Figure 019. Minuca mordax

Alt Text: Composite photograph of the Minuca mordax fiddler crab which includes several black & white images of different views of the crab, a color photograph, and a distribution map. Composite Image Description: Figure 19. Minuca mordax (Smith, 1870). UNI 726. Collected: 12 March 2018, Atlantic Ocean, Trinidad and Tobago, Cocos Bay, Narvia Co., Bush-Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, Mouth Navet River (10.39862, -61,02523). Scale Bar = 10mm. (A) Dorsal view. (B) Front view. (C) Inner cheliped. (D) Ocular view. (E) Ambulatory. (F) Color Photo. (G) Distribution Map (Finke 2024). Species Description: Species moderate-sized (< 26mm). Carapace smooth without pubescence or pile (Fig. 19A). Length 70% width; frontal region about 40% carapace width. Eyestalks very short. Antero-lateral margins converging to midline. Posterior lateral line strongly converging giving carapace a trapezoid shape. Dactyl and pollex longer than manus (Fig. 19B,C). Gap about same width as base of pollex. Distal dactyl overlaps pollex. Dactyl with low tubercles; one large tubercle at mid-length. Pollex with single large tubercle near mid-length, terminus trifurcated. On inner manus, oblique ridge distinct but tubercles not arranged in a single row. Where ridge meets carpal cavity there are several prominent tubercles. No carina along carpal cavity. Merus of walking legs with pubescence and long setae (Fig. 19A,E). Merus width 33% length. First walking leg with pubescence completely surrounding carpus and propodus (Fig. 19E). Pantropical species collected between the Sittee River, Freetown Area, Belize and Mampituba River, Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Not found on Caribbean islands (Fig. 19G).