260 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 23 



Pinnixa littoralis Holmes 



Plate 40, figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 



Pinnixa littoralis Holmes, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., (2), 4, 571, pi. 20, figs. 

 14-16, 1894 (1895); Occas. Papers Calif. Acad. Sci., 7, 91, 1900; 

 Eathbun, H. A. E., 10, 188, 1904; Weymouth, Stanford Univ. Publ., 

 Univ. Ser., no. 4, 58, 1910 (part: except fig. 5 and specimens from Puget 

 Sound) ; Way, Puget Sd. Mar. Sta. Publ., 1, 362, fig. 14, 1917; Eathbun, 

 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 97, 145, text figs. 89, 90, pi. 31, figs. 5-8, 1918 ; 

 Nininger, Jour. Ent. Zool., Pomona Coll., 10, 41, fig. 32, 1918. 



Fig. 155. Pinnixa littoralis, X 6; a, left chela, $; b, left chela, $ (after 

 Eathbun). 



Characters. — Carapace about twice as long as wide, pointed at sides, flattened 

 above; a transverse depression behind the median region followed by a transverse 

 intumescence; orbits pointed at outer angle. Hands of chelipeds compressed, 

 oblong but widening a little distally; fingers of female gaping; immovable finger 

 of male deflexed. Immature females as well as immature males have chelae usually 

 resembling those of adult males, that is, with the fingers widely gaping, thumb 

 short, and dactyl strongly curved. Merus of third pair of ambulatory legs of male 

 twice as long as wide. 



Dimensions. — Type, length of carapace 4.5 mm., width 9.5 mm. 



Color. — Eegarding this species, Miss Eathbun remarks that it 

 . . . can be distinguished from P. faba by the constantly different color. In forma- 

 lin the carapace and appendages of female have a light greenish yellow ground, 

 with large blotches of coral red on anterior half. Eggs orange-vermilion, some- 

 times chestnut. First three ambulatory legs with a rufous band which embraces 

 the propodus and part of the carpus. Male light dirty greenish- white, with bands 

 on legs like those of female. 



A pair from near the station at Departure Bay [Vancouver Island] are said 

 by Doctor Fraser to be yellow (in place of coral red), with a band of dull 

 salmon on the legs. 



Miss Way gives the color as grayish white, often with brownish-tipped walking 

 legs. 



Type Locality.- — Bodega Bay, California. 



Distribution. — Sitka, Alaska, to San Diego, California. 



Remarks. — Some of the specimens were found in the holes of the common 

 clam, Mya, others were picked up on the shore (Holmes). Of five hundred 

 specimens taken by Fraser, the adults with few exceptions inhabited the giant 

 clam, Scliizothaerus, while all the young of both sexes were taken from the small 

 clam, Mya. Has also been found in Saxidomus, Macoma, and Paphia (Eathbun). 

 The only specimen recorded from Balboa Bay was found clinging to the outside 

 of the slime tube of Ceriantlius (Nininger). 



