Marine biologists at Queensland Museum Kurilpa have described a model new species of hermit crab, Strigopagurus fragarchela (frequent title is the strawberry-clawed hermit), from the continental shelf off south‑east Queensland, Australia.
Strigopagurus fragarchela. Image credit score rating: Queensland Museum.
“The central Indo-West Pacific diogenid genus Strigopagurus presently accommodates 5 species: Strigopagurus strigimanus, Strigopagurus bilineatas, Strigopagurus boreonotus, Strigopagurus elongatusand Strigopagurus poupini,” said Queensland Museum Kurilpa researchers Peter Davie and Marissa McNamara.
“Two of these, Strigopagurus strigimanus and Strigopagurus elongatusare endemic to temperate southern Australia, whereas Strigopagurus bilineatas is presently solely recognized from off tropical Queensland.”
“The remaining two species have not been recorded in Australian waters.”
“The recognized distribution of Strigopagurus poupini is restricted to French Polynesia, nonetheless the additional widespread Strigopagurus boreonotus would possibly doubtlessly occur in tropical Australian waters, as a result of it has been recorded from the surrounding seas of southeastern Indonesia, {the japanese} Coral Sea, and New Caledonia.”
“Present trawl surveys of shelf waters off SE Queensland have delivered to gentle fairly a number of large, strikingly colored Strigopagurus specimens that signify a further new Australian endemic species.”
The model new species, Strigopagurus fragarchelacould possibly be current in comparatively deep water (120-260 m) off south-eastern Queensland.
“The model new species has plenty of extraordinarily distinctive choices,” Dr. McNamara said.
“Most placing is its sensible pink claws, however it moreover has developed its private distinctive methodology of producing underwater sound (stridulation), very like cicadas do inside the air.”
“We knew instantly this was a specific hermit crab, and quickly gave it the nickname strawberry claws.”
“The identification of Strigopagurus fragarchela is an thrilling addition to the genus, for which Australia appears to be the stronghold.”
“We now have 4 endemic species, two of which can be solely current in Queensland.”
“The model new hermit crab has solely been collected by trawler catches, so little is however recognized of its ecology, nonetheless they’re little question important members of the rich natural communities of the continental shelf off southeastern Queensland.”
“The work of the scientists and researchers at Queensland Museum helps in providing a report of our state’s biodiversity for future generations,” said Queensland Museum CEO Dr. Jim Thompson.
“Our pure historic previous collections are further than merely preserved specimens — they’re crucial devices for scientific discovery, conservation and public education.”
The invention is described in a paper inside the Memoirs of Queensland Museum – Nature.
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P.J.F. Davie & M.Okay.A. McNamara. 2024. A model new species of hermit crab inside the genus Strigopagurus Forest, 1995 (Crustacea: Anomura: Diogenidae) from the continental shelf off south-east Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 65:110-123; doi: 10.17082/j.2204-1478.65.2024.2024-04