Lophaxius rathbunae Kensley, 1989

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 135-136

Lophaxius rathbunae Kensley, 1989

( Fig. 31C)

Calocaris investigatoris . — Rathbun, 1904: 151. — Schmitt 1921: 112. — Pereyra & Alton 1972: 450. — Hart 1982: 48, fig. 10. — Wicksten 1989b: 312. [Not Calastacus investigatoris Anderson, 1896: 97 , pl. 2; Indo-West Pacific species, as illustrated by Schmitt 1921: fig. 75].

Lophaxius rathbunae Kensley, 1989: 963 .

Diagnosis. Rostrum slightly shorter than second segment of antennular peduncle, with sides prolonged into sharp ridges reaching gastric region, bearing 2 teeth each. Carapace granulate, with medial carina ending in tubercle, another tubercle in middle of gastric region on dorsal margin, pronounced cervical, branchial grooves. Eyestalk small, cornea without pigment. Antennular peduncle shorter than antennal peduncle. Second, third segments of antennal peduncle bearing thorn-like projections. Third maxillipeds slender. Major chelipeds unequal in size but similar in shape. Superior, inferior surfaces of merus with sharp teeth. Fingers long, narrow; with proximal gape; 3 rows granules on outer face of palm, palm with small marginal teeth. Pereopod 2 short, chelate. Other pereopods slender, with simple dactyls. Abdominal somites broad, setose, having grooves, knobs; pleura rounded. Telson longer than uropods, with 2 dorsal rows of fine spines. Uropods with dorsal ridges, few teeth on lateral margins. First pleopods uniramous, modified for copulation; others biramous. These crustaceans are hermaphroditic ( Hart 1982). Total length 60 mm.

Color in life. Carapace pale gray to pink, abdomen pinkish orange to light brown, fading to white on sides; appendages pale orange ( Hart 1982).

Habitat and depth. Abyssal mud, 549–1733 m.

Range. Eastern Pacific from Aleutian Is. to off San Diego, California. Type localiies from off Dannakh I., Alaska (Albatross sta. 3210), off Cascade Head, Oregon (Albatross sta. 3347) and two stations off San Diego , California (Albatross sta. 2928 and 4352) .

Remarks. The illustration provided by Schmitt (1921, fig. 75) is not this species but a similar species that lives in the Indian Ocean. Kensley (1989) did not illustrate the eastern Pacific species when he revised the generic designation.