Figure 010. Leptuca speciosa

Alt Text: Composite photograph of the Leptuca speciosa 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 10. Leptuca speciosa (Ives, 1891). UNI-93. Collected: 4 September 1976, Mexico, Yucatan, Harbor, West of Progresso (21.277956, -89.703382). 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: Small species (< 16 mm). Carapace length 69% width; frontal region about 37% of carapace width (Fig. 10A,D). Eyestalks short. Carapace widest at antero-lateral angle (Fig. 10A). Anterolateral angles pointed forward. Anterior lateral margins straight and parallel. Carapace surface often smooth but may have W-shape arrangement of pubescence on posterior carapace (Fig. 10A). Dactyl and pollex much longer than manus (Fig. 10 B,C). Gape wide. Dactyl overlaps distal pollex with few tubercles lining dactyl and pollex. Distal pollex pointed (Fig. 10C). On inner manus, tuberculated, oblique ridge prominent (Fig. 10C). Walking legs with some setae (Fig. 10E). For walking legs, thick pile on dorsal surface of dactyl and propodus. Merus width 34% length; female 30%, male 36%. Inhabiting coast of Mississippi, Florida, Bahamas Cuba and the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico (Fig. 10G).