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Species: Pseudosquillopsis marmorata

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Click on any image to see an enlargement. All photos © 2006 Roy Caldwell.

Common name: None

Functional type: Spearer

Range: Southern California and Baja California, one report from Ecuador

Habitat: Open algal covered and rocky reefs, kelp beds

Depth: Extreme low tide to at least 30 m

Home: U-shaped burrows often under edge of a rock

Diet: Unknown; probably small crustaceans

Size: 30–155 mm

Color: Mottled burnt orange body with pink or purple uropod exopods and setae; eyes brown; raptorial propodus and dactyl pale yellow and white; antennae white

Distinguishing Characters: Strongly bilobed eyes with only three rows in the mid-band; rostral plate long and pointed; raptorial propodus broad, dactyl with three spines, hatchet-shaped heel

Activity: Nocturnal

Aquarium Requirements:

Temperature: 14–17° C

Salinity: 32–36 PSU

Cohabitants: Unknown

Aquarium size (adult): 80 l

Aquarium substrate: Sand or gravel, pvc pipe for burrow

Suitability for Aquarium: Good, but needs refrigerated aquarium; nocturnal, rarely seen out of its burrow even at night

Availability: Rare; occasionally collected by Southern California divers

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External Anatomy and Explanatory Notes