Paralomis zealandica
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Paralomis zealandica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Anomura |
| Family: | Lithodidae |
| Genus: | Paralomis |
| Species: | P. zealandica |
| Binomial name | |
| Paralomis zealandica | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Paralomis zealandica, also known as the prickly king crab,[4] is a species of king crab.[3] It is the most widespread species of Paralomis in New Zealand, where it is endemic and known at depths between 254–1,212 m (833–3,976 ft).[5]
Paralomis zealandica has a pyriform carapace which is 0.90–1.05 times as long as it is wide.[6] It is overall ivory-white with the exception of the red-orange found on the spines of its dorsal carapace and in blotches on its legs.[5] The carapace, chelipeds, walking legs, and abdomen are all densely covered in spines,[7] although the dorsal spines eventually reduce to tubercles in adults.[5]
Distribution
Paralomis zealandica is known from the waters of southeastern New Zealand, where its known range extends from the Cook Strait down to the Bounty and Campbell Plateaus.[5][4] It is usually found on fine sand and mud bottoms at depths of 500–700 m (1,600–2,300 ft), but its full known range is 254–1,212 m (833–3,976 ft).[5][8]
Taxonomy
Paralomis zealandica was described in 1971 by Elliot Watson Dawson and John C. Yaldwyn.[2] The specific name "zealandica" derives from the type locality of New Zealand.[9]
