Gastroptychus perarmatus ( Haig, 1968 )

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 145

Gastroptychus perarmatus ( Haig, 1968)

( Fig. 33M)

Chirostylus perarmatus Haig, 1968: 272 , figs. 1–3. — Wicksten 1989b: 315.

Gastroptychus perarmatus . — Baba & Haig 1990: 859.

Diagnosis. Rostrum as in G. iaspis . Carapace excluding rostrum 1.5–1.6 times as long as greatest width. Lateral margins nearly straight posteriorly; strong anterolateral spine and row of small lateral spines. Gastric region with numerous small spines and spinules interspersed with larger spines, most prominent an epigastric pair. Midcervical groove distinctly anterior to halfway point of carapace. Anterior branchial region with several large, small spines; cardiac region with pair prominent spines, few smaller ones; regions posterior to cervical groove with numerous, closely set large, small spines in irregular longitudinal rows. Tergum of abdominal somite 1 with transverse row of 12–18 spines. Tergum of somite 2 with transverse row of small spines, pointed granules, and pointed tubercles at junction with pleura; pleura with small spines on anterolateral margin, dorsal surface. Tergum of somites 3, 4 unarmed except for 1–3 spines on surface. Tergum of somite 5 with 4 longitudinal rows of spines, each outer row at junction with pleuron; pleura with small spines on surface. Tergum of somite 6 bearing numerous large, small spines; pleura with few spines on surface. Eyestalk barely reaching end of rostral spine; cornea dilated. Length of chelipeds about 6 times length of carapace excluding rostrum. Merus, carpus, palm with regular longitudinal rows of spines. Pereopods 2–4 slender, merus, carpus with 6 rows of spines; propodus with dorsal, mesial, dorsolateral rows of spines, ventral margin with row of closely set movable spinules; length of dactyl less than 0.33 times length of propodus, with ventral spinules, terminating in acute corneous claw. Carapace length excluding rostrum: male 20.5 mm, female 16.0 mm.

Color in life. Not reported. Bright pink after a few weeks of preservation in alcohol, soon fading to white ( Haig 1968).

Habitat and depth. Green mud bottom or on antipatharians; from 229–366 m.

Range. From north of Anacapa I. to Coronado Bank , California. Type locality north of Anacapa I., from 34˚ 05.8' N, 119˚ 23.3' W to 34˚ 6.0' N, 119˚ 24.3' W .

Remarks. Two specimens collected off Coronado Bank in 366 m were clinging to a branch of black coral, order Antipatharia .