Sympagurus brevipes (De Saint Laurent, 1972 )

Lemaitre, R., 1996, Hermit crabs of the family Parapaguridae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from Australia: species of Strobopagurus Lemaitre, 1989, Sympagurus Smith, 1883 and two new genera., Records of the Australian Museum 48 (2), pp. 163-221 : 170-176

Sympagurus brevipes (De Saint Laurent, 1972)

Figs 2, 3a,b, 4, Sa, 6

Parapagurus arcuatus var. monstrosus .- Balss, 1912: 99, pI. 10, fig. 3.

Parapagurus brevipes De Saint Laurent, 1972: 105 , figs 2, 14 (type locality: Indonesia, Siboga Exp., sta. 12).

Sympagurus brevipes .- Lemaitre, 1989: 37; 1994: 412.

Hoiotype. Male (SL 12.9 mm) Indonesia, Siboga Exp., sta. 12, 07°IS'S, l1so1S.6'E, 289 m, colI. M. Weber, ZMA De 103.103.

Australian material. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 1 female (SL 10.7 mm), NNW of Cape Leveque, FRV Soeia, sta. 01/841 082A, 13°07.2'S, 123°15.7'E, 400 m, 15 Feb 1984, WAM 1292 -86. 1 juv. sex indet. (SL 5.5 mm), NW of Augustus Is., FRV Soeia, 13°17'S, 122°37.4'E, 494 -- 484 m, 15 Feb 1984, USNM. 1 male (SL 10.8 mm), I female (SL 9.8 mm), NW of Collier Bay, FRV Soeia, sta. 01184/070, 13°44'S, 122°13.3'E, 496 -- 494 m, WAM 1313 -86. 1 female ovig. (SL 14.4 mm), NW of Augustus Is., FRV Soeia, sta. S 01/84/076, 13°44.5'S, 122°56.5'E, 348-350 m, 14 Feb 1984, WAM 1094 -86. 1 male (SL 12.3 mm), 1 female (SL 11.7 mm), NW of Bathurst Is., FRV Soeia, sta. S 01/84/067, 14°29.4'S, 122°01.4'E, 348 -350 m, 12 Feb 1984, WAM 1109 -86. 1 male (SL 11.9 mm), 5 females (SL 8.5- 11.1 mm), NW of Leveque, FRV Soeia, sta. S 01/84/064, 14°50.2'S, 121°31.4'E, 356 m, 12 Feb 1984, WAM 1112 -86, 1312-86. 1 juv. sex indet. (SL 4.5 mm), NW of Beagle Bay, FRV Soeia, sta. SO1184/060, 15°08.6'S, 121°03.4'E, 500 -504 m, 11 Feb 1984, WAM. 3 males (SL 8.9-12.8 mm), 1 female (SL 12.8 mm), NW of Beagle Bay, FRV Soela, sta. S 01/84/0 S 9, Is009.4' S, 121°0S.S'E, 4 S 0-448 m, 11 Feb 1984, WAM 2022-86. I female (SL 7. S mm), NW of Beagle Bay, FRV Soela, sta. SOI/84/0 S 7, Iso13.S'S, 121°08.9'E, 3 S 2 m, 11 Feb 1984, WAM. 3 females (SL 8.1 8.3 mm), WNW of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soela, sta. 01184/ OSI, Is040.2' S, 120037.3'E, SOO-S04 m, 10 Feb 1984, USNM. 1 male (SL 9.8 mm), WNW of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soela, sta. 01/84/0 S 3, Is048' S, 120041'E, 400- 396 m, 10 Feb 1984, coil. S. Slack-Smith, WAM 1306 -86. 1 female ovig. (SL 14.9 mm), W of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soela, sta. SOI/84/0 S 0, 16°41.8'S, 120007.3'E, 434- 430 m, 9 Feb 1984, WAM 1296- 86. 2 females (SL 9.3, 11.8 mm), 1 female ovig. (SL 13. S mm), W ofLacepede Arch, FRV Soela, sta. 01184/90, 16°SS'S, 119°54'E, 435 -- 434 m, 18 Feb 1984, colI. S. Slack-Smith, WAM 1437~86. 1 male (SL 12.3 mm), FRV Courageous, sta. 12, 16°55'S, 119°55'E, 429 -- 430 m, 19 Aug 1983, colls. P. Berry and N. Sinc1air, WAM 1012 ~85. 1 female (SL 14.1 mm), W of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soe/a, sta. S 01/84/089, 16°55.1'S, 119°54.6'E, 㐳㉾㐳㐠 m, 18 Feb 1984, WAM ㄳ〵縠 86. 1 male (SL 7.0 mm), W of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soe/a, sta. 01/84/096, 16°55.4'S, 119°52.5'E, 㐳ㅾ㐳 ㈠ m, 19 Feb 1984, WAM 1308~86. 