Pachycheles holosericus Schmitt, 1921

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 154

Pachycheles holosericus Schmitt, 1921

( Fig. 36B)

Pachycheles holosericus Schmitt, 1921: 177 , pl. 33, fig. 3. — Haig 1960: 173, pl. 34, fig. 2. — Haig et al. 1970: 23. — Haig & Abbott 1980: 589, fig. 24.21.

Diagnosis. Front narrow, trilobate in frontal view, with tuft of plumose setae. Carapace about as long as broad, strongly convex from front to back, plicate on posterolateral regions. Chelipeds unequal. Merus rugose, granular, anterior margin with strongly projecting granular lobe. Carpus with broad lobe on anterior margin, edged with large granules, rest of surface covered by small granules largely concealed by thick setae. Chelae with large coarse granules, upper surface covered with short plumose setae; fingers gaping in major cheliped; gape in major cheliped with tuft of plumose setae. All segments of pereopods 2–4 with long plumose setae. Telson of abdomen with 5 plates. Carapace length to 18mm.

Color in life. Body dull brown ( Haig & Abbott 1980).

Habitat and depth. Under rocks, on pier pilings and in sheltered places such as kelp holdfasts and in cavities in sponges, intertidal zone to 18 m.

Range. Santa Barbara , California to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Type locality Venice, California. There have been no reports of the crab from its type locality since its original description .

Remarks. Haig & Abbott (1980) reported that these crabs are typically are found in pairs.