identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
E5703EF6B8E35A3D928184CE2C2E1A91.text	E5703EF6B8E35A3D928184CE2C2E1A91.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Amphithrax aculeatus (Herbst 1790)	<div><p>Amphithrax aculeatus (Herbst, 1790)</p><p>Figs 2C, 3A-D, 5A, C, D, 6A-D</p><p>Cancer aculeatus Cancer aculeatus Herbst, 1790: 248, pl. XVIII, fig. B, pl. XIX, fig. 104 [type-locality: Americas (probably between Florida and Venezuela); holotype (ZMB Herbst 0134) and paralectotype (ZMB Herbst 0079) in Berlin Museum]. - Desmarest (1825: 151).</p><p>Cancer spinipes Cancer spinipes Herbst, 1790: 241, pl. XVII, fig. 94 [type locality: probably West Indies; type: probably lost]. - Desmarest (1825: 151).</p><p>Mithrax aculeatus - H. Milne Edwards 1832: class 7; 1834-1840: 321; Schomburgk 1848: 65; Stimpson 1860: 188; Desbonne and Schramm 1867: 5; A. Milne-Edwards 1875: 102; Ng et al. 2008: 120; Windsor and Felder 2014: 163, figs 3G, 4H.</p><p>Mithrax pilosus Rathbun, 1892: 262, pl. 39 [type-locality: Abaco Island, Bahamas; holotype (USNM 16299) and paratypes (USNM 16299) in National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.]. - Rathbun 1901: 66; 1921: 83; Nutting 1919: 75; Rodríguez 1980: 287; Abele and Kim 1986: 47, 522 fig. c; Wagner 1990: 25-29, figs 28-31; Carmona-Suárez and Poupin 2016: 373, fig. 6H.</p><p>Mithrax (Mithrax) aculeatus - Young, 1900: 90.</p><p>Mithrax (Mithrax) pilosus - Rathbun, 1925: 394, pl. 138, fig. 3; 1933: 29; Powers 1977: 57; Lira et al. 2013: 55, tab.1.</p><p>Amphithrax aculeatus - Windsor &amp; Felder, 2017: 1; Poupin 2018: 192-193, fig. 210; Questel 2019: 16, unnumbered figure; Parasram et al. 2023: 20, fig. 9B.</p><p>Material examined.</p><p>Type material. Paralectotype of Cancer aculeatus Herbst, 1790: Americas • dry carapace only, ZMB Herbst 79. Holotype of Mithrax pilosus Rathbun, 1982: Bahamas, Abaco Island, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-77.083336&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=26.466665" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -77.083336/lat 26.466665)">Albatross Research Vessel</a> • ♂ (CW: 30.0; CL: 28.0 mm) (USNM 16299), 26°27'59.99"N, 77°04'60.00"W . Paratypes: Idem, 2 ♂♂, 1 juv. ♀ (CW: 29.0; 29.0; 19.0; mm; CL: 26.0; 26.0; 18.0 mm) (USNM 16299).</p><p>Additional material.</p><p>Puerto Rico, Playa de Ponce, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-66.687225&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=18.010834" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -66.687225/lat 18.010834)">Lighthouse Reef</a> • 1 ♂, 1 juv. ♂ (CW: 23.0; 9.0 mm; CL: 21.0; 9.0 mm) (USNM 24091), 18°00'39"N, 66°41'14"W . St. Croix, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-64.7032&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=17.74664" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -64.7032/lat 17.74664)">Christiansted Harbour</a> • 1 ♀ (CW: 42 mm; CL: 35 mm) (USNM 72827), 17°44'47.9004"N, 64°42'11.5236"W . Virgin Islands, St. Croix, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-64.620834&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=17.787222" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -64.620834/lat 17.787222)">Buck Island</a>, 1 ♂ (CW: 28 mm; CL: 25 mm) (USNM 73318), 17°47'14"N, 64°37'15"W . Guadeloupe, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-61.525833&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=16.340834" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -61.525833/lat 16.340834)">Anse Babin</a>, KARUBENTHOS 2012 • 1 ♂ (MNHN-IU-2013-5929), 16°20'26.9988"N, 61°31'32.9988"W . Barbados • 1 ♂ (CW: 105.0 mm; CL: 87.0 mm) (USNM 1519303), 13°04'30.73"N, 59°36'12.49"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.603466&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.075203" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.603466/lat 13.075203)">Palm Court</a>, St. Michael • 3 ♂♂, 1 juv. ♀ (CW: 10.0; 11.0; 11.4; 53.8 mm; CL: 11.0; 12.0; 44.0 mm) (BLSZ 217), nearshore rubble, 13°04'30.73"N, 59°36'12.49"W . Idem, 1 ♂, (CW: 37.0 mm; CL: 32.0 mm) (BLSZ 331). Idem, 1 juv. ♀, (CW: 34.4 mm; CL: 30.0 mm) (BLSZ 220). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.607395&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.07675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.607395/lat 13.07675)">Idem</a>, 1 juv. ♀, (CW: 33.4 mm; CL: 30.0 mm) (BLSZ 221). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.607395&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.07675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.607395/lat 13.07675)">Idem</a>, 1 ♂ (CW: 32.0 mm; CL: 28.0 mm) (BLSZ 222). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.607395&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.07675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.607395/lat 13.07675)">Idem</a>, 1 juv. ♀ (CW: 28.0 mm; CL: 24.0 mm) (BLSZ 223). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.607395&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.07675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.607395/lat 13.07675)">Idem</a>, 1 juv. ♀ (CW: 34.0 mm; CL: 29.0 mm) (BLSZ 267). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.607395&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.07675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.607395/lat 13.07675)">Idem</a>, 1 juv., ♀ (CW: 16.2 mm; CL: 16.0 mm) (BLSZ 268). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.607395&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.07675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.607395/lat 13.07675)">Drill Hall</a>, St. Michael • 1 juv. ♀, 1 ♂ (CW: 29.6; 24.7 mm; CL: 26.0, 21.0 mm) (BLSZ 120), nearshore rubble, 13°04'36.30"N, 59°36'26.63"W . Idem, 3 ♂♂, (CW: 12.4;12.5; 7.8 mm; CL: 13.0; 14.0; 9.6 mm) (BLSZ 129). Idem, 1 juv., ♀ (CW: 13.0 mm; CL: 13.3 mm) (BLSZ 252). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.644695&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.246734" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.644695/lat 13.246734)">Idem</a>, 3 ♂♂, 1 juv., ♀ (CW: 22.5; 10.3; 10.4; 11.0 mm; CL: 20.0; 10.0; 10.0; 11.0 mm) (BLSZ 269). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.644695&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.246734" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.644695/lat 13.246734)">Schooner Bay</a>, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.644695&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.246734" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.644695/lat 13.246734)">St. James</a> • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (CW: 10.6; 30.5; 40.5 mm; CL: not taken) (MZUSP 40878, 40884), nearshore rubble, 13°14'48.24"N, 59°38'40.90"W .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Carapace with acute spines dorsally, mainly in gastric, branchial, cardiac regions. Third antennal segment with long spine distolaterally, distinctly visible dorsally. Chelipeds slender; carpus with strong, sharp spines. Palm of chela with 4-5 spines on the upper margin. Propodus of pereopods with two to four spines on the proximal half. Carapace olive green to brown in colour.</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>Herbst (1790: 248) referred to Cancer aculeatus as a "very rare American crab", but Amphithrax aculeatus is very abundant in Barbados. It is possible that the Herbst assessment of the rarity of this species is due to sampling biases (methodology used and sampling time), which resulted in a small number of specimens collected and deposited to the Berlin Museum (Tavares and Mendonça 2022).</p><p>In the same work, Herbst (1790) described Cancer spinipes, and both its description and figure resemble A. verrucosus . However, Windsor and Felder (2014) selected the lectotype of Cancer aculeatus Herbst, 1790 as the neotype for Cancer spinipes Herbst, 1790, establishing these names as objective synonyms. Due to lack of material for Cancer spinipes Herbst, 1790, we have opted to maintain its status as a synonym of A. aculeatus . This decision is based on the need for nomenclatural consistency in the absence of more definitive data. While Herbst (1790) did not specify any locality for Cancer spinipes, which he referred to as a "Chinese crab" in the description (Herbst 1790: 241 "Der Schild dıefer chinesischen Krabbe ift herzförmig”), Desmarest (1825) cited both Cancer spinipes and Cancer aculeatus as originating from the East Indies. We believe that this is a labelling mistake (common at that time) given that both species are endemic to the Western Atlantic.