Pandalus platyceros Brandt,1851

Wicksten, Mary K., 2012, Decapod Crustacea of the Californian and Oregonian Zoogeographic Provinces 3371, Zootaxa 3371, pp. 1-307 : 103

Pandalus platyceros Brandt,1851

( Fig. 25G–I, Pl. 4D)

Pandalus platyceros Brandt, 1851: 123 . — Holmes 1900: 210. — Rathbun 1904: 44. — Schmitt 1921: 43, pl. 14, fig. 3. — Kozloff 1974: 163. — Word & Charwat 1976: 187. — Butler 1980: 139, pl. 2A. — Wicksten 1980c: 364; 1989b: 313. — Jensen 1995: 55, fig. 102.

Pandalus pubescentulus Dana, 1852: 24 . — Stimpson 1857b: 501. — Kingsley 1878b: 63.

Diagnosis. Body stout, carapace pubescent. Length of rostrum 1.2–2.0 times carapace length, with 4–17 dorsal spines, teeth; 6–8 ventral rostral teeth, usually one tooth dorsal, proximal to rostral apex. Carapace with antennal, pterygostomian teeth. Eye large. First antenna with short stylocerite, inner flagellum longer than outer, both longer than carapace. Length of scaphocerite slightly longer than 0.5 times rostrum length, spine slightly exceeding blade, basicerite with moderate upper lateral spine, strong lower spine, flagellum equaling or exceeding body length. Third maxilliped stout, antepenultimate segment with slight lamina, epipod present. Pereopods 1–4 with epipods. Pereopod 1 with minute chela, ischium with slight lamella. Pereopods 2 chelate, left longer than right, left with 27–31 articles, right with 8 or 9 articles. Pereopods 3–5 with dactyls having 4–7 spinules, propodus with 8–23 spinules, carpus with 3 spines, merus with 7–11 spines, ischium with one spine. Dorsal posterior margin of abdominal somite 3 slightly produced. Pleuron of abdominal somite 4 with strong ventral point, pleuron of somite 5 with strong posterolateral point. Somite 6 shorter than telson. Telson with 4–6 pairs dorsolateral spines. Male total length to 230 mm, female to 253 mm.

Color in life. Dull red to fawn or tan, with 3 or 4 lateral white stripes on carapace. Pair of conspicuous white spots on dorsolateral surface of abdominal somites 1, 5. Third maxillipeds, pereopods, antennal flagella banded with red, white. Juveniles camouflaged with brown, green or red color similar to algae, eelgrass ( Butler 1980).

Habitat and depth. Juveniles usually shallower than adults, among sea grasses or algae, adults usually among rocks or on steep slopes, intertidal zone to 487 m.

Range. Unalaska I. to off San Diego ; Sea of Japan north along Asiatic Pacific coast. Type locality Unalaska I .

Remarks. Observations off British Columbia suggest that the shrimp are primarily nocturnal, and may move into shallower waters during the night ( Butler 1980). Records from California usually come from deeper subtidal waters, often at the shelf break (about 185 m).