Pagurus quaylei Hart, 1971
Common name(s): Quayle's
hermit crab
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Synonyms: |
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Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Eucarida
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocyemata
Infraorder
Anomura
Family
Paguridae |
Pagurus quaylei captured at 25
m
depth by dredge off Japonski
Island, Sitka, Alaska. Carapace width 2.7 mm.
Shell is a small Amphissa
columbiana. This individual is a brooding
female with 140-160
early stage embryos attached (photo). |
(Photo and
identification
by: Aaron Baldwin, 2007) |
Description:
This subtidal limpet has
only the shield of its carapace
calcified, the carpus
of the right cheliped,
which is stout but shorter than the walking legs, is longer than wide (photo),
the dactyls
of legs 2 and 3 are not twisted, the dorsal surface of the palm (propodus)
of the left chela has no prominent ridge, crest, or cancavity, the
ventral
surface of the merus
of the right cheliped
has no prominent tubercles,
and the dactyl
of the left chela
is bowed to the extent that there is a clear gap between the propodus
and dactyl
when the claw is closed (photo),
and the eyescales
have 2-5 spines each.
How to Distinguish
from
Similar Species: Several
other subtidal species such as P. stevensae
have no prominent tubercles on the ventral surface of the merus of the
right cheliped, but none of them (except some small P.
kennerlyi) have the dactyl of the left chela so
bowed that there
is a gap between it and the propodus when the claw is closed.
Geographical Range:
Depth Range: Subtidal.
The individual
above was at 25 m depth.
Habitat:
The individual above was on a cobble/shell
bottom.
Biology/Natural
History:
Little is known
of this species.
References:
Dichotomous Keys:
Hart,
1982
Kozloff
1987, 1996
Smith
and Carlton, 1975
Wicksten,
2009
General References:
Scientific
Articles:
Abrams,
Peter, Carl Nyblade, and Sallie Sheldon, 1986.
Resource partitioning
and competition for shells in a subtidal hermit crab species
assemblage.
Oecologia 69:3 pp. 429-445
Hart 1971, J. Fish. Res. Board Can.
28(10):1537.
Walker,
Sally E., 1989. Hermit crabs as taphonomic
agents. Palaios
4:5 pp. 439-452
General Notes and
Observations: Locations, abundances,
unusual behaviors:
A closeup of the anterior head and eyes.
Photo by Aaron Baldwin, 2007
In this view one can see that the carpus
of the right cheliped
is longer than wide, and the propodus
and dactyl
of the left cheliped
have a gap between them.
Photo by Aaron Baldwin, 2007
The female was carrying 140-160 early stage embryos
Photo by Aaron Baldwin, 2007
Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2007): Created original page using photos taken
by Aaron Baldwin in Sitka, Alaska.
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