Paguristes parvus Holmes, 1900

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 177-178

Paguristes parvus Holmes, 1900

( Fig. 40D–G, Pl. 8F)

Paguristes parvus Holmes, 1900: 151 , pl. 2, fig. 26. — Schmitt 1921: 124, fig. 83. — Haig et al. 1970: 18. — Haig & Wicksten 1975: 102. — Jensen 1995: 68, fig. 131.

Diagnosis (modified from Schmitt 1921, based on specimen from Big Fisherman's Cove, Santa Catalina I. , California). Rostrum long, prominent; reaching to or close to end of ocular acicles. Ocular acicles ending in two blunt teeth. Eyestalk about 0.66 times width of anterior portion of carapace, overreaching distal margin of merus of cheliped, distal half of eyestalk about as wide as cornea, proximal half abruptly enlarged. First antennae longer than eyestalk. Peduncle of second antennae with three sharp teeth on lateral, mesio-lateral surfaces. Antennal acicle almost obscured with dense pinnate setae, with one strong lateral tooth, one mesial tooth, bifid apex. Flagellum of second antenna with few sparse setae. Merus of cheliped bearing 3 small teeth on upper distal margin. Carpus with row of 3 large teeth along mesial margin, 2 large teeth on upper surface, smaller tubercle along dorsolateral surface, dense tuft of pinnate setae on disto-lateral margin. Upper surfaces of hands of chelae coarsely granulate, armed with 3 short, stout spines on inner margin proximal to dactyl, row of prominent tubercles dorsal to them, dactyls with small teeth along inner margins, apices dark colored. Pereopods 2, 3 with setose margins, line of lateral setae on carpus, propodus, dactyl; tufts of elongate simple setae proximal to apex of dactyl, dactyl with hooked dark apex. Pereopod 4 bearing propodal rasp consisting of 13 lines of bead-like tubercles, dactyl curved, dark-tipped. Pereopod 5 ending in short rasp of beaded rows. Telson with left side longer than right, divided into two lobes on each side, without any distal teeth but rows of simple setae on proximal lobes. Carapace length to 7.8 mm.

Color in life. Chelae creamy to light gray, pereopods 2, 3 creamy, banded with dark brown, red-brown; antennae banded with brown. The color notes are based on crabs from Snta Catalina I.

Habitat and depth. Subtidal rocky areas, lowest intertidal zone to 20 m.

Range. Off Point Conception , California to Sacramento Reef , Baja California, Mexico. Type locality White's Point, Los Angeles County, California .

Remarks. Holmes (1900) and Schmitt (1921) provided only a short diagnosis of this hermit crab without adequate illustrations. This is the only species of Paguristes in the area of coverage that does not have setose antennae. Its dense covering of pinnate setae also is characteristic. It is the smallest of the species of Paguristes in the area. Paguristes parvus is one of the most common subtidal hermit crabs of southern California, especially along the shores of the offshore islands.