Pagurus hemphilli ( Benedict, 1892a )

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 187-189

Pagurus hemphilli ( Benedict, 1892a)

( Fig. 43O, Pl. 9F)

Eupagurus hemphilli Benedict, 1892a: 16 .

Pagurus hemphilli . — Holmes 1900: 147. — Rathbun 1904: 160, pl. 5, fig. 9. — Schmitt 1921: 142, fig. 92. — Johnson & Snook 1927; 336. — McLaughlin 1974: 149, figs. 37, 38. — Haig & Wicksten 1975: 102. — Haig & Abbott 1980: 586, fig. 24.12. — Hart 1982: 134, fig. 49. — Ricketts et al. 1985: 58, fig. 2. — Jensen 1995: 63, fig. 114. — Lemaitre & Castaño 2004: 78. — Kuris et al. 2007: 649.

Diagnosis. Rostrum wide, triangular, longer than lateral projections of carapace. Eyestalk slender, cornea slightly dilated, ocular scale pointed. Major cheliped much larger than minor cheliped, finely granulate, with few setae, some teeth on distal margins of merus, carpus; carpus laterally compressed, inflated ventrally, triangular in lateral view; fingers of chela very short, broad. Minor cheliped very short, granulate, laterally compressed. Pereopods 2, 3 stout, dorsal margins of propodus, carpus serrate, dactyls broad, stout, as long as or shorter than propodi. Telson asymmetrical, with notches on lateral, terminal margins; terminal margin with teeth. Uropods asymmetrical. Carapace length to 15 mm.

Color in life. Rich maroon with blue granules; ends of dactyls yellow. Cornea with gold ring. Flagellum of antenna red. Juveniles may have white bands on pereopods 2, 3. The color notes are from crabs from Monterey Bay, California.

Habitat and depth. Rocky areas and kelp beds on open coasts; lowest intertidal zone but usually subtidal, to 50 m.

Range. Klokachef I., Alaska to San Miguel I., California. Particularly common in central California from Mendocino to San Luis Obispo counties. Type locality Monterey , California .

Remarks. This hermit crab usually inhabits shells of Tegula and Astraea spp. Often, the shells are encrusted with red algae. The slipper shell Garnotia adunca (G.B. Sowerby, 1825) ; and the white limpet Acmaea mitra Rathke, 1833 may live atop the shells.