Panulirus

Giraldes, Bruno Welter & Smyth, David Mark, 2016, Recognizing Panulirus meripurpuratus sp. nov. (Decapoda: Palinuridae) in Brazil — Systematic and biogeographic overview of Panulirus species in the Atlantic Ocean, Zootaxa 4107 (3), pp. 353-366 : 362

Key to Atlantic Panulirus —based on morphology

(Adapted from Abele & Kim 1986; Williams 1986; Holthuis 1991; Melo 1999)

1. Antennular plate bearing one pair of strong spines............................................................ 2

- Antennular plate bearing 2 pairs of large spines arranged in a square............................................. 3

2. Abdominal somites 3–5 with complete transverse groove; anterior margin of side plates of somites 2–5 bearing very small teeth. Fully spotted carapace, meri of pereiopods and antennules........................................ P. guttatus

- Abdominal somites 3–5 with incomplete transverse groove (interrupted in the middle). Carapace, meri of pereiopods and antennules not spotted. Meri of pereiopods striped................................................... P. e c h i n a t u s

3. No transverse groove on abdominal somites 2–5; spotted only on lateral margin of the abdominal somites..... P. laevicauda

- Abdominal somite 2–5 with transverse groove and with bands or spots on upper surface............................. 4

4. No exopod on third maxilliped. Supraorbital horns short, not reaching the anterior spines on antennular plate. Abdominal somites with conspicuous transverse bands. Pereiopods with continuous longitudinal lines dorsally............... P. regius

- Third maxilliped with exopod. Supraorbital horns long, overtaking the anterior spines on antennular plate. Abdominal somites with conspicuous ocellated spot on either side of each somite, largest on somites 2 and 6. When present, longitudinal lines on pereiopods are not continuous and dorsal...................................................................5

5. Carapace with deep grooves well defining all regions; very distinct divisions among cardiac, branchial and intestinal regions. Abdominal somites 2–5 with deep transverse groove often faint l medially (not distinctly interrupted); presenting only the scattered spots (not full spotted) and a continuous light line at the end of each somite............................. P. argus

- Carapace with shallow groove dividing the regions; only cervical groove distinct; and faintly perceptible divisions between cardiac, branchial and intestinal regions. Abdominal somites 2–5 with shallow and incomplete transverse groove, interrupted medially, especially on somite 3; several small spots mixed among the scattered spots; small white spots lining the grooves and posterior margin of each somite............................................................. P. meripurpuratus