Biology:Pagurus

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Short description: Genus of crustaceans

Pagurus
Pagurus armatus.jpg
Black-eyed hermit crab, Pagurus armatus
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Anomura
Family: Paguridae
Genus: Pagurus
Type species
Cancer bernhardus

Pagurus is a genus of hermit crabs in the family Paguridae. Like other hermit crabs, their abdomen is not calcified and they use snail shells as protection. These marine decapod crustaceans are omnivorous, but mostly prey on small animals and scavenge carrion. Trigonocheirus and Pagurixus used to be considered subgenera of Pagurus, but the former is nowadays included in Orthopagurus, while the latter has been separated as a distinct genus.[2]

Species

Some 170 species are presently placed in Pagurus; many others have been placed here at one time but are now assigned to other genera of Paguroidea. The following list is current (As of June 2012):[2]

Pagurus anachoretus
Pagurus bernhardus
Long-armed hermit crab, Pagurus longicarpus
Hairy hermit crab, Pagurus hirsutiusculus, outside its shell – note the soft-shelled and curved abdomen (top of photo)

The following are all nomina nuda. They have never been validly described as new species, but only mentioned under these names:[2]

  • Pagurus bunomanus Glassell, 1937
  • Pagurus crenatus Hope, 1851
  • Pagurus cuanensis Thompson, 1844
  • Pagurus cultratus White, 1847
  • Pagurus hirtimanus White, 1847
  • Pagurus hyndmani Thompson, 1844
  • Pagurus laevis Thompson, 1844
  • Pagurus ulidiae Thompson, 1843

References

Wikidata ☰ Q2480027 entry