Like other hermit crabs, D. pugilator conceals its soft abdomen inside an empty gastropod mollusc shell; the abdomen is twisted to fit the contours of the shell. The carapace protects the anterior part of the crab and can be up to 11 mm (0.43 in) long; it is squarish in shape, has triangular projections along the front edge, and is clad with hairs on the front two corners. The eyes are on stalks which are about half as long as the width of the carapace. The left chela (claw) is very much larger than the right one, and both claws are covered with short hairs. The chelae and other legs can be contracted into the entrance of the shell.[4]
Distribution and habitatedit
D. pugilator is native to the temperate and subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. Its range extends from the southern North Sea southwards to Angola, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Red Sea. Its northern limit was at one time thought to be Swansea in South Wales, but it has since been found as far north as Anglesey, and the coasts of southwestern Ireland. It is found on soft substrates from the shallow sub-tidal to depths of as much as 1,800 m (5,906 ft), but is most common in shallow water.[4][5]
Ecologyedit
This is a small hermit crab which tends to occupy shells of the netted dog whelk Tritia reticulata. These crabs are often present on flattish beaches composed of medium to fine grained sand where the waves sweep up the shore. When exposed, they rapidly bury themselves in the sand, using the enlarged left chela to stabilise themselves in the wet sand and limit the extent to which they are rolled about by the waves.[2]
Near Cádiz in southern Spain, there are three species of hermit crab, D. pugilator, Paguristes eremita and Pagurus forbesii. Of these, P. eremita is the biggest and strongest, and makes use of the most robust gastropod shells with the widest apertures. D. pugilator is the most numerous but tends not to use the shells of the most common gastropod, Turritella turbona, which are used preferentially by P. forbesii. D. pugilator instead uses the less common Tritia reticulata, even when the crab's carapace is so large that it overlaps the shell's aperture.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcMichael Türkay (December 21, 2004). Patsy McLaughlin (ed.). "Diogenes pugilator (Roux, 1829)". World Paguroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
^ abRees, Ivor. "South-claw Hermit Crab". Crab database. British Marine Life Study Society. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^T. Tirelli; M. Dappiano; G. Maiorana; D. Pessani (2000). "Intraspecific relationships of the hermit crab Diogenes pugilator: predation and competition". Hydrobiologia. 439 (1–3): 43–48. doi:10.1023/a:1004197518769. S2CID 43052013.
^ abBarnes, M.K.S. (13 May 2008). "A hermit crab: Diogenes pugilator". Marlin. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^David McGrath; Mark J. Costello; Chris Emblow (2000). "The hermit crab Diogenes pugilator (Roux, 1829) in Irish waters". Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 100B (2): 115–118. JSTOR 20500087.
^Manjón-Cabeza, M. E.; Raso, J. E. García (1999). "Shell utilization by the hermit crabs Diogenes pugilator (Roux, 1829), Paguristes eremita (Linnaeus, 1767) and Pagurus Forbesii Bell, 1845 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura), in a shallow-water community from southern Spain". Bulletin of Marine Science. 65 (2): 391–405.
External linksedit
Media related to Diogenes pugilator at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
diogenes, pugilator, species, hermit, crab, sometimes, called, small, hermit, crab, south, claw, hermit, crab, found, from, coast, angola, north, north, eastwards, through, mediterranean, black, populations, pugilator, kept, check, predatory, crab, liocarcinus. Diogenes pugilator is a species of hermit crab sometimes called the small hermit crab 1 or south claw hermit crab 2 It is found from the coast of Angola to as far north as the North Sea and eastwards through the Mediterranean Sea Black Sea and Red Sea Populations of D pugilator may be kept in check by the predatory crab Liocarcinus depurator 3 Diogenes pugilator In a Tritia reticulata shell Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Malacostraca Order Decapoda Suborder Pleocyemata Infraorder Anomura Family Diogenidae Genus Diogenes Species D pugilator Binomial name Diogenes pugilator Roux 1829 1 Synonyms 1 Pagurus algarbiensis de Brito Capello 1875 Pagurus arenarius Lucas 1846 Pagurus bocagii de Brito Capello 1875 Pagurus curvimanus Clement 1874 Pagurus dillvyni A Milne Edwards amp Bouvier 1900 Pagurus dillwynii Bate 1851 Pagurus dilwynnii Alcock 1905 Pagurus lafonit Fischer 1872 Pagurus ponticus Kessler 1860 Pagurus pugilator Roux 1829 Pagurus varians Costa 1838 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 References 5 External linksDescription editLike other hermit crabs D pugilator conceals its soft abdomen inside an empty gastropod mollusc shell the abdomen is twisted to fit the contours of the shell The carapace protects the anterior part of the crab and can be up to 11 mm 0 43 in long it is squarish in shape has triangular projections along the front edge and is clad with hairs on the front two corners The eyes are on stalks which are about half as long as the width of the carapace The left chela claw is very much larger than the right one and both claws are covered with short hairs The chelae and other legs can be contracted into the entrance of the shell 4 Distribution and habitat editD pugilator is native to the temperate and subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean Its range extends from the southern North Sea southwards to Angola the Mediterranean Sea the Black Sea and the Red Sea Its northern limit was at one time thought to be Swansea in South Wales but it has since been found as far north as Anglesey and the coasts of southwestern Ireland It is found on soft substrates from the shallow sub tidal to depths of as much as 1 800 m 5 906 ft but is most common in shallow water 4 5 Ecology editThis is a small hermit crab which tends to occupy shells of the netted dog whelk Tritia reticulata These crabs are often present on flattish beaches composed of medium to fine grained sand where the waves sweep up the shore When exposed they rapidly bury themselves in the sand using the enlarged left chela to stabilise themselves in the wet sand and limit the extent to which they are rolled about by the waves 2 Near Cadiz in southern Spain there are three species of hermit crab D pugilator Paguristes eremita and Pagurus forbesii Of these P eremita is the biggest and strongest and makes use of the most robust gastropod shells with the widest apertures D pugilator is the most numerous but tends not to use the shells of the most common gastropod Turritella turbona which are used preferentially by P forbesii D pugilator instead uses the less common Tritia reticulata even when the crab s carapace is so large that it overlaps the shell s aperture 6 References edit a b c Michael Turkay December 21 2004 Patsy McLaughlin ed Diogenes pugilator Roux 1829 World Paguroidea database World Register of Marine Species Retrieved February 4 2010 a b Rees Ivor South claw Hermit Crab Crab database British Marine Life Study Society Retrieved 17 February 2018 T Tirelli M Dappiano G Maiorana D Pessani 2000 Intraspecific relationships of the hermit crab Diogenes pugilator predation and competition Hydrobiologia 439 1 3 43 48 doi 10 1023 a 1004197518769 S2CID 43052013 a b Barnes M K S 13 May 2008 A hermit crab Diogenes pugilator Marlin Retrieved 17 February 2018 David McGrath Mark J Costello Chris Emblow 2000 The hermit crab Diogenes pugilator Roux 1829 in Irish waters Biology and Environment Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 100B 2 115 118 JSTOR 20500087 Manjon Cabeza M E Raso J E Garcia 1999 Shell utilization by the hermit crabs Diogenes pugilator Roux 1829 Paguristes eremita Linnaeus 1767 and Pagurus Forbesii Bell 1845 Crustacea Decapoda Anomura in a shallow water community from southern Spain Bulletin of Marine Science 65 2 391 405 External links edit nbsp Media related to Diogenes pugilator at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diogenes pugilator amp oldid 1079782916, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
