(Spengler, 1799)

Diagnosis:
Behind gastric spine of carapace two doubletopped spinules present. Denticles on outer margin of last segment of antenna smaller (relative to A. regalis). Sculpturation of abdomen very distinct, the naked elevated parts distinct and separated by narrow hairy grooves. The median figures with broad lateral lobes. Naked area along posterior margin of somites 2-5 occupying almost half the length of the somites. Legs slender, propodus of second leg about five to six times as long as wide. Propodus, carpus and merus of second to fifth legs each with coloured band.

Type:
Type locality of S. guineensis: "Dens Faedreneland er Kysten af Guinea" ( = Its fatherland is the coast of Guinea, West Africa). As the species never, before or since, has been reported from West Africa and it is rather frequently met with in the West Indies, there is some doubt about the correctness of the type locality indication. Holotype male in UZM, now lost (not located in 1989).
Type locality of S. sculptus: none of the early publications dealing with the type gives any indication of its locality. The dry holotype in MP (no. Pa. 964, in good condition); bears the inscription "Méditerranée" which most likely is incorrect.
Type locality of S. sculptus bermudensis: "Bermuda"; syntypes in YPM, no. 814 (not located in 1989), and USNM (no. 21608).

Geographical Distribution:
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida, Bahama Islands, Martinique. Larvae have been collected in the "Bermuda triangle" area (Bermuda, the coast of USA from N. Carolina to S. Florida, the Bahamas and north of Puerto Rico).

Habitat and Biology:
The species is found on the outer reefs. The larvae are planktonic.

Size:
Total body length up to about 20 cm, carapace length about 4 to 6 cm.

Interest to Fisheries:
The species is too rare to be of much economic interest. Most specimens known so far have been taken in lobster pots set for other species.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Crustacea
Order Decapoda
Suborder Macrura Reptantia
Superfamily Palinuroidea
Family Scyllaridae
Subfamily Arctidinae
Genus Arctides
Species Arctides guineensis

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Arctides guineensis (Spengler, 1799)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Arctides guineensis (Spengler, 1799)

Synonyms:
Scyllarus guineensis Spengler, 1799, Kongelige Danske Videnskabers Selskab Skrifter (n.ser.) 5:333, pl.1.
Scyllarus sculptus Latreille, 1818
Scyllarides sculptus bermudensis Verrill, 1922
Scyllarides sculptus Chace, 1937
Scyllarides guineensis Holthuis, 1946

FAO Names:
Small Spanish lobster [English]

Local Names:
BERMUDA: Small Spanish lobster

Robertson, P.B., 1969. Phyllosoma larvae of a scyllarid lobster, Arctides guineensis, from the western Atlantic. Biological investigations of the deep sea. No. 48. Marine Biology, Berlin, 4(2):143-151, figs 1-17

Spengler, L., 1799. Beskrivelse af en nye Art Kraebs, Scyllarus Guineensis. Kongelige Danske Videnskabers Selskab Skrifter (n.ser.) 5: 333-340, pl. 1.

Verrill, A.E., 1922. Decapod Crustacea of Bermuda. Part II. Macrura. Transactions Connecticut Academy Arts Sciences, 26:1-179, text figs 1-12, pls 1-48

No distribution map was available at OBIS the last time we checked. Retry now.

You can continue searching for Arctides guineensis on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

Google | Yahoo | MSN | Wikipedia