A new genus with two new species of hermit crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Paguroidea, Paguridae) from an unique habitat

Abstract

A new genus, Pteropagurus, is proposed for two new species of hermit crabs that are described and illustrated herein. These species, Pteropagurus inermis n. sp. and P. spina n. sp. are unique in that their shelter of choice is empty pteropod mollusk shells. The taxon can be categorized as a deepwaters genus, with a bathymetric range of 285 to 700 meters. Although both species are presently known only from New Caledonia, it is quite possible that their occurrence in other areas has been overlooked because their unique habitat has been neither expected nor heretofore considered a resource for hermit crabs.

Male reproductive apparatus and spermatophore morphology of the hermit crabs Pagurus brevidactylus and P. criniticornis (Anomura, Paguridae)

“…It is widely accepted that they are grouped into seven superfamilies: Aegloidea, Galatheoidea, Hippoidea, Kiwaoidea, Lomisoidea, Lithodoidea, and Paguroidea (McLaughlin et al,2007,2010). The Paguroidea are further classified into six families, including the Paguridae, which is the most diverse taxon with approximately 75 genera and 542 species (McLaughlin,2003; Osawa and Okuno,2003; Asakura and Tachikawa,2004; McLaughlin and Rahayu,2006,2008; McLaughlin,2007; McLaughlin et al,2010) that are widely distributed around the world. Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 is the largest and most speciose anomuran genus, with 173 currently assigned species (Lemaitre and Cruz Castaño,2004; McLaughlin,2007; McLaughlin et al,2010; Scelzo et al,2010).…”

A new and distinctive species of the hermit crab genus Catapaguropsis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from the South China Sea

“…In Catapaguropsis, as in Pteropagurus, the stemite of the third pereopods is noticeably broadened. This was thought to also be a dimorphic character in Pteropagurus; however, the posterior extension observed in males of P. inermis Rahayu, 2006 andP. spina McLaughlin &Rahayu, 2006 was found to occur in both sexes in a third recently discovered species (McLaughlin, in press).…”

“…Catapaguropsis Lemaitre & McLaughlin, 2006 was proposed for two specimens that shared characters with Catapagurus A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 andPteropagurus McLaughlin &Rahayu, 2006, but were clearly distinct from both. However, the male and female exhibited marked sexual dimorphism, with the female resembling species of Catapagurus and the male more similar to species of Pteropagurus.…”

“…The specimens used in this study are deposited the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (MNHN) with the catalog reference code Pg, and the Queensland Museum, Brisbane (QM) with the catalog reference code W. Terminology for the generic diagnosis and species' description follows that of Lemaitre & McLaughlin (2006) and McLaughlin & Rahayu (2006). It appears that shield width, rather than length, increases with growth in this genus; however, because of the contour of the shield, width cannot be as accurately measured.…”

A new genus and species of the hermit crab family Paguridae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguroidea) from Australia

“…The specimens used in this study are deposited in the Queensland Museum, Brisbane with the catalog reference code W. Terminology for the generic diagnosis and species' description follows that of McLaughlin (2003) and McLaughlin & Rahayu (2006). One measurement, shield length (sl), measured from the midpoint of the rostral lobe to the midpoint of the posterior margin of the shield provides an indication of animal size.…”