Pomatocheles Miers, 1879

Mclaughlin, Patsy A. & Lemaitre, Rafael, 2008, Larvae of two species of Trizocheles (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguroidea: Pylochelidae: Trizochelinae), description of the adult of one, and preliminary implications of development on pylochelid phylogeny, Zootaxa 1911, pp. 52-68 : 58-59

Pomatocheles Miers, 1879

Pomatocheles jeffreysii Miers, 1879

Pomatocheles jeffreysii Miers, 1879: 49 , pl. 3, fig. 2, 2a–d.

Material examined. One specimen, cl = 1.3 mm (examination and description by Konishi & Imafuku 2000).

Remarks. Konishi & Imafuku (2000) considered the cuticular covering of the “hatchling” of P. jeffreysii prezoeal-like, but recognized the advanced development of the stalked eyes, pereopods, and uropods of the larva. The authors did not, however, mention the juvenile-like development of the maxillule and the first maxilliped. Nonetheless, the telson, as illustrated ( Konishi & Imafuku 2000, fig. 2M) was clearly zoeal, although quite distinct from any described taxon. The apparent absence of an anomuran hair may have been an anomaly of their single specimen; however, the number of telsonal marginal processes (13) approaches that of Pylocheles (P.) mortensenii and the few parapagurid larvae known, as well as the unusual larva of the pagurid Lithopagurus yucatanicus Provenzano, 1968 . Although no aesthetascs or setae were evaginated, the biramous condition of the antennule of P. jeffreysii also indicated a late stage of zoeal development. No protopodal spine or spines were described or illustrated for the antenna, an absence seen in larvae of porcellanids but not in paguroids. The larva is also notable for the lack of a rostrum and pleonal armature.

Konishi & Imafuku (2000) were of the opinion that as all of the setae were invaginated, their larva of Pomatocheles jeffreysii had hatched prematurely. These authors believed that the advanced developmental stage of the larva indicated that either it would have been released as, or have been followed at the next molt by, a megalopa or more advance juvenile stage. The well developed uropods lend support to their supposition.