Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.

Sci (2017) 6(8): 2871-2878

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 8 (2017) pp. 2871-2878
Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.608.343

New Records of Hermit Crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) From

Maharashtra Coast of India
T. Nirmal*, A.K. Jaiswar, S.K. Chakraborty, A. Pavan Kumar,
G. Kantharajan and P.M. Nuzaiba

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Panch Marg, Off Yari road Andheri (W),
Mumbai- 400 061, India
*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Keywords
Hermit crab,
Decapoda, In the present communication, we recorded the occurrence of four hermit
Paguroidea, crabs, Pagurus pitagsaleei McLaughlin, 2002, Clibanarius arethusa De
Anomura, Mann, 1888, Clibanarius zebra Dana, 1852 and Diogenes alias
Maharashtra.
McLaughlin & Holthuis, 2001 for the first time from the Maharashtra coast,
Article Info India. The record shows that these four species have the extended
Accepted: distribution from their earlier occurrence along Indian coast.
23 June 2017
Available Online:
10 August 2017

Introduction
Hermit crabs placed under Decapoda (infra- (Reese, 1969; Hazlett, 1983). Anomurans
order - Anomura) are the most attractive, form very important link in the food web of
distinctive and ecologically important group the oceans as the major food of economically
of animals extensively spread across the valuable species of fishes. Anomura
intertidal, subtidal, estuarine, mangrove and comprises of 7 super-families, 17 families,
coral reef areas of tropical countries (Reese, 200 genera, and about 1500 species
1969). This high variation in habitat where worldwide (Martin and Davis, 2001). Under
they resides makes them to evolve with superfamily Paguroidea, hermit crabs comes
various behavioral and physiological which is further divided into 5 families with
adaptations which possibly affect their 1100 species worldwide. In Indian context,
diversity, distribution and their resource the hermit crabs were represented by 112
choice. These animals are known for their species (Trivedi and Vachhrajani, 2017) and
fragile and uncalcified abdomen for the this number is increasing day by day.
reason they are highly reliance on gastropod
shells which provide various services such as Majority of studies have been concentrated
protection against predators and desiccation upon the organisms having high market value
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and the attention towards animal (hermit rostrum tip to the posterior edge of the shield
crabs) lacks this importance were less. Even to denote size. The reference materials were
though, there has been a series of regional deposited in museum collections of Fisheries
faunal surveys took place along India viz. Resource Management Department, Central
Henderson (1893, 1915), Alcock (1905), Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai
Southwell (1906), Sundara Raj (1927), Reddi (CIFE/FRM/HC1, 2, 5 and 8).
(1935), Kamalaveni (1950), Khan, S.A. and
R. Natarajan (1984) and Thomas (1989). In Systematic accounts
the interim, there have been a number of
changes occurred in the nomenclature and Family Diogenidae
systematics and new addition to the faunal list Genus Clibanarius Dana, 1852
(Komai et al., 2012; 2013; 2015 and Reshmi Clibanarius arethusa De Mann, 1888
and Bijukumar, 2010 and 2011). Even though, Clibanarius arethusa De Man, 1888a: 252
there are few works has been done, there
exists uncertainty in both genus and species Materials examined
level which needs further more attention.
Despite their ecological value, little is known Collected from rocky intertidal areas of
about their systematics and ecology in India Danapani, Bandstand and Srivardhan;
especially from Maharashtra region. Hence, Number of specimens examined: 3, 2 male
there is a need for generating the information (SL: 7.8, 9.2mm) and 1 female (SL: 5.8mm).
about the present status of hermit crabs which
would form the baseline for further studies. Diagnosis
The present investigation would facilitate
subsequent recognition and identification of Shield longer than broad (Fig. 2A, E). Ocular
the involved taxon by the future reseachers peduncles each having the same length,
for various diversity and ecological studies. slightly shorter than the shield, reaching
beyond both antennal and antennular
Materials and Methods peduncles; ocular acicles with straight mesial
margins. Ocular acicles triangular to sub-
The samples of hermit crabs were collected triangular shape with 3 marginal spines.
by hand picking from intertidal areas during Antennular peduncles reaching an almost end
low tide, viz. Aksha beach, Bandstand of of ocular peduncle. Cheliped subequal; right
Mumbai and Alibaug, Srivardhan of Raigad slightly longer (Fig. 2B). Dactylus distinctly
and from trawlers operating in sub tidal areas larger than palm; upper margin with sparsely
of Versova of Mumbai, Maharashtra (Fig. 1) distributed small tubercles or spines. Carpus
during August 2014 to April 2015. Collected slightly wider than longer with a single
animals, along with the shells were preserved prominent spine on dorsomesial margin.
in 70 % alcohol and brought to lab for further
studies. Later, the abdomen of the crabs was Ambulatory legs generally similar; but the
pulled out of the shells by twisting the animal third pair longer than the second one (Fig.
slowly against the direction of shell spiral. A 2C). Dactyli of the third pair is longer than
light hammer (Teoh et al., 2014) was used to propodi. Telson with barely detectable
crack the shell in difficult cases. The median cleft separating posterior lobes
specimens were identified using the key (asymmetrical), left lobe is larger than right
(Alcock 1905; McLaughlin. 2003). Shield with 5-6 corneous tipped spines, right margin
length (SL) measurements were taken from with 2-4 spinules, both spine rows not

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extending onto lateral margin (Fig. 2D). spinules at the ventral margin (Fig. 3C).
Shield creamish white. Chelipeds, ambulatory Telson having shallow median cleft with
legs, ocular and antennular peduncles with asymmetrical posterior lobes; terminal
reddish brown colour. Antennal peduncle margins with 2-3 corneous tipped spines (Fig.
brown with a light brown flagellum. 3B). Ocular peduncles without stripes,
Ambulatory legs, propodus and dactyl bluish-
Remarks orange.