</p><p>Amphithrax aculeatus can be separated from A. verrucosus by: (i) the carapace densely setose, forming a velvet-like cover in both juvenile and adult specimens (Figs 3A, B, 5C, 6 A-D) (vs. carapace almost without setae in fully developed specimens, few setae concentrated laterally; in juveniles, carapace interspace with long and short dark setae, not forming a velvet-like cover in A. verrucosus; Figs 4A, B, 5B, 6 E-H); (ii) anterolateral margins of the carapace with six spines, excluding the orbital spine, where the first, second and third anterolateral spines are accompanied by an accessory spine (Figs 3A, 6A, D) (vs. anterolateral and posterior margins of the carapace with six to eight spines, excluding the orbital spine, where the first and second anterolateral spine are accompanied by accessory spines in A. verrucosus; Figs 4A, 6E, G); (iii) third antennal segment with long spine distolaterally, distinctly visible dorsally (Fig. 3B) (vs. third antennal segment with short spine distolaterally, not visible dorsally in A. verrucosus; Fig. 4B); (iv) chelipeds slender in adults, carpus with several strong, acute spines and palm of chela with four or five spines on the upper margins (Figs 3A, 6A, C) (vs. chelipeds more massive, especially in adult males, carpus without spines dorsally, with one to three blunt teeth on the inner margin, and palm of chela smooth; Figs 4A, 6E, G); (v) propodus of pereopods with two to four spines on the proximal half (vs. propodus of pereopods without spines in A. verrucosus); (vi) third maxilliped covered with short setae (vs. third maxilliped without setae in A. verrucosus); (vii) dorsal surface of pleon in males and females are covered in small thick setae (vs. dorsal surface of pleon in males and females without setae in A. verrucosus; (viii) G1 long, slender, dorsoventrally flattened, with the proximal third slightly curved towards mesial line, lateral margin with pappose setae at the base; tip triangular with rounded mesial lobe (Fig. 3C, D) (vs. G1 long, robust, slightly dorsoventrally flattened, with the proximal third slightly curved towards mesial line, lateral margin with pappose setae from base to distal third of shaft, tip V-shaped, with fold just below tip in A. verrucosus; Fig. 4C, D; see also Wagner (1990) and Lianos et al. (2021); (ix) dorsal and ventral surfaces of live specimens are olive green to brown in colour with whitish fingers of chela (Figs 3A, 6A-C) (vs. dorsal surface of live specimens predominantly maroon in colour and mixed with white spots on ventral surface, in ventral view, only tips of fingers are white in A. verrucosus; Figs 4A, 6E-H). It is worth pointing out that Wagner’s (1990: 27, fig. 30) illustration of an Mithrax pilosus G1 is that of a young specimen of A. aculeatus .</p><p>Ontogenetic intraspecific variations in A. aculeatus from juveniles to adults are: spines on the carapace, carpus, and pereiopods become larger and more acute, but can be broken in the larger individuals. In some juvenile specimens, the gastric region of the carapace has more sparse setae than other regions and the dorsal surface also has the presence of flattened granules, five spines on anterolateral margins, with small and blunt accessory spines. In contrast, adults have the dorsal and ventral surface of the cephalothorax covered in short tuft setae, which has the appearance of a velvet mat; the granules on dorsal surface of the carapace develop into spines; anterolateral margins with six spines that are accompanied with well-developed accessory spines that are spiniform in shape. The palm of chelipeds in juveniles can have one to four spines, while in adults, the palm has three to six spines.</p><p>Parasram et al. (2023) reported Amphithrax aculeatus being found in close association with A. verrucosus, Mithraculus coryphe (Herbst, 1801), M. forceps A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781) and Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850). Specimens of A. aculeatus were collected by hand and with caged crab traps on the west and south coasts of Barbados. Amphithrax aculeatus females collected in Barbados are generally larger than males (see material examined). No sexually mature females were found.