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Show 1879.] THE COREAN AND JAPANESE SEAS. 39 Leiolophusplanissimus, Miers, Cat. New-Zeal. Crust, p. 46 (1876); Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 4) i. p. 153(1878) Four examples, a male and three females, without definite locality, are in the collection. This species is very widely distributed, occurring both in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Reigons. CARCINOPLACID,E. H E T E R O P L A X ? NITIDUS, sp. n. (Plate II, fig. 2.) Carapace smooth, glabrous and shining, subtrapezoidal, transverse, its greatest breadth being at the level of the second lateral marginal tooth ; in front of this the carapace and frontal region is obliquely deflexed ; behind it the carapace is nearly flat, and the lateral margins straight and slightly convergent to the straight posterior margin. Lateral margins with two small teeth, including the outer orbital tooth. Front about one third the breadth of the anterior margin of the carapace, with the anterior margin straight. Eyes about equalling the front. Antennae with the first joint about twice as long as the second, which is small, occupying the hiatus between the inner angle of the orbit and the frontal margin. Outer maxillipeds with the third joint quadrate, and about half as long as the second joint, which is smooth and longitudinally sulcated on its outer surface ; exognath robust. Anterior legs (in the female) rather robust; arm very short, smooth; wrist smooth externally, and with a small tubercle on its inner surface; hand smooth, without tubercles or granules ; fingers straight and acute, crossing at the tips when closed. Postabdomen of female 7- jointed. Length 3 lines, breadth rather over 4 lines. Colour whitish ; brownish pink on front of carapace. A single specimen, a female, was collected at a depth of 40 fathoms in the Corean Straits, lat. 33° 40' N., long. 182° 55' E. I have some doubt whether this species should be referred to the genus Heteroplax, which is only known to me by Stimpson's diagnosis, according to which the basal antennal joint is longer and occupies the orbital hiatus. The species in other respects appears referable to the genus. The longitudinal ridges on the palate are distinct. In this character and in the broader front and shorter eye-peduncles it differs from Gonoplax, while Litocheira of Kinahan, another allied form, has, on the contrary, much shorter eyes and broader and less deflexed front than the species here described. Specimens of the species L. bispinosa, on which the last-mentioned genus was founded, are in the British-Museum collection from Australia; and in these the longitudinal palatal ridges are distinctly marked. Kinahan, however, in his description says that they do not exist. |