1 male (SL 11.6 mm), 2 females (SL 8.5, 10.8 mm), W of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soe/a, sta. S 001l 841105, 16°56.9'S, 119°52'E, 432 m, 21 Feb 1984, colI. S. Slack-Smith, WAM 1297 ~86. 2 females (SL 6.4, 11.8 mm), W of Lacepede Arch, FRV Soe/a, sta. 011841105, 16°56.9'S, 119°53.8'E, 432 m, 21 Feb 1984, colI. S. Slack-Smith, 坁䵉㈹㍾㠶⸠ TODO 1 male (SL 18.3 mm), 1 female (SL 15.9 mm), Scampi trawl grounds, Comoe Endeavour, sta. WH 85~15, l 7°22'S, 118°38'E, 430 m, 2 Noy 1985, NTM er 011527. 1 male (SL 8.9 mm), FV Courageous, sta. 10, l 7°28'S, 118°52'E, 428 -- 435 m, 18 Aug 1983, colls. P. Berry and N. Sinc1air, WAM 1281 ~85. 1 female (SL 12.0 mm), Scampi trawl grounds, Comoe Endeavour, sta. WH 85 ~18, 17°35'S, 118°43'E, 445 m, 3 Noy 1985, NTM er 006850. 1 female (SL 8.9 mm), Northwest Shelf, FRV Soe/a, sta. 0184/30, 1 T 41.2' S, 118°42.5'E, 357 m, NTM er 006859. 2 males (SL 10.6, 14.0 mm), 1 female (SL 12.1 mm), W of Broome, FRV Soe/a, sta. 01184/122, 氷뀵㥾㔴❓Ⱐ TODO 118°23 ~29'E, 390 m, 24 Feb 1984, WAM. 2 males (SL 24.7, 26.0 mm), North West Shelf, sta. T 7, l 7°59.4'S, 118°18.4'E, 406 -- 416 m, colI. A.J. Bruce, NTM er 006251, 006249. 1 female oyig. (SL 14.8 mm), 44 mi (81.4 km) SW of Imperieuse Reef, FRV Soe/a, sta. S 02/82117A, 18°01'S, 118°1TE, 410 -- 420 m, 3 Apr 1982, WAM 1357~86. 1 male (SL 9.8 mm), FV Courageous, sta. 3, 18°01'S, 118°13'E, 450 -- 452 m, 12 Aug 1983, colls. P. Berry and N. Sinc1air, WAM 1283~85. 2 females (SL 6.9, 12.1 mm), FV Courageous, sta. 2, 18°05'S, 118°IO'E, 401 -- 400 m, 17 Aug 1983, WAM 1287~85. 1 female (SL 9.8 mm), SW of Imperieuse Reef, FV Courageous, sta. 53, 18°03'S, 118°16'E, 400 m, 28 Aug 1983, colls. P. Berry and N. Sinc1air, WAM 1324~86. 1 female (SL 10.1 mm), W of Roebuck Bay, FRV Soe/a, sta. 011841121, 18°04'S, 118°04'E, 㐰ま㌹ 㘠 m, 24 Feb 1984, coli. S. Slack-Smith, WAM 1322~86. 1 male (SL 11.0 mm), W of Roebuck Bay, FRV Soe/a, sta. S 01l841121, 18°04'S, 118°14'E, 400- 396 m, 24 Feb 1984, WAM 1137- 86. 1 male (SL 12.0 mm), 1 female (SL 9.2 mm), FV Courageous, sta. 26, 18° 05'S, 118°08'E, 440-442 m, 22 Aug 1983, coils. P. Berry and N. Sinclair, WAM 1282-85. 1 female (SL 10.4 mm), 56 mi (103.6 km) SW of Imperieuse Reef, FRV Soela, sta. SO 18/02/82, 18°08'S, 118°06'E, 404 m, 3 Apr 1982, WAM 1097-86. 1 male (SL 22.0 mm), 190 km NW of Port Hedland, FRV Soela, sta. S 02-02-36137/38, 18°16'S, 118°12'E, 298-320 m, 10 Apr 1982, coil. J. Paxton, AM P39443. 1 female (SL 5.2 mm), North West Shelf, FRV Soela, sta. 0184/16, 18°37.4'S, 117°02.4'E, 504-508 m, 31 Jan 1984, NTM Cr 006857. 2 males (SL 19.7, 24.2 mm), 22 km NW of Port Hedland, FRV Soela, sta. S 02-82-46, 18°41'S, 116°46'E, 508 m, 13 Apr 1982, coil. J. Paxton, AM P39442. 2 females ovig. (SL 12.0, 18.0 mm), FRV Soela, sta. NWS-6, 18°41.6'S, 117°18.6'E, 320-360 m, 25 Apr 1983, NTM Cr 011528. 1 female (SL 8.1 mm), North West Shelf, FRV Soela 0283, sta. NWS-7, 392- 400 m, 25 Apr 1983, coil. A.J. Bruce, NTM Cr 000765. 1 female (SL 8.8 mm), North West Shelf, FRV Soela, CSIRO cruise 0184, sta. NWS-36 TIlO, 19°15.5'S, 115°38'E, 404 m, 29 Jan 1984, coil. A.J. Bruce, NTM Cr 000668. 2 males (SL 21.5, 24.5 mm), 2 females (SL 12.8, 19.2 mm), North West Shelf, FRV Soela, sta. SOI-84-61, 11 Feb 1984, coil. T. Ward, AM P39451.

NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1 female (SL 15.2 mm), Arafura Sea, 09°20'S, 131°04'E, 295 m, 9-16 Jul 1988, coli. Barry Clemens, NTM Cr 007007. 1 male (SL 24.1 mm), Timor Sea, 09°45'S, 129°59'E, 300 m, 23 Sep 1987, coil. NT Fisheries, USNM. 1 female ovig. (SL 17.7 mm), Timor Sea, Endeavour Pearl, Shot 1, 09°46'S, 130015'E, 267 m, 16 Sep 1987, USNM. 1 female (SL 13.3 mm), 1 female ovig. (SL 14.0 mm), Scampi trawl grounds, Comoe Endeavour, sta. WH 85- 17, 17°23'S, 118°57'E, 430 m, 3 Nov 1985, coil. W. Houston, NTM Cr 006849. 1 female (SL 9.6 mm), Scampi trawl grounds, Comoe Endeavour, sta. WH 85 -28, 18°00'S, 118°16'E, 430 m, 6 Nov 1985, coil. W. Houston, NTM Cr 006851.

QUEENSLAND: I male (SL 9.2 mm), off Innisfail, CIDARIS I, sta. 43 -3, 17°35'S, 146°52.2'E, ORV Franklin, 480 -504 m, 15 May 1986, coil. JCU, QM W16500. 2 juvs. sex indet. (SL 2.4, 3.5 mm), offTully, 17°51.8'S, 147°07.9'E, epibenthic sledge, ORV Franklin, sta. 47-2, 503 - 497 m, 16 May 1986, coil. JCU, QM. I male (SL 9.0 mm), I female (SL 5.7 mm), off Tully, CIDARIS I, sta. 47 -2, 17°52'S, 147°08'E, epibenthic sledge, ORV Franklin, 503 - 497 m, 16 May 1986, coil. JCU, QM W16501.

Other material. (For meaning of asterisks see Materials and Methods). SOUTH CHINA SEA: I female (SL 8.6 mm), SE of Hong Kong, Albatross, sta. 5301, 20037'N, 115°43'E, 380 m, 8 Aug 1908, USNM 168916*.

