Janethogalathea californiensis (Benedict, 1902)

Hendrickx, Michel E., 2021, Squat lobsters (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheoidea) from off the northwestern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, Zootaxa 4965 (2), pp. 375-384 : 377-378

Janethogalathea californiensis (Benedict, 1902)

( Fig. 2 )

Janethogalathea californiensis .— Fierro Rengifo et al., 2008: 5 (list); Hendrickx et al., 2011: 91, figs. 1, 2; Hendrickx, 2012a: 31 (table 1), 33; Wicksten, 2012: 145, fig. 34A, pl. 7A; Hendrickx & Serrano, 2014: 4 (table 1); Arnés-Urgellés et al., 2020: 16. Material examined. St. 27 (31°37.75’N, 116°45.87’W), April 18, 2005, 247 m, one male (CL, 31.5 mm; CLwr, 24.5 mm) (ICML-EMU-12823) ( Fig. 1 ).

Distribution. From Monterey to the Channel Islands, California, USA. There are only a few sampling localities on record for J. californiensis in western Mexico, three in the Gulf of California and two off the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula (Wicksten 1987; Hendrickx et al. 2012a). It has been recorded in depths of 89‒3993 m ( Baba & Wicksten 1997) (see comments).

The USNM invertebrates collections contains one sample (1192153) of five specimens from near Talara, Peru (ca 5.02N, 81.42W), taken by the R / V “Anton Bruun” in 1966, in 200–311 m (identified by G.C.B. Poore in 2012) .

Remarks. The unique specimen examined, a large male, present the typical pair of lateral spines on the rostrum and the massive, very spiny chelipeds as described by Baba & Wicksten (1997). Maximum size of specimens previously reported from California: males, CL 32.6 mm, females, CL 28.0 mm, ovigerous females, CL 26.0 mm; CL from orbit to posterior margin ( Baba & Wicksten 1997); specimens from Mexico: male, 16.6 mm CL; ovig. female, 13.9 mm CL ( Hendrickx et al. 2011). The only specimen examined herein almost matches the maximum size reported for this species: CL 31.5 mm.

There is a dubious record of J. californiensis by Arnés-Urgellés et al. (2020) in the deep-sea volcanic habitat of the Galapagos. Based on a photograph taken at 419 m, the unique specimen observed seems close to J. californiensis but with spineless, slender fingers of the chelae ( Arnés-Urgellés et al. 2020: 16).

The surprising maximum depth range (i.e., 3993 m) reported for J. californiensis is based on a data cited by Schmitt (1921; 2182 fathoms; cited as Galathea californiensis ) and corresponds to a sample in the holdings of the USNM (4390) taken by the R.V. “Albatross” in 1904, off California (33°02’15”N, 120°42’W).A revision of the R.V. “Albatross” log-book indicated that station 4390 sampling depth was in the range of 1350 to 2182 fathoms. Based on the position of the “Albatross” 4390 station, however, total depth at this location is 3911 m (Peter Dartnell, pers. comm.) ( NGDC 2012). So it would appear that the 3991‒3993 m depth (small variation are due to transformation from fathoms to meters) is correct though surprising. In addition to several shallow-water California records based on additional material collected by the R.V. “Albatross” in the 50‒m depth range, the USNM holdings also include a small lot from the Tasman Sea (USNM 64523), taken at 5 m depth. This record is most likely in error.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Localities where the specimens of squat lobsters were collected. J. californiensis (D); Munida hispida (A, B, D); M. quadrispina (C). M. tenella (C).

FIGURE 2. Janetogalathea californiensis (Benedict, 1902) (ICML-EMU-12823). A. Dorsal. B. Frontal margin and rostrum, dorsal. C. Posterior carapace and first abdominal somites, dorsal.