Marine biologists at Queensland Museum Kurilpa have described a unusual species of hermit crab, Strigopagurus fragarchela (general establish is the strawberry-clawed hermit), from the continental shelf off south‑east Queensland, Australia.
Strigopagurus fragarchela. Image credit: Queensland Museum.
“The central Indo-West Pacific diogenid genus Strigopagurus within the meanwhile contains 5 species: Strigopagurus strigimanus, Strigopagurus bilineatus, Strigopagurus boreonotus, Strigopagurus elongatus, and Strigopagurus poupini,” mentioned Queensland Museum Kurilpa researchers Peter Davie and Marissa McNamara.
“Two of these, Strigopagurus strigimanus and Strigopagurus elongatus, are endemic to temperate southern Australia, while Strigopagurus bilineatus is within the meanwhile most attention-grabbing identified from off tropical Queensland.”
“The relaxation two species have not any longer been recorded in Australian waters.”
“The identified distribution of Strigopagurus poupini is proscribed to French Polynesia, however the more trendy Strigopagurus boreonotus would possibly perchance potentially happen in tropical Australian waters, because it has been recorded from the surrounding seas of southeastern Indonesia, the eastern Coral Sea, and Unique Caledonia.”
“Most unusual trawl surveys of shelf waters off SE Queensland have dropped at light tons of desirable, strikingly colored Strigopagurus specimens that characterize a extra unusual Australian endemic species.”
The unusual species, Strigopagurus fragarchela, can also additionally be came upon in somewhat deep water (120-260 m) off south-eastern Queensland.
“The unusual species has several extremely distinctive facets,” Dr. McNamara mentioned.
“Most striking is its luminous red claws, however it with out a doubt additionally has developed its private unusual intention of manufacturing underwater sound (stridulation), great take care of cicadas lift out within the air.”
“We knew straight away this used to be a diversified hermit crab, and quick gave it the nickname strawberry claws.”
“The identification of Strigopagurus fragarchela is a thrilling addition to the genus, for which Australia looks to be to be the stronghold.”
“We have got four endemic species, two of that are most attention-grabbing came upon in Queensland.”
“The unusual hermit crab has most attention-grabbing been unruffled by trawler catches, so minute is but identified of its ecology, however they’re with out doubt essential members of the prosperous biological communities of the continental shelf off southeastern Queensland.”
“The work of the scientists and researchers at Queensland Museum helps in offering a document of our deliver’s biodiversity for future generations,” mentioned Queensland Museum CEO Dr. Jim Thompson.
“Our pure history collections are more than excellent preserved specimens — they’re essential tools for scientific discovery, conservation and public education.”
The invention is described in a paper within the Memoirs of Queensland Museum – Nature.
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P.J.F. Davie & M.Okay.A. McNamara. 2024. A brand unusual species of hermit crab within 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
