Rectopalicus amphiceros Castro, 2000

Castro, Peter, 2010, A new species and new records of palicoid crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Palicoidea, Palicidae, Crossotonotidae) from the Indo-West Pacific region, Zoosystema 32 (1), pp. 73-86 : 83-84

Rectopalicus amphiceros Castro, 2000

Rectopalicus amphiceros Castro, 2000: 358 , 587, 588, fig. 35.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Philippines. PANGLAO 2004, Bohol I., Panglao I., stn T 1, Bolod, 09°32.382’N, 123°47.262’E, 83-102 m, 30. V.2004, 1 ♀, cl 4.4 mm, cw 4.6 mm ( ZRC 2008.1085).

DISTRIBUTION. — New Caledonia (type locality) and now from the Philippines ( Castro 2000: table 6). Depth: 83-110 m ( Castro 2000: table 5).

REMARKS

Rectopalicus amphiceros was described from one male and one pre-adult female.The discovery of an adult female, slightly smaller than the male holotype, now permits the description of some features of adult females. The female specimen unfortunately lacks the abdomen.

The carapace and pereopods of the adult female (ZRC 2008.1) are as in the holotype male ( Castro 2000: fig. 35a-c) and pre-adult female paratype. The vulvae are relatively large, round, with simple margins, and on thoracic sternite 6. They are displaced to the median plate of the sternum. The sternothoracic cavity is typical of adult female palicids, being very broad and extending to just below the posterior margin of the third maxillipeds.