Munida spinifrons Henderson, 1885

De, Gustavo A. S. & Melo-Filho, 2006, Reports on the results of the N. Oc. “ Prof. W. Besnard ” expeditions to the southern coast of Brazil under the Revizee Program: Chirostylidae and Galatheidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura), Zootaxa 1238, pp. 1-22 : 13-14

Munida spinifrons Henderson, 1885

Munida spinifrons Henderson, 1885: 412 ; 1888: 144, pl. 15, figs. 1, 1a, 1b; Milne­Edwards & Bouvier, 1894: 256; Moreira, 1901: 83; Coelho, 1967 –69: 232 [part.]; Pequegnat & Pequegnat, 1970: 127; Coelho & Ramos, 1972: 171 [part.]; Fausto­Filho, 1978: 67; Abele & Kim, 1986: 36, fig. a, p. 401; Coelho, Ramos­Porto & Calado, 1986: 88; Baba & Camp, 1988: 414, fig. 1; Melo­Filho & Melo, 1992b: 763, figs. 8–14; Melo­Filho, 1998: 395; Melo, 1999: 202, figs.

131–132; Melo­Filho & Melo, 2001b: 1163, figs. 30–31; 2001c: 49; Melo­Filho & Coelho­

Filho, 2004: 61.

Material examined

Brazil: Fernando de Noronha — HMS “Challenger”, 1885, st. 113A, 13–45 m ( BMNH 1888: 33, holotype). São Paulo — N.Oc. “Prof. W. Besnard”, st. 6673, 133 m, 5 ex. ( MZUSP 13227).

Recognition characters

Carapace strongly convex, anterior margin oblique. Outer orbital spine followed by 6 lateral spines. Gastric area with transverse row of 6 spines. One parahepatic spine on each side of carapace. Branchial areas armed with 1 or 2 spines on each side. Remainder of carapace unarmed. Rostrum long, with distinct spines or spinules on margin. Abdominal tergite 2 armed with 1 pair of spines on anterior margin. Remaining abdominal tergites unarmed. Peduncle of antennule with inner terminal spine longer than outer one; outer lateral margin with 2 spines. Peduncle of antenna with first (basis) segment armed with 1 inner terminal spine and second segment armed with 1 outer terminal spine. Third maxilliped with 4 spines on ventral (flexor) margin of merus. Chelae with palm of same length or slightly shorter than fingers.

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Florida (east coast, north of Cape Canaveral) and Brazil (Amapá, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo): 13–150 meters depth.

Remarks

Munida spinifrons is similar to M. angulata Benedict and M. petronioi Melo­Filho & Melo. An interesting fact is that in specimens occurring at the southern and northern ends of the species distribution (Florida and the southeast coast of Brazil), the rostrum is little or very little spinulated, and most individuals feature 2 (two) spines on the anterior branchial area. These can be easily confused with M. pusilla . Specimens occurring near the center of the distribution area, off the Brazilian northeast coast, have well­developed rostral spinulation and, usually, 1 spine in the anterior branchial area (Melo­Filho & Melo 1994, 2001b; Melo­Filho & Coelho­Filho 2004).