New species and new records of the hermit crab genus Pagurixus Melin, 1939 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from the Indo-West Pacific
Author
Komai, Tomoyuki
text
Journal of Natural History
2010
2010-05-24
44
21 - 22
1269
1342
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222931003624812
journal article
10.1080/00222931003624812
1464-5262
5209607
Genus
Pagurixus
Melin, 1939
Remarks
It has been reported that some species of
Pagurixus
have a collar-like protrusion located on the posteromesial portion of the right coxa of the fifth pereopod in males (Komai and
Myorin 2005
;
Komai and Osawa 2006
).
Komai and Osawa (2006)
termed this structure “posteromesial protrusion”. The presence of this protrusion is now confirmed in the following nine species (although the developmental degree of it is rather variable according to species):
P. boninensis
;
P. concolor
;
P. crosnieri
sp. nov.
;
P. fasciatus
;
P. festinus
McLaughlin and Haig, 1984
;
P. paulayi
Komai and Osawa, 2006
;
P. pilosus
sp. nov.
;
P. pseliophorus
Komai and Osawa, 2006
; and
P. purpureus
Komai and Osawa, 2009
.
The ventromesial protrusion is well calcified and its base is clearly demarcated by a suture; the gonopore opening is located at the top of this protrusion; setae comprising the tuft, being characteristic of the genus, arise adjacent to the margin of the gonopore. Therefore, it cannot be considered that the protrusion is a modification of the vas deferens or of a part of the gonopore. The function of the protrusion remains unknown. No other pagurids have a similar structure.