Eunephrops manningi

Holthuis, 1974

Diagnosis:
A medium-sized lobster. Body cylindrical. Carapace with small granules, with a well developed median rostrum armed with lateral teeth, but none on dorsal mid-line, no distinct ventral teeth present, some fine serrations can be present, no longitudinal ridges behind the cervical groove. Without a pair of spines dorsally on carapace behind the cervical groove. Eyes well developed and pigmented. Antennae long and whip-like. Antennal scale small, failing to reach the middle of the penultimate segment of the antennal peduncle. Spine on antennal peduncle near base of anntennal scale. Tail powerful with a well developed tail fan, not conspicuously granular. Abdominal somites without distinct longitudinal median carina, with a single transverse groove, which is interrupted in the middle. First 3 pairs of legs ending in true chelae. First pair long and stout with large, flattened, naked fingers. Second pereiopod with fingers less than 1/3 as long as palm. Third pereiopod with the fingers about 1/5 of the length of the palm.

Type:
Type locality: "Florida Straits, 550 m, Silver Bay stat. 2483'" [ = 26°25.5"N 79°O1'W]. Male holotype in USNM no.139626; paratypes in USNM, RMNH.

Geographical Distribution:
Western Atlantic: Florida Straits and northwest of Anguilla.

Habitat and Biology:
Depth range between (393-) 451 and 550 m Substrate: mud.

Size:
Maximum total body length about 15 cm, carapace length 4 to 7 cm.

Interest to Fisheries:
Since so far only three specimens of this species are known, nothing concrete can be said about its fisheries potential. Its size is attractive, but the depth range and low abundance are negative factors.

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