Hermit crabs of the genus Calcinus Dana 1851 (Crustacea Decapoda Anomura Diogenidae) with a brush of setae on the third pereopods, from Japanese and adjacent waters

Abstract

Eight species of hermit crabs of the genus Calcinus Dana 1851 with a brush of setae on the third pereopods are recorded from tropical Japan and the Mariana islands, Micronesia. New information on color variations in C. morgani Rahayu & Forest 1999 and C. elegans (H. Milne Edwards 1836) is reported. Color pattern differences between Japanese and Australian representatives of C. argus Wooster 1984 has been found. Special structures on the chelipeds of each species are reported. The systematic positions of C. anani Poupin & McLaughlin 1998 and C. sirius Morgan 1991 are reconsidered and discussed. The taxonomic confusion in the literature between C. morgani and C. gaimardii (H. Milne Edwards 1848), is clarified

KEY WORDS:

• hermit crabs
• Calcinus
• Japan
• Mariana Islands
• Indo-West Pacific