Reported from Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Remarks

Australia, East Indian Ocean from Kenya to
Arabian Sea, Vietnam, South China Sea, The distribution of this species so far reported
Philippine Islands, New Caledonia, French only from Indian Ocean (Thomas, 1989).
Polynesia and India.In India, this species is
reported so far from Kerala and Bay of Genus: Diogenes Dana, 1851
Bengal (Reshmi, 2014 and Alcock, 1905).
Diogenes alias McLaughlin & Holthuis,
Clibanarius zebra Dana, 1852 2001

Pagurus zebra Dana, 1852 Pagurus diogenes: Fabricius 1787: 327;

Cancer diogenes 1791: 17, Diogenes miles
Materials examined Heller 1865: 83; Diogenes diogenes.
Henderson 1893; Diogenes alias McLaughlin
Collected from rocky intertidal areas of & Holthuis 2001: 256.
Danapani and Srivardhan; Number of
specimens examined: 48, 27 male (SL: 2.84- Materials examined
5.21mm) and 21 female (SL: 2.2-4.13mm).
Collected from subtidal regions of Versova;
Diagnosis Number of specimens examined: 31, 16 male
(SL: 7.45-10.73mm) and 15 female (SL: 6.89-
Shield less broader than length; rostrum 8.12mm).
triangular (Fig. 3A). Ocular peduncles slightly
shorter than shield; ocular acicles terminating Diagnosis
with a spine. Ocular peduncles slightly shorter
than or as same as antennular peduncles; Shield broader than long, sub rectangular
antennal peduncles hardly reaching the base shaped (Fig. 4A). Rostrum obtuse; lateral
of the eye. Chelipeds subequal; robust left projections each with small submarginal
slightly shorter than right (Fig. 3D). Palm’s spinule. Ocular peduncles equal in length,
dorsal surface with few corneous-tipped long and stout; ocular acicles with straight
spines; dorsomesial margins of carpi with a mesial margins. The intercalary rostral
prominent spine distally. Distal half of dactyls process usually reaching beyond anterior
of ambulatory legs with few closely-spaced margins of ocular acicles.

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Fig.1 Location of sampling sites

Fig.2 Clibanarius arethusa De Man, 1888: A) Whole animal B) Cheliped C) Right pereiopod D)
Telson E) Sheild

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Fig.3 Clibanarius zebra Dana 1852: A) Whole animal B)Telson

C) Right pereiopod D) Cheliped

Fig.4 Diogenes alias McLaughlin & Holthuis, 2001: A) Whole animal B) Cheliped C) Telson
D) Third maxilliped E) Right pereiopod

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Fig.5 Pagurus pitagsaleei McLaughlin, 2002: A) Whole animal B) Right pereiopod

C) Telson D) Cheliped

Antennular peduncles over reaching cornea. South China Sea. Their distribution in India
Antennal acicles outer branches reaching to or so far reported from Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
beyond the last peduncular segment. Karnataka and Gujarat (Trivedi et al., 2015,
Chelipeds unequal left cheliped larger and Reshmi, 2014 and Rahayu, 2000).
with a row of slender, sharp spines near the
upper outer margin of dactyli (Fig. 4B). Right Family: Paguridae
cheliped with 1 or 2 rows of sharp spines on Genus: Pagurus
the upper margin of dactyl. Ambulatory legs
generally similar, but the third pair longer Pagurus pitagsaleei McLaughlin, 2002
than the second one (Fig. 4D, 4E). Dactyli is
longer than propodi. Propodi with 3 longer Pagurus cf. boriaustraliensis – Rahayu &
prominent spines on the dorsal surface. Carpi, Komai, 2000: 30; Pagurus pitagsaleei
each with a row of spine at upper margin. McLaughlin, 2002: 444.
Median cleft separating asymmetrical
posterior lobes is absent in telson (Fig. 4C), Materials examined
left terminal margin with 5-6 corneous tipped
spines noticeably increasing towards posterior Collected from rocky intertidal areas of
margin. Shield cream coloured with a Bandstand and Alibaug; Number of
brownish tinge. Ocular peduncle with a light specimens examined: 3, 2 male (SL: 5.43,
brown longitudinal stripe. Chelipeds, 5.8mm) and 1 female (SL: 2.9mm).
ambulatory legs, antennae, antennules
creamish-brown. Diagnosis

Remarks Shield longer than broad (Fig. 5A). Rostrum

moderately obtuse, broadly rounded rostrum.
Reported from Pakistan, Indonesia, Eastern Ocular acicle is terminating in a single
coast of India including Nicobar Islands and submarginal spine. Ocular peduncles equal in

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length, long and narrow, inflated at base; the study. The help and guidance given for
ocular acicles with straight mesial margins, identification by R. Reshmi, Trivesh Jignesh
anterolateral margin bearing 6-7 spinules. and Ravineesh is acknowledged.
Right cheliped larger not appreciably longer
than left (Fig. 5D). Dactyl with a longitudinal References
median ridge, a row of small closely spaced
spines on the dorsomesial margin. Left Alcock, A., 1905. Anomura. Fascicle 1.
cheliped dorsomesial region with 3-4 Pagurides Catalogue of the Indian
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dorsolateral margin with 3-4 spines. various shell characteristics to the shell
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with 6-7 corneous tipped spines noticeably crabs of Proto Novo Coast. Records of
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How to cite this article:

Nirmal, T., A.K. Jaiswar, S.K. Chakraborty, A. Pavan Kumar, G. Kantharajan and Nuzaiba,
P.M. 2017. New Records of Hermit Crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from Maharashtra
Coast of India. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 6(8): 2871-2878.
doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.608.343

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