PHILIPPINES: I female (SL 4.4 mm), W of Luzon, Albatross, sta. 5438, 15°54'42"N, 119°44'42"E, 543 m, 8 May 1909, USNM 168917*. I female (SL 14.0 mm), Luzon, off Sombrero Is., Albatross, sta. 5111, 13°45'15"N, 120046'30"E, 432 m, USNM 168913*. 1 female (SL 13.3 mm), Luzon, Tayabas Bay, off San Andres Is., Albatross, sta. 5221, 13°38'15"N, 121°48'15"E, 353 m, 24 Apr 1908, USNM 168914*. 1 female (SL 13.7 mm), Mindoro Is., off Balanja Point, Albatross, sta. 5260, 12°25'35"N, 121°31'35"E, 428 m, 3 Jun 1908, USNM 168915*. 1 female (SL 8.8 mm), N Mindanao, Albatross, sta. 5506, 08°40'N, 124°31'45"E, 479 m, 5 Aug 1909, USNM 168918*.

INDONESIA: I male (SL 8.4 mm), Borneo (Kalimantan), Sibuko Bay, off Silungan Is., Albatross, sta. 5592, 04°12'44"N, 118°27'44"E, 558 m, 29 Sep 1909, USNM 168919*. 1 male (SL 11.6 mm), 4 females (SL 5.9-9.2 mm), same sta. data as ho1otype, ZMA De 103.104*. 1 male juv. (damaged), Siboga Exp., sta. 316, 07°19.4'S, 116°49.5'E, 538 m, colI. M. Weber, ZMA De 103.107*. 1 male juv. (SL 4.7 mm), 1 female juv. (4.2 mm), Siboga Exp., sta. 45, 07°24'S, 118°15.2'E, 794 m, colI. M. Weber, ZMA De 103.l06*. 1 male (SL 21.2 mm), Siboga Exp., sta. 5, 07°46'S, 114°30.5'E, 330 m, colI. M. Weber, ZMA De 103.105*.

Diagnosis. First 11 pairs of gills intermediate (Fig. 2e); vestigial pleurobranchs on last thoracic somite occasionally obsolete or missing in small specimens SL <5.5 mm. Shield (Fig. 2a) broader than long; dorsal surface weakly calcified medially; rostrum triangular, with low dorsal ridge; anterior margins straight; lateral projections broadly rounded, often nearly obsolete; ventrolateral margin unarmed; posterior margin broadly rounded. Ocular peduncles more than half length of shield; ocular acicles subtriangular, terminating in spine (rarely bifid on one side); corneae slightly dilated. Sternite of 3rd maxillipeds with spine on each side of midline. Epistomial spine straight, often absent. Antennular peduncle exceeding distal margin of corneae by full length of ultimate segment. Antennal peduncle at most slightly exceeding distal margin of cornea; 4th segment unarmed; 3rd segment with strong ventromesial distal spine; 2nd segment with dorsolateral distal angle produced, terminating in strong spine with 3 small spines dorsally; acicles reaching at most distal margin of corneae, mesial margin armed with 9 to 12 spines; flagellum with few setae <1 flagellar article in length. Chelipeds markedly dissimilar, with numerous tufts of setae (not shown in Fig. 3a,b) obscuring surfaces. Right cheliped (Fig. 3b) with chela varying from 1.5 to more than twice as long as broad in larger individuals; fingers weakly curved ventromesially, dactyl with weakly concave ventromesial face; dorsal and ventral faces of palm unarmed, smooth except for tufts of setae; mesial and lateral faces ofpalm rounded, with lateral and dorsomesial rows of spines; carpus with numerous small tubercles or spines on dorsal surface. Left cheliped (Fig. 3a) with chela unarmed, well calcified; carpus with dorsodistal spine, and dorsal row of 2 to 4 well-spaced spines. Ambulatory legs (Fig. 2b,c) exceeding tip of extended right cheliped; dactyl about twice as long as propodus, with ventromesial irregular row of 20 to 25 minute corneous spines, dorsal row of long setae, and 3 dorsomesial oblique rows of long setae distally; carpus with small dorsodistal spine; ischium and merus of 2nd pereopod with row of few small tubercles or spines. Anterior lobe of sternite of 3rd pereopods unarmed or with 1 marginal spine, setose. Fourth pereopod with dactyl terminating in corneous claw; propodal rasp of adults consisting of 4 to 6 rows of ovate scales (Fig. 2d), and of juveniles (SL <5.5 mm) of 1 or 2 rows of ovate scales (Fig. 6g). Uropods and telson ( Fig. 4 a­ d) markedly asymmetrical; telson with weak transverse suture separating anterior and posterior lobes, dorsal surface with low blister-like tubercles; posterior lobes separated by V-shaped cleft, terminal margins armed with often long corneous spines, spines on left side strongly curved laterally, usually much longer in females than in males ( Fig. 4c,d ). Male 1st gonopods ( Fig. 4e ) each with concave distal lobe; 2nd gonopods ( Fig. 4t ) each with distal segment nearly flat, rounded distally, often with rudimentary exopod. Females with vestigial right 2nd pleopod.

