Paralomis serrata
| Paralomis serrata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Anomura |
| Family: | Lithodidae |
| Genus: | Paralomis |
| Species: | P. serrata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Paralomis serrata Macpherson, 1988[1]
| |
Paralomis serrata is a species of king crab known from the Caribbean Sea.[2][3]
Description
Paralomis serrata has a pyriform carapace which is covered dorsally in rounded granules.[3] From the center outward, the front edge of the carapace has a short, trifid rostrum whose median spine is horizontal; a pair of orbital spines whose extent is just short of the cornea; and a smaller pair of lateral spines.[4] Behind the rostrum, the gastric region is highly pronounced, and the triangular cardiac region behind that is smaller than the gastric and branchial regions.[4] Like the dorsal carapace, the abdomen is covered in granules.[4] The male holotype's carapace measures 106 mm (4.2 in) long and 112 mm (4.4 in) wide.[4]
The walking legs are long and slender, with the third pair being the shortest at 2.7 times the carapace length.[4] The anterior and posterior edges of the merus, carpus, and propodus feature a row of spines – referenced in P. serrata's name – and the slightly curved anterior edge of the dactylus features two parallel rows of setae tufts.[5] The merus and carpus of the chelipeds are sparsely granular and have several spines which are found mostly on the dorsal side.[4] The palms are spinose on the dorsal surface and granular elsewhere, and the fingers are densely covered in setae tufts.[4]
Distribution
Paralomis serrata is known from the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Colombia at a depth of 1,100 m (3,600 ft).[6]
Taxonomy
Paralomis serrata was described by carcinologist Enrique Macpherson in 1988.[1] The specific name "serrata" – being derived from "serra", Latin for "saw" – refers to the sawtooth-like row of spines on the walking legs.[7] It is distinguished from its closest relative – P. pectinata from near Margarita Island – through the pyriform shape of its carapace and the subtlety of the crests near its posterior and on its chelipeds.[3] It also resembles P. verrilli from the North Pacific, but among other distinguishing features, P. serrata entirely lacks a prominent crest found on the posterolateral edge of P. verrilli's carapace.[8]
References
- ^ a b Macpherson 1988, pp. 105–108.
- ^ De Grave, Sammy (30 November 2021). "Paralomis serrata Macpherson, 1988". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Macpherson 1988, p. 105.
- ^ a b c d e f g Macpherson 1988, p. 106.
- ^ Macpherson 1988, pp. 106, 108.
- ^ Macpherson 1988, pp. 105, 108.
- ^ Macpherson 1988, pp. 107–108.
- ^ Macpherson 1988, p. 108.
Works cited
- Macpherson, Enrique (1988). Revision of the family Lithodidae Samouelle, 1819 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) in the Atlantic Ocean (PDF). Monografías de Zoología Marina (in English and Spanish). Vol. II. ISSN 0213-4020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2020 – via the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.