OBSERVATIONS ON THE LITHODID CRABS OF PERO, WITH DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES JANET HAIG Reprinted from BULLETIN OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Vol. 73, No. 3, November 1974 pp. 152-164 Made in the United States of America OBSERVATIONS ON THE LITHODID CRABS OF PERU, WITH DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES JANET HAIG X ABSTRACT: Eight species of Lithodidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) are reported from deep water off Peru. Two are described as new and a third is illustrated for the first time. The other five species, which were briefly cited from Peruvian waters (del Solar, 1972), are discussed in more detail. Attention is drawn to morphological changes that take place with growth in family Lithodidae. Distribution of the tropical component of the west American lithodids is discussed. The Lithodidae are a family of anomuran crabs, resemblance to Lithodes. However, examination some of them of large size, which inhabit the of the rostrum (if present) and the abdomen littoral zone and depths to at least 2400 m. The might prove it to belong to Neolithodes. Neo- family comprises more than 50 species, including lithodes diomedeae (Benedict) is reported from such economically important forms as the Alaska Chile and from Mexico and is therefore to be king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius), expected in Peruvian waters. in the north Pacific, and the centolla, Lithodes Measurements given in this report, except where antarcticus Jacquinot, off southern Chile and there is a statement to the contrary, refer to the Argentina. Until recently no lithodids were length of the carapace. All measurements were known from Peruvian waters. taken to 0.5 mm using a dial caliper. Specimens, In recent years the Instituto del Mar del Peru including holotypes of the two new species, are (IMARPE) has been conducting investigations in in the collections of the Allan Hancock Foundation deep water, particularly on crustaceans of poten­ (A. H. F.). This paper is contribution No. 351 tial economic importance. Since late 1970 E. M. from the Allan Hancock Foundation. del Solar, scientific advisor for IMARPE, has collected material of eight species of Lithodidae Lithodes Latreille, 1806 aboard "SNP-1," "Wiracocha," and the Japanese trawler "Challua japic." Samples of these, which Lithodes Latreille, 1806: 39. Type species by mono- were sent to me for identification by del Solar, typy: Cancer maja Linnaeus. Bouvier, 1896: 10, 20. form the basis of this report. Carapace spiny; rostrum generally prominent and Two of the species were previously undescribed. armed with spines. Antennal acicle (scaphocerite) A third was described by Benedict (1895) from a either well developed, rudimentary, or lacking. Walk­ specimen collected at an unspecified locality by ing legs considerably longer than greatest width of the U.S. Fisheries vessel "Albatross"; it is illus­ carapace. Second (basal) abdominal somite with trated for the first time in this paper. The other median plate fused to lateral plates, and usually five species were described by Faxon (1§93) with- laterals fused to marginal plates; on abdominal from material collected by the "Albatross" in the somites 3-5, median plate replaced by a membrana­ ceous area covered with calcified platelets; lateral eastern Pacific between 07°31'30" N and 05°26' plaies of somites 3-5 distinct and paired; marginal 20" N; they were listed, with the first Peruvian plates of somites 3-5 distinct and variable in number, records, by del Solar (1972). present on both sides in males, on right side only The presence of Lithodidae in Peru had been in females. recognized earlier on the basis of unidentified fragments taken from the stomach of "cachalotes" Lithodes panamensis Faxon, 1893 (sperm whales). A ninth Peruvian species is represented by legs and part of the carapace of Lithodes panamensis Faxon, 1893: 166; Faxon, 1895: one such specimen, which is housed in a whaling 50, pi. 10 figs. 1, 1 a-c; Bouvier, 1896: 24; del museum at Tierra Colorada to the south of Paita; Solar, 1972: 5, 14. del Solar believes it to be a Lithodes (del Solar, 1972: 6, and pers. coram.). I have seen a photo­ 1 Allan Hancock Foundation, Univ. Southern graph of this crab and agree that it bears a general California, Los Angeles, California 90007. 