Habitat and symbiotic associations. Lives associated with an actinian (Fig. 5a) that secretes a carcinoecium similar to that produced by species of Stylabates (see Fautin Dunn et al., 1980; Fautin Dunn & Liberman, 1983; Fautin, 1987).

Distribution. Indo Pacific: Zanzibar; Indonesia; Philippines; and Australia. Depth: 267 to 794 m.

Remarks. As pointed out by the De Saint Laurent (1972: 106), specimens of this species can attain a large size. The largest specimen measured during the present study has a SL of 26.0 mm, exceeding all other specimens of Sympagurus species. This species is among the most common of Sympagurus found in Australia but apparently is confined to the north.

Comparison ofjuveniles and adults. Juvenile specimens of S. brevipes that are as large or larger than adult specimens of other Sympagurus species are frequently encountered. As in other species in the genus, such as S. dimarphus (see Lemaitre & McLaughlin, 1992), the morphology of juveniles of S. brevipes can be quite different from that of adults. The most important differences between juveniles and adults of this species are summarised below.

The ocular peduncles of juveniles are subequal in width throughout their length (Fig. 6a); the peduncles of adults are medially constricted (Fig. 2a). The antennal acicle of juveniles is armed mesially with usually four weak spines (Fig. 6b); the acicle of adults is armed with nine to 12 spines. Chelipeds ofjuveniles, when extended, have nearly the same length, the spines are weak, not numerous (Fig. 6c,d), and pilosity does not obscure the surfaces; chelipeds of adults are markedly different in distal extension, spination is strong, and pilosity is dense, obscuring the surfaces. The meri of the 2nd and 3rd pereopod in juveniles (Fig. 6e,t) are not as broad as those of adults (Fig. 2b). In juveniles, the propodal rasp of the 4th pereopod has two rows of scales (Fig. 6g), smaller specimens (SL <3.5 mm) only one row; the rasp of adults has four or five rows (Fig. 2d). The 2nd to 5th pleopods ofjuveniles are paired, asymmetrical, the left biramous with a short endopod, the right uniramous (Fig. 6 h-k). Juvenile males exhibit rudimentary paired 1st gonopods. Adults have gonopods or pleopods as indicated in the diagnosis. The terminal margin of the posterior lobes of the telson of juveniles are armed with few small spines (8, left lobe; 5, right lobe; Fig. 61); the terminal margins of adults are armed with many spines (20+ on left lobe, 8 on right lobe). The vestigial pleurobranch on the last thoracic somite is occasionally absent in small juveniles (SL <3.5 mm), whereas the pleurobranch is invariably present in adult specimens.

Figures

Fig. 4. Sympagurus brevipes (De Saint Laurent, 1972). a,b, exopod of uropods, dorsal: a, left; b, right; c, telson; d, posterior lobes of telson; e, male left 1st gonopod, mesial; f, male left 2nd gonopod, anterior. Scales = 2 mm (a-c), 3 mm (d), and 2 mm (e,f). (a-c, holotype male [SL 12.9 mm], Indonesia, ZMA DeI03.103; d, paratype female [SL 14.0 mm], Philippines, USNM 168913; male [SL 22.0 mm], Western Australia, AM P39443).