Leptastacus laticaudatus Nicholls, 1935, commonly found interstitially in fine sands of European boreal waters, is redescribed and figured. As a result, the subspecies names L. laticaudatus laticaudatus and L. laticaudatus intermedius Kunz, 1983 are nullified. Some variable characters, i.e. caudal rami and structure of the fifth leg, are discussed and the distribution of the species is summarized. The most closely allied species L. macronyx (T. Scott, 1892) and L. spatuliseta Mielke, 1982 constitute, together with L. laticaudatus, the 'macronyx-group'. L. laticaudatus intermedius sensu Apostolov, 1973 is considered species inquirenda. An amended diagnosis of the genus Leptastacus T. Scott, 1906 is presented. |
