Family PYLOJACQUESIDAE McLaughlin & Lemaitre, 2001

Pylojacquesia colemani, carapace and right cheliped (not to scale) [from McLaughlin & Lemaitre 2001: figs 2a, 4b]

Museums

Regional Maps

• Pylojacquesidae McLaughlin, P.A. & Lemaitre, R. 2001. A new family for a new genus and new species of hermit crab of the superfamily Paguroidea (Decapoda: Anomura) and its phylogenetic implications. Journal of Crustacean Biology 21(4): 1062-1076 [1063].

  Type genus:

   Pylojacquesia McLaughlin & Lemaitre, 2001.

Introduction

McLaughlin and Lemaitre (2001) placed a new Australian species in a family distinct from Diogenidae and Paguridae with which it shared some features. It differs in the notable separation of thoracic sternites 12–14, between the coxae of pereopods 3–5, the presence of small, calcified tergal plates on the first pleonite, and a prominently toothed mandible. The family was based on specimens collected from off Brisbane, eastern Australia, by the S.M.S. Gazelle in 1875. Pylojacquesia colemani lives in serpulid worm tubes of the genus Protula on sandy substrates of the continental shelf. A second genus and species was described later. Both pylojacquesids occur in deep water.

Diagnosis

Thoracic sternites 12–14 distinctly separated by membranous area; pleonite 1 fused to last thoracic somite. Right cheliped larger than left. Mandible, incisor process mostly corneous, armed with prominent, acute teeth. Maxillipeds 3 widely separate at base.

Diagnosis References

Poore, G.C.B.,& Ahyong, S.T. 2023. Marine decapod Crustacea. A guide to families and genera of the World. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing pp. 928.

General References

McLaughlin, P.A. & Lemaitre, R. 2001. A new family for a new genus and new species of hermit crab of the superfamily Paguroidea (Decapoda: Anomura) and its phylogenetic implications. Journal of Crustacean Biology 21(4): 1062-1076

History of changes