</p><p>Due to the recurrent misidentifications between A. aculeatus and A. verrucosus in literature, determining the geographic distribution for these species has proved to be challenging. Nevertheless, based on the morphological characteristics provided by some authors, it seems that A. aculeatus has a more restricted geographic range, which encompasses the insular Caribbean. For instance, most of the material examined by Rathbun (1925: 395, Fig. 5) (under the name Mithrax pilosus) was collected from Caribbean islands, except for two specimens (one male and one female) from Venezuela. The first mention of these specimens was made by von Martens (1872: 82), but this could be a labelling mistake since Caracas is not a coastal city. These specimens were deposited in the Berlin Museum. In addition, A. Milne-Edwards (1875: 103) also mentioned two specimens of A. aculeatus collected in Vera Cruz, Mexico by M. Brémond . Contacting both ZMB and MNHN was not successful in locating these materials, therefore, these specimens are herein classified under A. verrucosus, given the prevalence of this species in Central America.</p><p>As a result of Windsor and Felder’s (2014) revision, multiple collections modified their taxonomic records to align with A. aculeatus, which resulted in the renaming of many specimens previously identified as A. verrucosus (see USNM and MNHN online catalogues). Based on our re-examination of the literature and materials from different localities, we proposed the following update range for the two species: A. aculeatus is island endemic with a northern limit of Florida (Tortugas) and a southern limit of Barbados, whereas A. verrucosus has a northern limit of USA (South Carolina) and a southern limit of Brazil.</p><p>Colouration.</p><p>In its natural habitat, the carapace of A. aculeatus exhibits an olive green to brown hue; but the carapace could be spotted with large beige spots (MNHN-IU-2013-5929) especially in younger individuals. The chelipeds are predominantly green (darker or lighter) with black spots on the palm, fingers are whitish (Figs 3A, 6 A-D). Pereopods are brown (light to dark) or green.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Western Atlantic: USA (Florida, Dry Tortugas), Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, British Virgins Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Martin, St. Barthélemy, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Barbados (Stimpson 1860; Rathbun 1925; Carmona-Suárez and Poupin 2016; Poupin 2018; present study).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E5703EF6B8E35A3D928184CE2C2E1A91	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Parasram, Nadeshinie;Santana, William;Valles, Yvonne;Windsor, Amanda M.;Valles, Henri	Parasram, Nadeshinie, Santana, William, Valles, Yvonne, Windsor, Amanda M., Valles, Henri (2024): Morphological and molecular support for Amphithrax verrucosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1832) and Amphithrax aculeatus (Herbst, 1790) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) as valid species. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (1): 15-30, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.109192, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.109192
10473BB4B5265284BB23E205A38ECB2D.text	10473BB4B5265284BB23E205A38ECB2D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Amphithrax verrucosus (H. Milne Edwards 1832)	<div><p>Amphithrax verrucosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1832)</p><p>Figs 2B, 4A-D, 5B, 6E-H</p><p>Mithrax verrucosus H. Milne Edwards, 1832: 11, pl. 4 [type-locality: Martinique; type probably in MNHN]. - Schomburgk 1848: 65; Stimpson 1860: 187; Desbonne and Schramm 1867: 6; A. Milne-Edwards 1875: 102; Miers 1886: 86; Rathbun 1897: 9; 1921: 83; 1924: 20; Nutting 1919: 77; Rodriguez 1980: 287; Abele and Kim 1986: 47, 524 fig. c, d; Wagner 1990: 29-32, figs 32-35; Melo 1996: 239, unnumbered fig.; Ng et al. 2008: 120; Alves et al. 2012: 943, fig. 3C; Carmona-Suárez and Poupin 2016: 373, fig. 6I.</p><p>Mithrax verrucosus variety - Rathbun 1898: 259.</p><p>Mithrax (Mithrax) verrucosus - Young 1900: 93; Rathbun 1925: 400, pl. 144; 1933: 30; Boone 1927: 39; Williams 1965: 255, figs 235, 245B; 1984: 336, figs 271, 275c; Coelho and Ramos 1972: 215; Collins and Morris 1976: 119, pl. 17, fig. 7, pl. 18, figs 5-7; Powers 1977: 58; Keith 1985: 259, fig. 5E.</p><p>Mithrax plumosus Rathbun, 1901: 67 [type-locality: Puerto Real, Puerto Rico; holotype in USNM 23775].