Malacoplax californiensis (Lockington, 1877) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Panopeidae) in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Abstract

A series of specimens of Malacoplax californiensis (Lockington, 1877) is reported from the Gulf of California, significantly increasing the known localities for the otherwise rarely reported species from 3 to 12. Depth range is increased to 110‒114 m on the continental shelf. Environmental conditions associated with the crabs were: 12.4‒27.0°C; 1.9‒5.0 ml/l O2; 58‒98% sandy sediments. Males and females were sexually distinct even at small sizes (4.2 mm and 3.5 mm CW, respectively). Two small specimens were infested with a rhizocephalan, a condition not reported previously for this species of panopeid.

Keywords
Burrowing crab; western Mexico; distribution; tropical eastern Pacific; Rhizocephala