Paradynomene Sakai, 1963

Mclay, Colin L., 2001, Dynomenidae and Dromiidae (Decapoda, Brachyura) from Guam, Philippine Islands, Tonga and Samoa, Zoosystema 23 (4), pp. 807-856 : 819

Genus Paradynomene Sakai, 1963

DIAGNOSIS. — Carapace subquadrangular in shape, slightly longer than wide, surface convex, wellareolated, individual areolae each having one or two low conical tubercles. Lateral carapace margins welldefined, sub-parallel and armed with irregular teeth. Narrow frontal groove splits in two posteriorly, cervical, postcervical grooves evident. Frontal carapace margin well-produced anteriorly, cut into three teeth, median tooth small, lateral teeth broad and cristate, eyestalks short, eyes protected by welldefined orbits. Female sternal sutures 7/8 end wellapart on low tubercles behind bases of second walking legs. Antennule can be concealed inside the orbit at the base of the eyestalk. Antennal flagella shorter than half of carapace width. All segments of antenna moveable, first segment (urinal) beaked medially and second segment has an exopod firmly fixed. Third maxillipeds opercular, completely covering the buccal cavern, separated at their bases by a plate at the same level as the sternum, basis and ischium of endopod fused but joint always marked by a shallow groove. Crista dentata present. Chelipeds robust, equal, stouter than walking legs, last pair of legs very reduced, dactyl rudimentary, forming an obsolete chelate mechanism with an extension of the propodus only in the female. Branchial formula 19 gills + seven epipods. Abdomen of six segments and telson, folded loosely under the thorax, uropods large, abdominal locking mechanism absent. Both sexes have five pairs of pleopods, first pair rudimentary in female, last three pairs vestigial in the male. First pair of male gonopods consist of a stout, setose semi-rolled tube with an apical plate, second pair needle-like bearing a linear row of tiny inset spines along the anterior surface (after McLay 1999).