| 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] | |
Paralomis serrata is a species of king crab known from the Caribbean Sea. [2] [3]
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]
Paralomis serrata is known from the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Colombia at a depth of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). [6]
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]