</p><p>Amphithrax aculeatus - Assugeni et al. 2017: 1630, tab. 1; Mantelatto et al. 2020: 39; Lianos et al. 2021: 1-19, figs 1, 11; Ortiz 2022: 34, fig. 14C (not Cancer aculeatus Herbst, 1790).</p><p>Amphithrax verrucosus - Poupin 2018: 193, fig. 211; Questel 2019: 16, unnumbered figure; Parasram et al. 2023: 21, fig. 9D.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>. Type material. Holotype of Mithrax plumosus Rathbun, 1901: Puerto Rico, Port Real, Vieques, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-65.44212&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=18.124971" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -65.44212/lat 18.124971)">Fish Hawk Expedition</a> • 1 ovig., ♀ (CW: 37.0 mm; CL: 29.0 mm) (USNM 23775), 18°7'29.8956"N, 65°26'31.6428"W.</p><p>Additional material.</p><p>USA, Florida, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.353966&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=24.669865" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.353966/lat 24.669865)">Big Pine Key</a> • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 3 ovig. ♀♀ (USNM 14030), 24°40'11.514"N, 81°21'14.2884"W . Florida • 8 ♂♂, 3 ovig. ♀♀ (MCZ 353), 27°59'39.8472"N, 81°45'36.9144"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.760254&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.994402" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.760254/lat 27.994402)">Idem</a>, 1 ♂, 1 juv. ♀ (MCZ unnumbered), 27°59'39.8472"N, 81°45'36.9144"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.760254&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.994402" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.760254/lat 27.994402)">Idem</a>, 1 juv. ♀ (CW: 34.0 mm; CL: 20.0 mm) (ULLZ 4534), 27°59'39.8472"N, 81°45'36.9144"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.760254&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.994402" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.760254/lat 27.994402)">Idem</a>, 1 ♂ (ULLZ 13956), 27°59'39.8472"N, 81°45'36.9144"W . Idem, Florida <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.18968&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=24.6914" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.18968/lat 24.6914)">Keys</a> • 1 ovig. ♀ (CW: 56.0 mm; CL: 42.0 mm) (ULLZ 15294), 24°41'29.0472"N, 81°11'22.8552"W . Idem, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.353966&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=24.669865" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.353966/lat 24.669865)">Big Pine Key</a> • 1 ♂ (ULLZ 11924), 24°40'11.514"N, 81°21'14.2884"W . Idem, Loggerhead Key • 1 ♂ (CW: 67.0 mm; CL: 53.0 mm) (ULLZ 11736), 24°63'23.745"N, 82°92'06.767" W. Idem, Dry Tortugas • 1 ♂ (USNM 69068), 24°62'82"N, 82°87'32"W . Belize, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-88.18665&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=17.497715" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -88.18665/lat 17.497715)">Carrie Bow Cay Reef</a> • 1 ♂ (CW: 10.0 mm; CL: 8.0 mm) (ULLZ 9148), 17°29'51.77"N, 88°11'11.95"W . Honduras, Swan Island • 1 ♂ (USNM 15074) . Guadeloupe, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-60.83472&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=14.411943" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -60.83472/lat 14.411943)">Pointe Baham</a>, MADIBENTHOS • 1 ♂ (MNHN-IU-2016-10018), 14°24'42.9984"N, 60°50'4.9956"W . Martinique, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-60.81611&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=14.602223" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -60.81611/lat 14.602223)">Point Jacob</a>, MADIBENTHOS • 1 ♀ (MNHN-IU-2017-10364), 14°36'8.0028"N, 60°48'57.996"W . Barbados, Palm Court, St. Michael • 1 ♀ (CW: 31.6 mm; CL: 24.0 mm) (BLSZ 225). <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-59.603466&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=13.075203" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -59.603466/lat 13.075203)">Idem</a>, 1 ovig. ♀ (CW: 26.2 mm; CL: 22.0 mm) (BLSZ 227), nearshore rubble, 13°04'30.73"N, 59°36'12.49"W . Idem, 1 ♂ (CW: 26.7 mm; CL: 22.0 mm) (BLSZ 228). Idem, 1 ♀ (CW: 31.4 mm; CL: 24.5 mm) (BLSZ 328). Idem, 1 juv. ♀ (CW: 12.4 