Polycheles pacificus Faxon, 1893

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 129-130

Polycheles pacificus Faxon, 1893

( Fig. 31A)

Polycheles sculptus pacificus Faxon, 1893: 196 ; 1895: 122, pl. c, fig. 1, 1a.

Eryonicus caecus?: Faxon 1893: 197 ; 1895: 110, pl. B, fig. 2; pl. 29, figs. 2, 2f (larval stage).

Eryoneicus Agassizi Bouvier, 1915: 2 .

Eryonicus agassizi . — Schmitt 1921: 105, pl. 15, figs. 1, 2.

Stereomastis sculpta pacifica . — De Man 1916: 5. — Firth & Pequegnat 1971: 16.— Wicksten 1980b: 914, fig. 1. — Hendrickx 1995b: 156.

Stereomastis pacifica . — Wicksten 2002: 128.

Polycheles pacificu s. — Galil 2000: 332, fig. 20.

Diagnosis. Carapace somewhat rectangular, with posterolateral margins converging. Anterior margin slightly concave, with 2 rostral teeth, 1 tooth at each internal orbital angle, blunt tooth on anteromedial edge of each eyestalk; external orbital angles smooth. Ocular notches broad, rounded; edges not parallel with lateral border. Midline teeth arranged as follows: 2 (rostrum), 1–2–1(cervical groove) 2–2–2; occasionally with 1 tooth instead of 2 at each location. Posterior margin of carapace concave. Four teeth along gastrorbital carinae; 1 more tooth along each side. One tooth each on anterior branches. Superior branchial carinae low, armed with 5–6 teeth on each side. Abdomen about as long as carapace. Terga of somites 1–5 with anteriorly produced teeth, strongest tooth on fourth tergum. Anterolateral border of first tergum with 3 teeth; edges of first four pleura armed with small tubercles. Abdominal somite 6 with low, double ridge without tubercles or teeth; pleuron almost acute. Base of telson with small blunt tubercle. Two teeth at antero-external edges of antennular peduncle. Ischia of chelipeds unarmed, meri with 1–3 dorsal teeth, carpi with 2 distodorsal, 1 or 2 ventral teeth, inner dorsal edge of propodus with 1 tooth, palms ventrally spinulose, fingers of chela crossing. Female pereopod 5 chelate, male pereopod 5 imperfectly chelate. Total length to 102.5 mm, females growing to larger sizes than males.

Color in life. Brick red, purplish red to scarlet.

Habitat and depth. Muddy areas of lower continental shelf and slope, 750–1875 m.

Range. Off Noyo Canyon, California to off Valparaiso, Chile . Type locality not specified, material came from 7 stations from off Mariato Point and the Gulf of Panama to off the Tres Marias Is., Mexico .

Remarks. The larval stage of this species is the largest decapod larva to be found in the area, reaching 87 mm in total length. The carapace of the larva is filled with fat, giving the animal a blimp-like appearance. Larval stages have been taken in midwater nets at 1846–3692 m ( Wicksten 1980b).