An annotated checklist of hermit crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) of Indian waters with three new records

Abstract

The annotated checklist of hermit crabs occurring in the Indian waters has been compiled based on published literature and specimens collected by us along the Indian coastline from 2010 to 2016. The checklist records 112 species belonging to 26 genera and five families. The east coast of India, with 81 species is more diverse than the west coast of India (73 species). Maximum species diversity was recorded from coastal areas of Tamil Nadu state (50 species) whereas the least number of species were reported from coastal areas of Maharashtra state (7 species). Distribution of three species belonging to the family Diogenidae namely Areopaguristes perspicax (Nobili, 1906), Clibanarius virescens (Krauss, 1843), and Diogenes lophochir (Morgan, 1989) is for the first time recorded in Indian waters.

Keywords

• anomurans
• checklist
• hermit crabs
• Indian waters
• new records