Blepharipoda occidentalis Randall, 1840

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 161

Blepharipoda occidentalis Randall, 1840

( Fig. 38A, B)

Blepharipoda occidentalis Randall, 1840: 131 , pl. 6. — Holmes 1900: 104. — Rathbun 1904: 167. — Schmitt 1921: 172, pl. 31, fig. 6. — Johnson & Snook 1927: 347, fig. 295. — MacGinitie & MacGinitie 1968: 304. — Haig & Abbott 1980: 582, fig. 24.5. — Ricketts et al. 1985: 254, fig. 205. — Jensen 1995: 77, fig. 156. — Boyko 2002: 27, figs. 9–11. — Kuris et al. 2007: 648.

Diagnosis. Carapace oblong, with 4 sharp spines on each side, somewhat scaly in front, smooth posteriorly; median projection spiniform, longitudinal median ridge with spine at anterior end. Both pairs of antennae long, setose. Eyestalk cylindrical, exceeding length of median projection of carapace. First pereopods with strong, spiny chelipeds. Pereopods 2–4 flattened, with semicircular dactyls. Abdominal somites well separated laterally. Telson rounded. Carapace length to 60 mm.

Color in life. Carapace dark gray, legs cream-colored. The color notes are based on crabs from San Francisco, California.

Habitat and depth. Sandy beaches, lower intertidal zone to 9 m.

Range. Stinson Beach , California to Santa Rosalia Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Type locality San Diego, California .

Remarks. Adults of this species are scavengers, whereas juveniles filter plankton from the water. The crabs usually are buried out of sight in sand. Molts commonly are cast ashore.