Pagurus spilocarpus Haig, 1977

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 193-194

Pagurus spilocarpus Haig, 1977

( Fig. 44I–M, Pl. 9B)

Pagurus spilocarpus Haig, 1977: 646 , figs. 1, 2. — Jensen 1995: 64, fig. 117. — Lemaitre & Castaño 2004: 79.

Diagnosis (after Haig 1977). Rostrum shorter than or equal to lateral projections of carapace, obtusely triangular or rounded. Eyestalk long, moderately stout, somewhat inflated basally, cornea dilated, ocular scales with prominent subterminal spine. Major cheliped stout, with fine setae, strong spines dorsally. Lateral, mesial margins with prominent spines. Minor cheliped with strong dorsal, lateral spines, also mesial spines except on carpus. Pereopods 2, 3 elongate, propodus, carpus serrate, dactyl slender, longer than propodus. Telson asymmetrical, left lobe larger than right, with lateral notches, terminal margin with median cleft, close-set teeth. Uropods asymmetrical. Carapace length to 43 mm.

Color in life. Appendages mostly tan. Chelipeds with spines white at base, purple at apices. Fingers with row of blue tubercles next to cutting edge; longitudinal bluish line outside of tubercles. Carpus with large dark purple spot on dorsal surface. Merus with triangular reddish-brown area dorsodistally; band of reddish-brown on lateral face. Pereopods 2, 3 with reddish-brown blotch on lateral surface of carpus, merus with broad reddish-brown band at distal end. Eyestalk white with reddish brown areas ( Haig 1977). In life, setae often covered by silt, color somewhat obscured.

Habitat and depth. Sand, low intertidal zone to 60 m, usually subtidal.

Range. Zuma Beach, California to Point Abreojos, Baja California. Type locality off Belmont Pier , Orange County, California .

Remarks. This hermit crab commonly lives on sand bottoms along the mainland coast of southern California.