NEW SPECIES OF PARALOMIS (DECAPODA, ANOMURA, LITHODIDAE) FROM A SUNKEN WHALE CARCASS IN THE SAN CLEMENTE BASIN OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Abstract

Paralomis manningi, new species, is described and illustrated from two immature males recovered from remains of a whale carcass sunken at a depth of 1,922 min the San Clemente Basin off southern California. While studying the ecology of whale-fall communities on the California margin with the aid of a remotely operated vehicle, we (CRS and ARB) collected the lithodid specimens from the organic-rich axial skeleton of an 11.7-m long juvenile gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus (Lilljeborg, 1861), that had been experimentally placed at the San Clemente floor for 39 months. In general outline of body, spination, and other ornamentation, the new species seems most closely related to four species of Paralomis that were described and figured by Macpherson (1988): P. pectinata Macpherson, P. serrata Macpherson, P. cristulata Macpherson, and P. africana Macpherson. The closest resemblance is to P. cristulata. A key to identification of these species is abridged from Macpherson (1988). Five species of squat lobsters, Galatheidae, were associated with the whale skeleton; Munidopsis cascadia Ambler, M. yaquiensis Ambler, M. verrilli Benedict, M. quadrata Faxon, and a possibly undescribed species of Munidopsis.