What is Pilumnus palmeri Garth, 1986 (Crustacea: Brachyura)?

Abstract

Abstract The poorly known xanthiform crab Pilumnus palmeri Garth, 1986, is known only from two poorly preserved specimens collected from Ecuador. Garth had only provisionally placed the species in Pilumnus Leach, 1816, and it was subsequently referred to a new genus, Garthopilumnus Števčić, 2011 and a new family Garthopilumnidae Števčić, 2011. Garthopilumnus currently sits as a valid genus within Pilumnidae Samouelle, 1819. A re-examination of the holotype male, now in poor condition, shows that it is a juvenile, and key aspects of the original figure of the species given in the account of the type are inaccurate. Given the incompleteness and immaturity of available material, we could not confidently assign the species to an existing family, but we are also not convinced a new family for the species is warranted. The morphological features of Garthopilumnus palmeri suggest it is a member of the Portunoidea, where we provisionally place it.

Keywords

• Classification
• juvenile
• Portunoidea
• systematics
• unknown family
• xanthiform crab