Australian hermit crabs of the genera Paguristes Dana, Stratiotes Thomson, and Pseudopaguristes McLaughlin (Crustacea: Anomura: Paguroidea: Diogenidae)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 7 years ago

ABSTRACT – An examination of the specimens thought to represent the hermit crab genus Paguristes sensu lato in all of the major Australian Museums has provided material for the first comprehensive review of this taxon in Australian waters. In keeping with the current subdivision of Paguristes, the recently resurrected Stratiotes Thomson is represented by the former Paguristes tuberculatus Whitelegge. The two recently described species, Paguristes monoporus Morgan and Paguristes laurentae Morgan and Forest have been reassigned to Pseudopaguristes, the latter as the senior synonym of Paguristes brachytes Komai and Pseudopaguristes gracilis Rahayu. The regional fauna of Paguristes sensu stricto now includes 20 species, of which four are new to science. Paguristes crinitimanus sp. nov. and P. triton sp. nov. are described from the Northern Territory, P. geminatus sp. nov. from Queensland, and P. dampierensis sp. nov. from the Dampier Archipelago of Western Australia. Five species, P. alcocki McLaughlin and Rahayu, P. palythophilus Ortmann, P. simplex Rahayu and McLaughlin, P. miyakei Forest and McLaughlin, and P. puniceus Henderson, are new additions to the Australian fauna. Range extensions also have been recorded for six species, including two previously known only from the type localities. Full descriptions and illustrations are provided for the new taxa, while more abbreviated descriptions and figures accompany the remainder. Keys to the genera, and keys to the Australian species of Pseudopaguristes and Paguristes s.s. also are provided.