PORT PHILLIP BAY


Dwarf Hermit Crab 

Lophopagurus nanus (Henderson, 1888)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Chelipeds unequal, right larger than left. Right cheliped with propodus-carpus articulation more or less rotated from horizontal plane. Maxillipeds 3 separate at base, ischium with accessory tooth. Antennule flagellum elongate. Abdomen typically large and twisted. Abdominal somite 1 distinct from last thoracic somite. Pereopod 4 propodus with rasp of 1 row of spines. Male with simple paired gonopores. Male with 3 unpaired biramous pleopods, female with paired pleopods 1 modified as gonopods, and unpaired biramous pleopods 2-5 (endopod on 5 reduced). Uropods asymmetrical. Telson with transverse suture, margin with 2 lobes. Pleurobranchs on pereopod 4 only (11 pairs). Females with paired pleopods 1 modified as gonopods.

Source: Poore, G.C.B. (2004) Marine decapod Crustacea of southern Australia. A guide to identification (with chapter on Stomatopoda by Shane Ahyong). CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, 574 pp.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Subclass:
Eumalacostraca
Superorder:
Eucarida
Order:
Decapoda
Suborder:
Pleocyemata
Infraorder:
Anomura
Family:
Paguridae
Genus:
Lophopagurus
Subgenus:
Lophopagurus
Species:
nanus

General Description

Right claw (cheliped) larger than left, with strong ridge on palm (propodus). Palm triangular in cross-section and scarcely rotated with respect to 5th segment (carpus). Red with whitish bands on claws and legs. Carapace up to 5 mm long.

Biology

The legs and claws of this small species are candy-striped white and red and are relatively thin, but more important for species identification is the triangular cross-section of the left smaller claw (cheliped), resulting from a strong ridge on its outside. This species is especially common in Bass Strait.

Habitat

Intertidal, to depths of 14-128 m.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including south-eastern and eastern Australia.

Species Group

Hermit Crabs

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

5 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Species Code

MoV 1591

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Poore, G.C.B.

Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, Dwarf Hermit Crab, Lophopagurus nanus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Jun 2018, http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au:8098/species/5466

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