Metacrangon variabilis (Rathbun, 1902)

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 117

Metacrangon variabilis (Rathbun, 1902)

( Fig. 28P–S)

Crangon variabilis Rathbun, 1902a: 890 ; 1904: 129, fig. 69. — Kozloff 1974: 165.

Crago variabilis . — Schmitt 1921: 99, fig. 68.

Metacrangon variabilis . — Zarenkov 1965: 1764. — Birshtein & Zarenkov 1972: 441. — Butler 1980: 117. — Wicksten 1989b: 313.

Diagnosis. Exoskeleton thick. Rostrum short, not exceeding eye, apex rounded. Carapace with 2 median teeth, anterior slightly larger; submedial spine moderate, hepatic strong with supporting carina, branchiostegal tooth strong and with supporting carina, pterygostomian tooth weak, gastric region depressed. Eye large, pigmented. First segment of antennular peduncle long, with distolateral tooth; second shorter, with tooth; third shortest, with tooth. Scaphocerite with lateral tooth equal to or longer than blade. Third maxilliped setose, with exopod. Pereopod 1 stout, merus, carpus each with 2 distal teeth, subchelate, dactyl when flexed obliquely transverse. Pereopod 2 slender, chelate, third slender, with simple dactyl. Pereopod 3 slightly longer than pereopod 2, slightly stouter, dactylus slender. Pereopods 4, 5 stout, setose, with flattened dactyls. Abdominal somites 1–4 with pleura rounded, somites 1–5 with single median dorsal carina; somite 5 with posterolateral tooth, somite 6 with 2 prominent dorsal carinae, posteroventral regions strongly flared. Telson with median dorsal groove, 2 pairs lateral spines, about as long as inner uropod. Female total length 38 mm, male not reported.

Color in life. Transparent with grayish tinge, fine orange-brown, gray-brown chromatophores over body ( Butler 1980: color plate 5F).

Habitat and depth. Continental shelf and slope, 92–1271 m.

Range. Commander and Pribilof Is., Bering Sea to San Nicolas I., California . Type locality off North Head , Akutan I., Alaska .