Pagurus limatulus Fausto-Filho, 1970

Nucci, Paulo Ricardo & Melo, Gustavo Augusto Schmidt De, 2007, Hermit crabs from Brazil. Family Paguridae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Paguroidea): Genus Pagurus, Zootaxa 1406, pp. 47-59 : 56

Pagurus limatulus Fausto-Filho, 1970

(Figs. 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F)

Pagurus limatulus Fausto Filho, 1970: 69 , figs 1–6.— Coelho & Ramos-Porto, 1986: 41.— Rieger, 1998: 415.— Melo, 1999: 132, fig. 76.

Diagnosis. Shield slightly broader than long. Rostrum almost obsolete. Ocular peduncles short, with median constriction and corneae dilated. Ocular acicles rounded, with small ventrodistal spine. Antennular peduncles overreaching corneae, to midlength of third segment. Antennal peduncles long, almost reaching tip of antennular flagellum. Right cheliped long; palm slightly larger than fingers; surfaces of dactyls, palm, carpus and merus granulated; median regions of palm and carpus with each 1 longitudinal row of granules, slightly larger on carpus distally. Left cheliped with lateral face of palm finely granulated, and median longitudinal row of granules little larger; carpus very short. Second and third pairs of pereopods each with sulci on lateral and mesial face of dactyl, with mesial groove more conspicuous; meri with dorsal fringe of setae; dactyls of second pereopods curved ventrally, 1.5 length of propodi Telson with anterior lobes rounded and posterior lobes almost straight; posterior margin with small central cleft and irregular spines.

Distribution. Western Atlantic — Brazil (Pará, Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte).

Habitat. From very shallow waters to 10 metres on muddy substrates.

Material examined. Brazil: Pará — Proj. NNE I, st. 1755, 80 m, 5 males: 5.7, 5.8, 5.3, 6.3, 4.1 mm, 4 females: 3.8, 4.2, 3.1, 3.6 mm ( MZUSP –8870).

Remarks. Fausto-Filho (1970a) described a new Brazilian species, Pagurus limatulus , based on material from Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte. This species is very close to P. exilis , but can be distinguished by means of several differences in the shape and ornamentation of the chelipeds and ambulatory legs. Pagurus limatulus is also close to Pagurus heblingi .