Phimochirus californiensis (Benedict, 1892)

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 198

Phimochirus californiensis (Benedict, 1892)

( Fig. 41H, Pl. 9G)

Eupagurus californiensis Benedict, 1892: 21 . — Faxon 1895: 55, pl. 11, fig. 2–2e.

Pagurus californiensis . — Holmes 1900: 149. — Rathbun 1904: 161. — Schmitt 1921: 143, fig. 93.

Pylopagurus californiensis . — Haig et al. 1970: 20. — McLaughlin 1981: 5.

Phimochirus californiensis . — McLaughlin 1981: 5. — Jensen 1995: 61, fig. 110.

Diagnosis. Rostrum short, triangular, about as long as lateral projections of carapace. Eyestalk moderately long, slender, not dilated; ocular scale pointed. Major chela with row of spinules on distal margin of merus; carpus with spinules along inner margin; chela suborbicular, feebly granulated, with row of spinules along inner margin. Minor chela very small, slender, its width less than 0.3 times width of palm of larger chela. Dactyls of pereopods 2, 3 thin, setose, with spinules; longer than propodi.Telson with transverse suture, terminal margins oblique, each with series of moderately strong teeth. Uropods asymmetrical. Carapace length 26 mm.

Color in life. Reddish-brown, with whitish spots, bands. Major chela mostly white except for small blue dots; carpus reddish with whitish border on inner surface. Pereopods 2, 3 banded with cream or tan, with faint darker brown stripes. Eyestalk mostly orange, with whitish band at base. The color notes are from a crab from Blue Cavern Point, Santa Catalina I. California).

Habitat and depth. Rocks, kelp beds and sand near rocks, 10–106 m.

Range. Santa Catalina I. , California to Galapagos Is. Type locality Catalina Harbor , Santa Catalina I. , California.

Remarks. This is a very common species along the offshore islands of southern California. The large major chela tightly seals the opening of the shell when the hermit crab withdraws into it. The shell may be heavily encrusted by bryozoans.