Ernestotheres conicola (R. B. Manning & Holthuis 1981)

Pinnotheres conicola

Pinnoteres sp. C.—Monod, 1956:380, figs. 508, 509, 526–538 [not figs. 524, 525 = Pinnotheres sp. B].—Longhurst, 1958:88.

Pinnotheres sp. C.—Silas and Alagarswami, 1967:1214 [listed].—Schmitt, McCain, and Davidson, 1973:92 [synonymy].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Pillsbury Material: None.

Other Material: Cameroon: Kribi, in large Conus obtained by native fishermen who fished with a canoe (“pirogue”) near the shore, 10 Mar 1964, B. de Wilde-Duyfjes, holotype, 1 (L).

DESCRIPTION.—Carapace (Figure 41) firm, almost circular in outline, about 1.1 to 1.3 times wider than long. Surface of carapace naked, smooth, except for coarsely pitted branchial regions, slightly convex dorsally, falling off more steeply laterally; anterolateral margin broadly and evenly rounded. Lateral surface with long, soft hairs, which, with similar hairs on pereiopods, enclose naked upper surface in hirsute ring. Front almost square, slightly produced in middle, in dorsal view anterior margin scarcely produced beyond circular outline of carapace. Eyes small, short, with reduced cornea; orbit subcircular.

Third maxilliped (Figure 42a) placed obliquely, almost transversely. Merus operculiform, very wide, 2/3 as wide as long, greatest width in anterior half, anterointernal angle evenly rounded. Carpus short. Propodus oval. Dactylus very short, narrow, inserted on posterior half of lower margin of propodus, falling short of apex of propodus. Carpus and propodus together less than half as long as merus.

Chelipeds (Figure 42b–d) well developed, fingers about 6/7 as long as palm. Dactylus with single large tooth on basal half of cutting edge, distal half with some small granular denticles. Cutting edge of fixed finger also with large tooth, placed before that of dactylus, continued posteriorly as crenulated ridge. Base of fingers, upper surface of dactylus, lower surface of fixed finger, and cutting edges densely covered with soft, slender, plumose hairs. Palm with upper half of outer surface pilose, lower half naked; inner surface completely covered with long, smooth hairs except for naked spot anteriorly near base of fingers. Carpus short, rounded, upper surface naked, remainder covered by long hairs. Merus with upper and outer part naked, remainder clothed with long hairs. Ischium with distinct lobe on anterointernal angle of upper margin.

Walking legs (Figure 42e–h) subsimilar, all rather robust, none longer or slenderer than others. Dactylus of each walking leg similar to that of other legs, about 2/3 as long as propodus (measured dorsally), short, simple, terminating in narrow, slightly curved tip. Propodus, carpus, and merus each high, with thick coat of hairs dorsally and ventrally but with lateral surfaces bare. Propodus about twice as long as high, merus somewhat more slender.

Male abdomen (Figure 42i) elongate, with fifth and sixth somites fused, line of separation scarcely distinct but present; Monod (1956:378, fig. 508) showed 7 free somites on male abdomen. Telson triangularly rounded.

Male Pleopod: Monod, 1956:382, figs. 537, 538.

MEASUREMENTS.—The holotype has a carapace length of 10 mm and a carapace width of 11.5 mm. The two male specimens reported upon by Monod had cl 9 and 9.5 mm, and cb 11 and 10 mm, respectively; his ovigerous female had cl 15 mm, cb 18 mm, and a juvenile female cl 8 and cb 9 mm.

DISTRIBUTION.—West Africa, where it has been recorded from Guinea, Sierra Leone, and now Cameroon; our specimen represents a considerable range extension to the south. Records in the literature include the following:

Guinea: Conakry (Monod, 1956).

Sierra Leone: No specific locality (Monod, 1956; Longhurst, 1958).