Paralomis multispina

Martin, Joel W. & Haney, Todd A., 2005, Decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps: a review through 2005, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (4), pp. 445-522 : 485

PARALOMIS MULTISPINA ( BENEDICT, 1894)

Type locality: North Pacific Ocean, Canada, British Columbia, off Queen Charlotte Islands; Steamer Albatross sta. 2860; 1602 m (originally as 876 fathoms) .

Known range: North Pacific Ocean, from Shumagin Bank , Alaska, to southern California at depths of 500– 1665 m ( Hart, 1982) .

Occurrence at vents or seeps: Sagami Bay, Japan, from cold seeps at 900–1200 m ( Chevaldonné & Olu 1996).

Material: Benedict (1894) listed the type specimens under the registration number USNM 18535. We are not aware of any collections from vents or seeps, although the species is known to occur at cold seeps in Sagami Bay, 35°00.1′N, 139°13.7′E; Shinkai 2000 dive 177; 1210 m ( Hart, 1982; Horikoshi & Ishii, 1985; Ohta, 1990b; Chevaldonné & Olu, 1996).

Remarks: This species is found at cold seep communities in Sagami Bay, Japan, described by Horikoshi & Ishii (1985), Hashimoto et al. (1987, 1989) and Ohta (1990b). Paralomis multispina is common at these communities and, along with the clam Calyptogena soyoae , is the dominant macrofaunal species ( Chevaldonné & Olu, 1996: 288). Horikoshi & Ishii (1985) reported seeing P. multispina feeding on black sediment adjacent to a colony of these giant clams but did not report the collection of specimens. See Chevaldonné & Olu (1996: 289) for reports of this species feeding on vesicomyid and mytilid bivalves.