Figure 007. Leptuca leptodactyla

Alt Text: Composite photograph of the Leptuca leptodoctyla 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 7. Leptuca leptodactyla (Rathbun, 1898). UNI 20. Collected: 11 May 2003, USA, Puerto Rico, Catano, Canal Rio Bayamon, mouth (18.4467997, -66.1597323). 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: Very small species, (width < 12 mm). Carapace smooth, cylindrical; widest at antero-lateral junction (Fig. 7A). Carapace length 60% width; frontal region about 29% carapace width (Fig. 7A,D). H-depression shallow. Eyestalks short. Dactyl and pollex of large cheliped very long compared to manus, large gap (Fig. 7B,C). Two tubercles in middle of dactyl, large proximal to articulation. Pollex with numerous small tubercles. Oblique ridge on inner surface of manus with large tubercles (Fig. 7C). Third to sixth abdominal segments (pleons) of male fused. Walking legs with few setae (Fig. 7E). Merus width of walking legs 32% length. Pan-tropical in the Caribbean and along the coast of South America. No records between southern Trinidad-Tobago to Sao Luis, Maranhão, Brazil (Fig. 7G).