mm; CL: 12.0 mm) (BLSZ 332). Idem, 1 ♂ (CW: 24.5 mm; CL: 23.0 mm) (BLSZ 229). Idem, 1 ♀ (CW: 30.2 mm; CL: 25.6 mm) (BLSZ 251). Idem, 1 ♂ (CW: 21.1 mm; CL: 18.2 mm) (BLSZ 226). Drill Hall , St. Michael • 3 ♀, 1 ♂ (CW: 27.1; 11.3; 5.3 mm; CL: 22.0; 12.5; 6.0) (BLSZ 123), nearshore rubble, 13°04'36.30"N, 59°36'26.63"W . Idem, 1 ♀ ovig., (CW: 26.4 mm; CL: 27.5 mm) (BLSZ 266). Idem, 1 ♂ (CW: 27.2 mm; CL: 22.0 mm) (BLSZ 265). Idem, 1 ♂ (CW: 35.1 mm; CL: 27.4 mm) (BLSZ 250). Idem, 1 ovig., ♀ (CW: 31.6 mm; CL: 25.7 mm) (BLSZ 249). Idem, 12 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juv., ♀♀ (CW: 7.5 mm; 14.3 mm; 16.6 mm; 22.0 mm; 14.2 mm; 13.6 mm; 23.5 mm; 8.5 mm; 22.0 mm; 15.2 mm; 15.0 mm; 20.3 mm; 24.0 mm; 25.7 mm; 17.4 mm; 20.0 mm; 15.0 mm; CL: 7.0 mm; 13.1 mm; 15.0 mm; 18.4 mm; 12.6 mm; 12.7 mm; 19.1 mm; 7.0 mm; 19.0 mm; 14.8 mm; 14.0 mm; 17.0 mm; 20.0 mm; 21.0 mm; 20.5 mm; 17.0 mm; 13.6 mm) (BLSZ 278). Batts Rock , St. Michael • 1 ♂ (CW: 26.7 mm; CL: 21.5 mm) (BLSZ 165) subtidal, 13°08'04.81"N, 59°38'12.30"W . Idem, 1 ♂ (CW: 40.5 mm; CL not taken) (MZUSP 40921). Coconut Court , Christ Church • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 ovig., ♀ (CW: 16.7 mm; 6.0 mm; 15.5 mm; 20.0 mm; CL: 15.5 mm; 6.4 mm; 14.7 mm; 22.8 mm) (BLSZ 211), nearshore rubble, 13°04'31.59"N, 59°36'13.78"W . Trinidad and Tobago, Chacachacare, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-61.749996&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=10.683331" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -61.749996/lat 10.683331)">Rusts Bay</a> • 1 ♂ (CW: 42.0 mm; CL: 33.0 mm) (USNM 137759), 10°40'59.99"N, 61°44'59.99"W . Venezuela, Isla de Coche, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-63.940166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=10.772664" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -63.940166/lat 10.772664)">Bajo Culebra</a> • 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ (GIC 072), 10°46'21.59"N, 63°56'24.59"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-63.940166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=10.772664" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -63.940166/lat 10.772664)">Idem</a>, 1 ♂ (LSZ 012), 10°46'21.59"N, 63°56'24.59"W . Isla de <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-64.17616&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=10.817997" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -64.17616/lat 10.817997)">Cubagua</a> • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (LSZ 012), 10°49'4.79"N, 64°10'34.20"W . Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte, Atoll das <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-33.81666&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.8666637" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -33.81666/lat 3.8666637)">Rocas</a> • 1 ♂ (MZUSP 15323), 3°51'59.99"N, 33°48'59.99"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-33.81666&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.8666637" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -33.81666/lat 3.8666637)">Idem</a>, 1 ♂ (MZUSP 24761), 3°51'59.99"N, 33°48'59.99"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-33.81666&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.8666637" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -33.81666/lat 3.8666637)">Idem</a>, 2 ♂ (MNRJ 15609), 3°51'59.99"N, 33°48'59.99"W . <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-33.81666&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=3.8666637" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -33.81666/lat 3.8666637)">Idem</a>, 3 ♂♂, 1 ovig., ♀ (MNRJ 4782), 3°51'59.99"N, 33°48'59.99"W . São Paulo, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-40.33778&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=20.319439" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -40.33778/lat 20.319439)">Ilha Vitoria</a> • 3 ♂♂ (MZUSP 16708), 20°19'9.98"N, 40°20'16.01"W .</p><p>Diagnosis.</p><p>Dorsal surface of carapace uniformly covered with closely-set granules of irregular size; there are a few blunt tubercles on the gastric, branchial and cardiac regions; spines are only present in the lateral margins. In fully developed males chelipeds massive, carpus dorsally smooth with few blunt, short tubercles dorsolaterally in some specimens, strong teeth on inner margins and the palm of the cheliped is smooth. Propodi of pereopods are without spines, but have the presence of long and short dark setae. Carapace is predominantly maroon in colour.