Dromia marmorea Forest, 1974

Guinot, Danièle & Quenette, Gwenaël, 2005, The spermatheca in podotreme crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Podotremata) and its phylogenetic implications, Zoosystema 27 (2), pp. 267-342 : 286

Dromia marmorea Forest, 1974

– Female 57 × 72 mm, Azores, BIAÇORES, stn P.34 (MNHN-B 21900).

The sternal sutures 7/8 open anteriorly between the P2 and each ends apart in the middle of a very weak and circular prominence, by an aperture consisting of terminal rounded opening ( Figs 2 ; 5B ; 6 ). The bulb of each spermatheca is posterior only, without extending on basis of the chamber, but it prolonges by a marked basal thickening; the bulb is globular, prominent, not tapering, its surface is uneven, and a small pointed prominence is visible anteriorly. The dissection of the bulb showed the presence of sperm inside. The chamber is much inflated and filled with sperm mass; the inner wall is membranous and well ornamented. The tube is very thick, ending in a terminal opening, corresponding to each spermathecal aperture positioned between the P2.

– Female 12 mm length, Azores, BIAÇORES 1971 (MNHN-B 12746).

The sternal sutures 7/8 only end at the level of the P3, beyond the level of gonopores on the P3 coxae, however.

Figures

FIG. 2. — The three main internal parts of a typical dromiacean spermatheca, after the removal of the skeleton, median view, Dromia marmorea Forest, 1974 (Dromiidae, Dromiinae), female 57 × 72 mm, Azores (MNHN-B 21900). Abbreviations: a, communication with exterior by spermathecal aperture; b, bulb; c, chamber; t, spermathecal tube. Scale bar: 0.5 cm.

FIG. 5. — Thoracic sternum in two species of Dromia Weber, 1795 (Dromiidae, Dromiinae); A, D. personata (Linnaeus, 1758), female 47 × 58 mm, France, Island of Yeu (MNHN); B, D. marmorea Forest, 1974, female paratype 57 × 73 mm, near Dakar (MNHN) (Courtesy of J. Forest). Abbreviations: a, spermathecal aperture at extremity of sternal suture 7/8; cx1-cx3, P1-P3 coxae; e4, e5, episternites 4, 5; g, female gonopore; r, ring encircling spermathecal aperture; 4-8, sternites 4-8; 6/7-7/8, thoracic sternal sutures 6/7 to 7/8.

FIG. 6. — Details of the spermatheca of Dromia marmorea Forest, 1974 (Dromiidae, Dromiinae), female 57 × 72 mm, Azores (MNHN- B 21900); A, posterior part of axial skeleton in median view to show spermatheca in situ; B, details of foldings at level of the spermathecal bulb; C, lateral view, skeletal parts removed; D, vertical view of spermathecal chamber, cut to show sperm inside. Abbreviations: a, communication of the spermatheca with exterior; b, bulb; c, chamber, uneven surface of inner wall; e5, episternite 5; en 6/7, endopleurite 6/7; is 6/7, interosternite 6/7; t, spermathecal tube. Scale bars: A, C, 1 cm.