Inachidae MacLeay, 1838

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 214

Family Inachidae MacLeay, 1838

Only three species of these, the most spider-like of the spider crabs, are regularly reported from the area. Coelho (2006) revised species of the genus Podochela and changed the generic classification of one local species. The Panamic arrow crab, Stenorhynchus debilis ( Smith, 1871) , was reported from Huntington Beach and Santa Catalina I. in 1998, during an El Niño period and might be expected to return again during periods of unusually warm waters ( Montagne & Cadien 2001).

Key to species of family Inachidae

1. Merus of outer maxilliped as broad as ischium, palp of moderate size. Carapace with supraocular spine, surface spinous. Leg span rarely more than 30 mm, found on shell hash, gravel or coarse sand............................ Erileptus spinosus

– Merus of outer maxilliped narrower than ischium, palp large. Carapace without supraocular spine, surface with tubercles. Leg span often more than 30 mm, usually found on pilings, among algae or on rocks................................... 2

2. Only one tubercle on first abdominal segment. No strap-shaped hepatic spine..................... Ericerodes hemphilli

– Two tubercles on first abdominal segment. Strap-shaped hepatic spine............................. Podochela lobifrons