Pandalus stenolepis Rathbun 1902

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: This species is smaller than most other Pandalids. It is most similar to Pandalus danae but has red spots instead of diagonal stripes on the sides of the abdomen and the blue spots are more distinct.

Biology/Natural History: The adult of this species looks much like P. danae, but the larvae are very distinctive.

This species is a protandric hermaphrodite.

Geographical Range: Unalaska Island, Alaska to Hecata Bank, Oregon

Depth Range: 18-229 m

As with all members of Family Pandalidae, The rostrum is prominent with movable dorsal spines and the carpus of pereopod 2 is subdivided into many subunits. This species has antenna 1 only about as long as the carapace. Abdominal segment 3 has no median dorsal ridge and no posterior spine. The median dorsal spines on the carapace extend to behind the midpoint of the carapace, but there are only 8-12 such spines, including those on the dorsal rostrum. These spines have a red patch at their base. The rostrum is 1.2-1.4x the length of the rest of the carapace, and the distal 2/3 ascend sharply. There are 5-7 spines on the underside of the rostrum and the rostral tip is bifid. There is a rough patch on the cardiac region of the carapace. The telson has 3-5 pairs of small dorsolateral spines. The pink antennal scale has a concave outer margin and the distal half of the blade is narrower than the adjacent axis. Coloration: Carapace: Patches of red dots along sides, band of closely spaced dots along the anterolateral margin to the base of the rostrum. At least one large yellow dot on lower sides and two blue dots high on each side near the back, behind the pubescent or rough patch. Abdomen: Sides with patches of red dots on dorsal and upper lateral surfaces of 1st and 3rd segments + on lower pleura and bases of pleopods. Yellow dots and patches on lower anterior part of first segment and on lower part of second pleuron. Blue spots on segments 1, 2, 3, 4. Males carapace length to 14.4 mm, females to 18.2 mm carapace length, 82 mm total length.