Bate, 1888
Diagnosis:
Lateral margin of carapace behind cervical incision with 12 to 17 teeth. At least one tooth on lateral margin between anterolateral angle and cervical incision. Merus of third maxilliped strongly swollen at distal end, less so in rest of its length; incisions of inner margin, though rather deep, not reaching median line of merus; anterolateral angle of ischium strongly produced, pointed, almost reaching halfway length of merus. Fourth segment of antenna with a distinct lateral margin provided with teeth.
Type:
Type locality of I. brevipes: "Challenger" Sta. 192, "lat. 5°49'15"S., long. 132°14'15"E.; off the Ki Islands [= Kai Islands, - Kepulauan Ewab, Eastern Indonesia]; depth, 140 fathoms [= 256 m]; blue mud". Holotype male in BM, no 88.22, in alcohol, condition fair.
Type locality of I. verdi: "Challenger" "St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands.... depth 7 to 20 fathoms" ( =13- 37 m). Lectoptype female and 6 paralectotypes in BM, no. 88.22, in alcohol condition fair. Statement of type locality of I. verdi probably erroneous.
Geographical Distribution:
Indo-West Pacific region: South China Sea, Philippines, Moluccas (Indonesia) and New Caledonia (Fig. 385). The record from the Cape Verde Islands almost certainly is erroneous, as no species of the genus has ever been found in the Atlantic.
Habitat and Biology:
Known from depths between 186 and 457 m; on smooth substrates: sand, mud or a mixture of the two. The record of 7 to 20 fathoms (= 13-37 m) of the so-called Cape Verde specimens, like the rest of their label, is clearly incorrect.
Size:
Carapace length between 2 and 4.5 cm; maximum known total body length about 12 cm.
Interest to Fisheries:
So far none. This is a flat, relatively small species, with little meat and it is found only at great depths. Therefore, it is not a promising commercial species.