Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas, 1772)

Jiang, Guo-Chen, Liu, Hong-Chang, Chan, Tin-Yam & Chan, Benny K. K., 2014, First stage zoeal morphology of four ghost crabs Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas, 1772), O. cordimanus Latreille, 1818, O. sinensis Dai, Song & Yang, 1985 and O. stimpsoni Ortmann, 1897 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ocypodidae), Zootaxa 3760 (3), pp. 369-382 : 370

Ocypode ceratophthalmus (Pallas, 1772)

( Figs. 1 , 5 )

Carapace ( Figs. 1 A, 5A–E): Pockmark patterns on surface, rectangular patterns along ventral margin ( Fig. 5 D, E); frontal foramen present ( Fig. 5 B); dorsal spine with some tubercles ( Fig. 5 C), slightly straight, relatively short, approximately same length as rostral spine; rostral spine slightly longer than antennal protopod, without distal spinulation; lateral spines shorter, slightly curved downward; 1 pair of posterodorsal setae; eyes sessile.

Antennule ( Fig. 1 B): Uniramous, endopod absent; exopod unsegmented with 3 (2 broad, 1 slender) terminal asethetascs, 1 terminal seta.

Antenna ( Fig. 1 C): Protopod longer than antennule, bearing two rows of small lateral spines; endopod absent; exopod short, with 2 subterminal setae (1 long, 1 shorter).

Mandible ( Fig. 1 D): Endopod palp absent.

Maxillule ( Fig. 1 E): Epipod seta absent; coxal endite with 5 plumose setae; basial endite with 5 setal processes; endopod 2-segmented, proximal segment without setae, distal segment with 4 terminal setae; exopod seta absent.

Maxilla ( Fig. 1 F): Coxal endite bilobed, proximal lobe with 4 setae, distal lobe with 2 setae + 1 rudimentary seta; basial endite bilobed with 5+4 setae; endopod with 1+2 terminal setae; scaphognathite margin with 4 setae, 1 long stout plumose distal process.

First maxilliped ( Fig. 1 G): Coxa with 1 seta; basis with 9 setae arranged as 2, 2, 3, 2; endopod 5-segmented with 2, 2, 1, 2, 5 (1 subterminal + 4 terminal) setae; exopod 2-segmented, distal segment with 4 long terminal plumose natatory setae.

Second maxilliped ( Fig. 1 H): Coxa without setae; basis with 4 setae arranged as 1, 1, 1, 1; endopod 3- segmented with 0, 0, 5 (2 subterminal + 3 terminal) setae; exopod unsegmented, distal segment with 4 long terminal plumose natatory setae.

Third maxilliped: Absent.

Pereiopods: Absent.

Abdomen ( Fig. 1 I, J): With 5 somites; somites 2, 3 with pair of dorsolateral processes; somite 1 with rounded posterolateral processes, somites 2–3 with short posterolateral spinous processes, somites 4–5 with expanded posterolateral spinous processes; somites 2–5 with 1 pair of posterodorsal setae; pleopods absent.

Telson ( Figs. 1 I, J, 5F–H): Telson bifid, curved upward distally; with 1 pair of minute lateral spines; generally pointed on each furca; posterior margin with 3 pairs of stout pointed spines.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ocypode ceratophthalmus first zoeal stage; A, carapace; B, antennule; C, antenna; D, mandible; E, maxillule; F, maxilla; G, first maxilliped; H, second maxilliped; I, dorsal view of abdomen; J, lateral view of abdomen.

FIGURE 5. Scanning electron microscope on the first zoeal stage of Ocypode ceratophthalmus; A, lateral view; B, frontal foramen; C, dorsal spine; D, E, ventral carapace; F, dorsal view of telson; G, part of telson showing minute lateral spine; H, part of telson furca.