Spirontocaris snyderi Rathbun, 1902

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 95

Spirontocaris snyderi Rathbun, 1902

( Fig. 23E, Pl. 3A)

Spirontocaris snyderi Rathbun, 1902a: 894 ; 1904: 69, fig. 24. — Schmitt 1921: 54, fig. 31. — Holthuis 1947: 8. — Kozloff 1974: 166. — Word & Charwat 1976: 157. — Hayashi 1977: 158. — Butler 1980: 171. — Wicksten 1990b: 590. — Jensen 1995: 52, fig. 94. — Chace 1997: 57.

Diagnosis (modified from Butler 1980). Rostrum deep, reaching end of antennular peduncle, with 8–10 dorsal, 3–5 ventral teeth, 3 or 4 dorsal teeth on carapace proper.

Dorsal spine on each of segments of antennular peduncle, stylocerite reaching end of first segment. Carapace with 2 supraorbital teeth. Pereopods 1, 2 with epipods. Pereopods 3–5 slender, merus of each bearing 3–4 spines, dactyls slender, bearing 4–6 spinules. Pleura of abdominal somites 1–3 rounded, 4, 5 with weak point. Telson with 3 or 4 pairs dorsolateral spines, acute apex. Male total length 18 mm, female to 24 mm.

Color in life. Reddish brown, mottled with white, pink, silvery bands, spots ( Jensen 1995, fig. 94). Mostly translucent with red bands on third maxillipeds, first pereopods; red lines on anterior carapace, tail fan; pink or red spots on eyestalk, posterior pereopods, abdomen (individual photographed off La Jolla Shores, California, K. Lee, pers. comm.)

Habitat and depth. Usually on sand, or sand mixed with mud, rock; 4–355 m , may live among sand dollars ( Dendraster excentricus ). Most specimens from California were taken at 50–100 m.

Range. Tasu Sound, Queen Charlotte Is., British Columbia to Cedros I., Baja California, Mexico. Type locality Monterey Bay , California .