Much more than hooked: Setal adaptations for camouflage in Macrocoeloma trispinosum (Latreille, 1825) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura).

Several majoid crabs are known to adhere exogenous materials to their bodies, a behaviour called decoration. Until now, the adhesion of exogenous materials to the body is most attributed to the well-known hooked setae. Here, we analysed the carapace of Macrocoeloma trispinosum (Latreille, 1825) under light and electron microscopy to study the different mechanisms allowing majoid crabs to decorate themselves. Five setal types are described here, of which four for the first time: velvet type I, velvet type II, depressa and cattail seta. These setae are morphologically and histologically detailed, and new hypotheses about the fixation of exogenous material on the carapace are explored. M. trispinosum has a complex setal apparatus for the adhesion of the decoration, with tegumental ducts along the shaft of most setae. These tegumental ducts are connected to glands formed by large cells arranged radially (rosette or acini) at the base of the setae, in the connective tissue, just below the epithelium. We could observe these glands in different stages of maturation, and no valve-like structure was observed, which may indicate a continuous flow of protein secretion that could serve as an adhesive substance found in the apex of most setae. This is the first record indicating a potential chemical adhesion mechanism aiding the masking process in decorator crabs.

Three new species and a new genus of majoid crabs from the eastern Pacific (Decapoda, Brachyura).

Three new species and a new genus of majoid crabs from deep waters in the eastern Pacific are described and illustrated using morphological and molecular data. A new species of inachoidid, Collodesanartius sp. n. is described from Peru, which resembles C.tenuirostris Rathbun, 1893, in the general appearance of the carapace, but is distinguished by the details of tubercles on the carapace and thoracic sternum, proportions of the pereopod articles, and bathymetric distribution. A new epialtid, Nibiliamachala sp. n., is described from Ecuador; Nibilia A Milne-Edwards, 1878 has, until now, been considered to be monotypic, occurring only in the western Atlantic. This new species, from the eastern Pacific, closely resembles N.antilocapra (Stimpson, 1871) in the general morphology, but can be distinguished by the number of spines on the carapace and pereopods. Another epialtid, Solincaaulix gen. n. et sp. n, is establish for material collected from Ecuador and Peru, and can be easily identified from other taxa by the presence of a deep furrow between the very inflated branchial regions.

Morphological differences between Stenocionops furcatus (Olivier, 1791) and S. coelatus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1878) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura, Majoidea).

Stenocionops furcatus (Olivier, 1791) and S. coelatus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1878) have been treated either as subspecies or as species in their own right, but never as each other's synonyms. Compared to S. coelatus, S. furcatus has been regarded as having smoother dorsal surface carapace, shorter rostral spines, straighter and less divergent rostrum. and smaller interorbital width. These morphological differences between the two species, however, can be attributed to changes over ontogeny and, therefore, cannot be used as distinguishing characters. Adults of S. coelatus and S. furcatus can, however, be safely separated from each other by the presence in S. coelatus of a strong crenation on the anterior margin of the male sterno-abdominal cavity, which is absent in S. furcatus. A lectotype for S. coelatus is designated. The synonymy between S. furcatus, Cancer cornudo Herbst, 1804, and Chorinus armatus Randall, 1839, is confirmed based on the holotypes of the latter two species.