152 i 1974 NEW LITHODID CRABS FROM PERU 153 Diagnosis: Carapace covered with low, warty pro­ become enlarged. Gastric region bearing two pairs of tuberances; two pairs of spines on gastric region, short, stout spines, and separated from cardiac two spines on each branchial region, a pair on car­ region by a deep, transverse depression. Cardiac diac and a pair on intestinal region; lateral spines region well defined, with a pair of small spines. consisting of outer orbital, anterolateral, hepatic, Branchial regions separated from cardiac region by and three branchials. Gastric and branchial regions deep, oblique grooves; each branchial region with a very convex, defined by deep depressions. Rostrum well developed spine opposite sulcus separating gas­ strongly inclined upward, terminating in a median tric and cardiac regions. Intestinal region with a pair and two lateral spines; ventral process long but not of small spines. Outer orbital angle marked by a visible in dorsal view. Antennal acicle long, rudi­ long, slender spine; a shorter one at anterolateral mentary, or absent. Abdominal plates covered with angle; a long, strong marginal hepatic spine; three low tubercles; basal (second) somite with a distinct lateral branchial spines, the most anterior one largest, suture on each side separating marginal plate from others not much larger than a few enlarged, laterally fused median and lateral plates. situated surface spinules. Previous records: 07°31'30" N, 79° 14' W, 458 Dorsal portion of rostrum inclined upward, with fms [837 m] (Faxon, 1893, 1895). 03°48' S, 81°22' two terminal spines and a pair of median lateral W, 680 m; 07°59' S, 80°22' W, 760-800 m; latitude spines; proximal half densely covered with minute of Pisco [13°44' S], from stomach of a sperm whale; spinules to base of median spines; ventral process 17°34' S, 71°55' W, 850 m (del Solar, 1972). rather short and not visible in dorsal view, covered Material examined: Ovigerous female; off Peru, proximally with minute spinules. 07°59' S, 80°22' W; 760-800 m, hard bottom; Eyestalks short, somewhat constricted at about November 1971; E. M. del Solar on trawler "Challua middle, and unarmed, with cornea situated laterally japic." and ventrally. Second segment of antennal peduncle Measurements: Length of carapace excluding ros­ with several spines on its outer side, the most distal trum, 100 mm; maximum width of carapace excluding one large and elongate and reaching end of penulti­ lateral spines, 108 mm; length of right, third walking mate (fourth) segment; acicle rudimentary, conical. leg: merus, 78 mm; carpus, 44 mm; propodus, 70.5 Chelipeds subequal in length, but right somewhat mm; dactyl, 45.5 mm. stouter than left; small, thornlike spines, disposed in Remarks: My specimen agrees well with the longitudinal rows, on merus, carpus, and chela; spines somewhat enlarged on ventral surface of description and illustration of the holotype, a ischium. Walking legs long and slender; ischium, female 79 mm long excluding the rostrum. A few merus, carpus, and propodus covered on all sides by minor differences were noted. The three terminal longitudinal rows of thorny spines, these a little rostral spines are more elongate than the rostral larger dorsally and ventrally; dactyl witii several rows spines of the type; the proximal portion of the of spines reaching almost to tip. rostrum is also longer and advanced beyond the Abdominal plates, and platelets of somites 3-5. eyestalks, A pair of small spines on the cardiac densely covered with sharp spinules. Basal abdominal region of the carapace was not mentioned by somite with a median pair of small spines; a narrow, Faxon, although his illustration, perhaps errone­ spinule-free line on each side in position of suture which separates marginal from fused median and ously, shows a median spine in that area. The lateral plates in a few species of Lithodes, but in this lateral hepatic spines are much larger than they case no actual suture visible. Lateral plates of left appear in the illustration of the holotype. On each side edged with numerous long, sharp spines, many antennal peduncle there is a rudimentary, conical themselves bearing two or three spinules along each acicle, instead of the long, slender one occurring side; marginal plates of right side drawn out into on the right peduncle in the type. still longer compound spines. A specimen collected by del Solar at 17°34' S, Previous records: 03848' S, 81°22' W, 680 m; 07' has a carapace 190 mm long and measures 970 59' S, 80°22' W, 800 m (del Solar, 1972). mm between the tips of the extended legs (del Material examined: Holotype, ovigerous female. Solar, 1972: 14). A.H.F. 712; 12 mi. SW Banco de Mancora, Peru: 620 m, mud bottom; 15 March 1971; E. M. del Solar on trawler "Wiracocha." Measurements: Length of carapace excluding ros­ Lithodes wiracocha, new species trum, 103.5 mm; rostrum, 16 mm; maximum width of Figure 1 carapace excluding lateral spines, 97 mm; length of right, third walking leg: merus, 78 mm; carpus, 48.5 Lithodes n. sp.: del Solar, 1972: 14. mm; propodus, 79 mm; dactyl, 47 mm. Description: Carapace a little longer than broad; Etymology: From Tici Wiracocha, the creator god surface and all margins densely covered with small, of Inca mythology, and his namesake, the trawler sharp spinules, some of the marginal ones tending to "Wiracocha" aboard which the holotype was col- 154 BULLETIN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES VOLUME 73 D, Figure 1.