jjossibly in all, the species plantedby it are those amongst which it is living and are changed if it be placed in othersurroundings where they would be conspicuous. This implies considerable care in the choiceof the clothing, and indeed such may easily be seen to be bestowed if a captive individual,say a Maia squinado, be watched while it is disguising itself I have even seen this speciesQover its back with shingle when no weed was available. The number of hairs naturallyvaries, as does also the extent to which the crab is hidden, but it rarely happens (E'pialtus)that they are quite wanting.' Key to the fumiliei! of the Oxyrhyncha.I. Carapace thin and flat. First leg (cheliped) not long orspecially mobile or with fingers bent at an angle with thehand. Male opening sternal. [No orbits. Second jointof antennal stalk slender,fused with epistome but notwith front. No hooked hairs.] Hymenosomidae.II. Carapace not thin and flat (except Ocinopus). First legeither mobile or powerful with bent fingers.coxal.Male openingA. Chelipeds specially mobile, rarely much larger thanthe other legs or with fingers bent at an angle on thehand.Second joint of antenna well developed, generallyfused with epistome and often with front. Orbitsgenerally more or less in<strong>com</strong>plete. Hooked hairsalmost always present.Maiidae.B. Chelipeds not specially mobile, usua!l3' much longerand heavier than the other legs and with fingers benton the hand at an angle towards the side on whichthe fixed finger is set. Second joint of antenna small,short, and not fused with epistome or front.Orbitswell made. Hooked hairs almost always wanting.Parthenopidae.Key to the subfamilies of the Maiidae.I. Second joint of antenna very slender throughout its length.II.[No orbits. Eyestalks generally long.] Inachinae.Second joint of antenna not very slender.A. No true orbits (eyestalks hidden under a supraocularspine or sunken in the sides of a great rostrum).Second joint of antenna truncate-triangular. Eyestalksvery short. Acanthonychinae.B. True orbits, containing both supra- and postocularelements sheltering the eyes, are more or less <strong>com</strong>pletelyformed, except in a few genera where theeyestalks are long and slender. Second antenna-jointbroad, usually not truncate-triangular. Eyestalks longor short.1. A large, cupped, usually blunt postocular processpresent. Eyestalks short. Cornea of eyes not <strong>com</strong>pletelyhidden when they are folded back. Pisinae.2. Postocular process, if present, usually .sharp and notcupped, but if not so then cornea hidden (as alsoin most other cases). Eyestalks usually long.Maiinae.Key to the subfamilies of the Parthenopidae.I. Carapace usually triangular, sometimes suboval or subpentagonal.Bostrum simple. Chelipeds much biggerthan the other legs. Branchial regions of the bodydeeply separated from cardiac. Parthenopinae.II. Carapace usually sharply pentagonal. Rostrum cleftinto two. Chelipeds of moderate size. Branchialregions of the body not deeply separated from cardiac.Euniedoninae.- For an account of those structures in the Spider-Crabswhich are specially adapted to their habit of clothing themselves,see Aurivillius, Kong. Scenska Vet.-.ik. Hand. Bt.XXIII. no. 4 (1889).

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!