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Issue: Vol. 1116 No. 1: 27 Jan. 2006
Type: Articles
Published: 2006-01-27
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1116.1.4
Page range: 55–68
Abstract views: 99
PDF downloaded: 3

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

Shannon Point Marine Center, Western Washington University, 1900 Shannon Point Road, Anacortes, WA 98221-9081B, USA
Research Center for Oceanography, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jl. Pasir Putih 1, Ancol Timur, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia
Crustacea Decapoda Paguroidea Paguridea new genus new species pteropod shells

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.

References

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