</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>Much of the ambiguity surrounding A. aculeatus and A. verrucosus originated when Rathbun described Mithrax pilosus and M. plumosus (Rathbun 1892, 1901; Fig. 5B, C). These descriptions were based on small specimens, which naturally appear more similar than their fully matured counterparts. Additionally, Windsor and Felder (2014) based their decision on very small juvenile specimens, mistakenly identified as A. aculeatus (see Suppl. material 2 in supplementary material and phylogenetic section of this work). Despite the similarities observed in younger specimens, the distinct morphological characteristics presented should suffice to prevent any further confusion between the two species.</p><p>The G1 of A. verrucosus was described in detail by Lianos et al. (2021) under the name A. aculeatus and by Wagner (1990) as Mithrax verrucosus (see also remark section for A. aculeatus).</p><p>Ontogenetic intraspecific variations in A. verrucosus from juveniles to adults are: juvenile specimens have short and long setae that are evenly distributed on the carapace, cheliped and third maxillipeds, while adults have much less setae or are devoid of setae in these regions. Some very small specimens may have few spines on the carapace, especially on branchial regions. Anterolateral margins with six to eight spines on juveniles, whereas adults have eight spines. Younger specimens and females with strong short spines dorsally on the carpus of the cheliped, which are not present in fully developed adults, remaining only inner carpal spines. The carapace spines on the branchial region, along with the spines dorsally on carpus in young specimens may have led some authors to confuse A. verrucosus with A. aculeatus . It is important to note that even in very small specimens, the palm of the cheliped and the propodus of pereopods in A. verrucosus lack spines. Amphithrax verrucosus is very abundant in Barbados as well and specimens were collected by hand and with caged crab traps on the west and south coasts of Barbados. Parasram et al. (2023), reported Amphithrax verrucosus as being found in close association with A. aculeatus, Mithraculus coryphe (Herbst, 1801), Mithraculus forceps A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781) and Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850). Females of this species are generally smaller than males (see materials examined). Ovigerous females were collected in June and September 2021.</p><p>Colouration.</p><p>Colour in life for A. verrucosus is carapace predominantly maroon and maroon mixed with white spots on ventral surface. Some specimens are more brownish, with light spots on the carapace (MNHN-IU-2016-10018) and some adult females have a light brown carapace (MNHN-IU-2017-10364). The chelipeds range from a dark maroon, greenish-brown to a lighter brown hue; in ventral view, only the tip of the fingers is whitish (Figs 4A, 6 E-H) (see also fig. 3G of Windsor and Felder (2014).</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Western Atlantic: USA (South Carolina to Florida), Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Honduras, Antigua, Belize, Guadeloupe, Isla de Aves, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, from Fernando de Noronha to São Paulo (Rathbun 1925; Carmona-Suárez and Poupin 2016; Poupin 2018; present study).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/10473BB4B5265284BB23E205A38ECB2D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Parasram, Nadeshinie;Santana, William;Valles, Yvonne;Windsor, Amanda M.;Valles, Henri	Parasram, Nadeshinie, Santana, William, Valles, Yvonne, Windsor, Amanda M., Valles, Henri (2024): Morphological and molecular support for Amphithrax verrucosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1832) and Amphithrax aculeatus (Herbst, 1790) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) as valid species. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (1): 15-30, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.109192, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.109192
