Agononida longipes (A. Milne­Edwards, 1880)

Munida longipes A. Milne­Edwards, 1880: 50; A. Milne­Edwards & Bouvier, 1894: 257; 1897: 44, pl. 3, figs. 9–13; Benedict, 1901: 147; 1902: 310; Hay & Shore, 1918: 402, pl. 28, fig. 9; Schmitt, 1935: 178; Chace, 1942: 47; Pequegnat & Pequegat, 1970: 132, fig. 5 – 3; Wenner & Boesch, 1979: 110; Wenner, 1982: 363; Takeda, 1983: 88; Williams, 1984: 235, fig. 170; Lemaitre, 1984: 428, tab. 1; Abele & Kim, 1986: 35, figs. c, p. 405; Melo­Filho & Melo, 1992 a: 514; Poupin, 1994: 36; Escobar­Briones & Soto, 1993: 111, tab. 2; Rambla, 1995: 98, fig. 2; Melo­Filho, 1998: 395; Melo, 1999: 192, fig. 121, 122 a–e; Melo­Filho, 1999: 388, fig. 13; Melo­Filho & Melo 2001 a: 1190, fig. 9; 2001 b: 1155, fig. 20, 21; 2001 c: 47.

Munida paynei Boone, 1927: 53, fig. 11.

Agononida longipes. — Baba & de Saint Laurent, 1996: 442.

Material examined

Antilles: Barbados USS “Blake”, st. 274, 376m (MNHN Ga 543, lectotype). Brazil: São Paulo — N.Oc. “Prof. W. Besnard”, st. 6651, 256 m, 1 ex. (MZUSP 13208); st. 6660, 314 m, 4 ex. (MZUSP 13199), 3 ex. (MZUSP 13213), 11 ex. (MZUSP 13233), 1 ex. (MZUSP 13250); st. 6665, 258 m, 4 ex. (MZUSP 13239), 1 ex. (MZUSP 13241), 12 ex. (MZUSP 13248); st. 6671, 260 m, 1 ex. (MZUSP 13212); st. 6676, 153 m, 11 ex. (MZUSP 13233).

Recognition characters

Carapace with margins arched, almost as wide as long. Outer orbital spine followed by 5 lateral spines. Gastric area with 1 pair of epigastric spines. One parahepatic spine on each side of carapace. Branchial and hepatic areas unarmed. One cervical spine on each side of carapace. Cardiac area with 1 central spine above mesocardiac groove. Several spines in posterior branchial area. Posterior margin of carapace with 1 pair of spines. Remainder of carapace unarmed. Rostrum short, length similar to supraocular spines. Abdominal tergites 2 and 3 with anterior margin armed with 4 spines each; abdominal tergite 4 with 2 or 4 spines on anterior margin. Peduncle of antennule with outer terminal spine much longer than inner one. Peduncle of antenna with only segment 2 armed, with 1 inner and 1 outer spine. Third maxilliped with 1 strong spine on ventral (flexor) margin of merus. Ambulatory legs characteristically long, their lengths similar to that of cheliped. Distribution

Western Atlantic: Virginia, Carolinas, Gulf of Mexico (south and north coast), Bahamas, Cuba (north and south coast), Cay Sal Banks, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles (St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados), Mexico, Venezuela, Guiana and Brazil (São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul); 129–729 meters depth. According to Wenner (1982), this species is most abundant between 200 and 400 meters.

Remarks

Agononida longipes is an easily recognizable species, possessing a wide carapace, short rostrum and legs as long as the chelipeds. The ovigerous female from station 274 of USS "Blake" (Barbados), was selected as the lectotype by Melo­Filho & Melo (1992 a). According to Chace (1942), M. paynei Boone is synonymous with this species.