Paralomis spinosissima
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Paralomis spinosissima | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Anomura |
| Family: | Lithodidae |
| Genus: | Paralomis |
| Species: | P. spinosissima |
| Binomial name | |
| Paralomis spinosissima Birstein & Vinogradov, 1972[1] | |
Paralomis spinosissima, also known as the Antarctic stone crab,[2] is a species of king crab.[3][4]
Paralomis spinosissima's carapace is pyriform or nearly pentagonal and is slightly longer than it is wide.[5] Its rostrum extends past the eyestalks and consists of three sharp spines – one medial pointing forward and two dorsal diverging outward and upward.[5] Its carapace is covered with long, conical spines, and its walking legs and chelipeds are densely covered in long, sharp ones.[5] The lateral and posterior regions of the carapace are covered by small spines, while the dorsal and ventral margins are covered in tall spines and blunt spines, respectively.[5] It can grow up to 126 mm (5.0 in) in length and 132 mm (5.2 in) in width, and adults have weighed up to 1.40 kg (3.1 lb).[6]
Distribution
Paralomis spinosissima has been found in the Southeast Atlantic, the Scotia Sea, near South Georgia island, and south of the Falkland Islands at depths of 132–877 m (433–2,877 ft).[5] It thrives at temperatures of about 1 °C (34 °F), relatively low for king crabs.[7]
