Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Guinot, Danièle & Quenette, Gwenaël, 2005, The spermatheca in podotreme crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Podotremata) and its phylogenetic implications, Zoosystema 27 (2), pp. 267-342 : 314

Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Female, approximately 8 0 mm wide, New Caledonia, Nouméa (MNHN-B 17716).

Anterior part of sternite 7 shows an elongated, very deep, steep-sided median depression. The two apertures, located behind the gonopores on the P3 coxae, lie facing each other on either sides at the bottom of this depression, and are occluded by a flexible membrane ( Gordon 1963: fig. 12; Hartnoll 1979: fig. 4; Guinot 1993b: fig. 2) ( Figs 24B ; 25 ). The chamber, which is relatively small compared to the size of the animal, is inflated, shows a flexible outer wall, and is filled by a sperm mass.

Figures

FIG. 24. — Posterior part of thoracic sternum in four Raninoidea; A, Lyreidus tridentatus De Haan, 1841 (Lyreidinae); B, Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ranininae); C, Cosmonotus grayii White, 1847 (Notopodinae); D, Symethis corallica Davie, 1989 (Symethinae). Abbreviations: ccx3-ccx5, articular condyles of P3-P5; g, female gonopore; l.m., median line; pr5, projection from sternite 5 for abdominal maintaining; s, spermatheca; 6-8, thoracic sternites 6-8. Scale bars: A, C, D, 2.5 mm; B, 1 cm.

FIG. 25. — Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ranininae), female approximately 80 mm width, New Caledonia, Nouméa (MNHN- B 17716), thoracic sternum, with only sternite 4 well developed, sternites 6 and 7 linear. Abbreviations: a.c.1-3, arthrodial cavities of P1-P3; l.m., median line; s, approximate location of the paired spermathecae; 1-3, thoracic sternites 1-3; 4, thoracic sternite 4. Scale bar: 1 cm.