Parthenope petalophorus

(Alcock, 1895)

Carapace of the same general shape as in Lambrus turriger, but broader posteriorly, where its breadth exceeds its length with the rostrum. The hepatic region is extremely well demarcated, not by its prominence, but by its almost vertical outer wall.
The cristiform antero-lateral border, which runs from the angle of the buccal frame outside the limit of the hepatic region, is festooned by 7 or 8 close-set thin teeth, and there is a strong upcurved spine at the postero-lateral angle.
The postero-lateral border carries three teeth, the innermost of which is hardly less prominent than that at the postero-lateral angle: the posterior border is finely denticulated.
The rostrum, the breadth of which is about 2/7 the greatest breadth of the carapace, is elegantly trilobed.
The regions of the carapace are strongly elevated, and have the surface pitted or reticulated: in the middle line on the gastric region is a single erect conical spine, on the cardiac region two; and on either branchial region there is a spine. In front of the gastric spine are two spinelets, disposed transversely.
The supraorbital margin is strongly arched, and the infraorbital lobe is cut into two elegantly crimped leaflets or petals.
The postocular constriction is distinct.
The chelipeds in the male are four and -a -half times the length of the carapace and rostrum: the arm is slender and subcylindrical, with a line of many spinules along both the inner and outer borders, a broken line of sharp tubercles along its upper surface, and a line of granules along its lower border, but is otherwise smooth and polished: the carpus has a few coarse spinules on its outer surface: the hand, though distinctly trigonal, is long and slender, but is enlarged at the far end; its inner and outer borders are irregularly and unequally laciniated, the teeth becoming larger and closer set towards the far end; except for a line of beading along its lower border and an occasional spinule on its upper surface, its surfaces are smooth and polished: the movable finger has its broad base denticulated.
The ambulatory legs are very slender and very short - only one-fifth longer than the carapace: except for a line of spinules along the posterior (lower) border of the meropodite they are smooth. (Alcock, 1895a)

Type locality: off Sri Lanka.
Range: off Sri Lanka (Alcock, 1895a); Japan - Wagu, Shima Peninsula (Sakai, 1980, Iishiba et al., 1983); East China Sea (Sakai, 1980).

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