''Pagurus sinuatus'' is a large
species of
hermit crab found in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and the
Kermadec Islands. It is red or orange in colour with coloured bands on the legs and patches on the body.
Description
''Pagurus sinuatus'' is a large species of hermit crab, and normally inhabits rounded
gastropod shells. It is distinguished from other hermit crab species in Australia by its solid, hairy chelipeds (claw-bearing appendages), although there may be further undescribed species within its range.
The hermit crab's body is orange and red, with patches of red or violet colour. The
pereiopod
The decapod (crustaceans such as a crab, lobster, shrimp or prawn) is made up of 20 body segments grouped into two main body parts: the cephalothorax and the pleon (abdomen). Each segment may possess one pair of appendages, although in various g ...
s (walking legs) are banded.
It reaches a maximum "shield length" (distance from the
rostrum to the cervical groove on the
carapace
A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...
) of .
Distribution
''Pagurus sinuatus'' is found in the
intertidal zone
The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species o ...
along the coasts of the
Australian states of
New South Wales,
South Australia,
Victoria and
Western Australia,
and in the
Kermadec Islands (
New Zealand).
External links
''Pagurus sinuatus''in Marine Species Gallery
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7124469
Hermit crabs
Crustaceans of Australia
Crustaceans described in 1858