Paguristes bakeri Holmes 1900

(Pl. 8E)

Paguristes bakeri Holmes, 1900: 152. — Schmitt 1921: 124, pl. 18, figs. 2, 6. — Johnson & Snook 1927: 333, fig. 282. — Haig et al. 1970: 17. — Wicksten 1988a: 321; 1988b: 321. — Jensen 1995: 68, fig. 130. — Hendrickx et al. 2006: 33. — Kuris et al. 2007: 648.

Diagnosis. Rostrum about as long as lateral projections of carapace. Second antennae sparsely setose. Length of eyestalk about 0.75 times as long as width of anterior portion of carapace. Hands of chelae broad, about 1.2 times wider than long, outer margin strongly convex; immovable finger about 2 times as wide at base as movable finger; upper surface of hands strongly spined. Appendages covered by shaggy setae. Carapace length to 35 mm.

Color in life. Dark reddish to brown; sometimes with blue shade on pereopods 2, 3.

Habitat and depth. Often in silty sand, usually subtidal; lowest intertidal zone to 212 m. According to Hendrickx et al. (2006), a report of the species at 232 m probably is in error. Most records are from less than 100 m.

Range. Bodega Bay, California to Gulf of California, Mexico. Type locality San Diego, California.

Remarks. This large hermit crab usually inhabits shells of moon snails (Polinices spp.) It can dig into the sediment, and can use both its antennae and third maxillipeds to capture particles of food. Hendrickx et al. (2006) provide detailed accounts of the sediments and temperature regimes in which this hermit crab is found in the Gulf of California and southwestern Baja California.