Paralomis serrata

Paralomis serrata is a species of king crab known from the Caribbean Sea.^[2][3]

Paralomis serrata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Anomura
Family:	Lithodidae
Genus:	Paralomis
Species:	P. serrata
Binomial name
Paralomis serrata Macpherson, 1988[1]

Description

Paralomis serrata has a pyriform carapace which is covered dorsally in rounded granules.^[3] From the center outward, the front edge of the carapace has a short, trifid rostrum whose median spine is horizontal; a pair of orbital spines whose extent is just short of the cornea; and a smaller pair of lateral spines.^[4] Behind the rostrum, the gastric region is highly pronounced, and the triangular cardiac region behind that is smaller than the gastric and branchial regions.^[4] Like the dorsal carapace, the abdomen is covered in granules.^[4] The male holotype's carapace measures 106 mm (4.2 in) long and 112 mm (4.4 in) wide.^[4]

The walking legs are long and slender, with the third pair being the shortest at 2.7 times the carapace length.^[4] The anterior and posterior edges of the merus, carpus, and propodus feature a row of spines – referenced in P. serrata's name – and the slightly curved anterior edge of the dactylus features two parallel rows of setae tufts.^[5] The merus and carpus of the chelipeds are sparsely granular and have several spines which are found mostly on the dorsal side.^[4] The palms are spinose on the dorsal surface and granular elsewhere, and the fingers are densely covered in setae tufts.^[4]

Distribution

Paralomis serrata is known from the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Colombia at a depth of 1,100 m (3,600 ft).^[6]

Taxonomy

Paralomis serrata was described by carcinologist Enrique Macpherson in 1988.^[1] The specific name "serrata" – being derived from "serra", Latin for "saw" – refers to the sawtooth-like row of spines on the walking legs.^[7] It is distinguished from its closest relative – P. pectinata from near Margarita Island – through the pyriform shape of its carapace and the subtlety of the crests near its posterior and on its chelipeds.^[3] It also resembles P. verrilli from the North Pacific, but among other distinguishing features, P. serrata entirely lacks a prominent crest found on the posterolateral edge of P. verrilli's carapace.^[8]