“The main Indo-West Pacific diogenid genus Strigopagurus presently includes 5 types: Strigopagurus strigimanus Strigopagurus bilineatus Strigopagurus boreonotus Strigopagurus elongatusand Strigopagurus poupini,”stated Queensland Museum Kurilpa scientists Peter Davie and Marissa McNamara.

“Two of these, Strigopagurus strigimanus and Strigopagurus elongatusare endemic to temperate southern Australia, while Strigopagurus bilineatus is presently just understood from off tropical Queensland.”

“The staying 2 types have actually not been taped in Australian waters. “

“The recognized circulation of Strigopagurus poupini is restricted to French Polynesia, however the more prevalent Strigopagurus boreonotus might possibly happen in tropical Australian waters, as it has actually been taped from the surrounding seas of southeastern Indonesia, the eastern Coral Sea, and New Caledonia.”

“Recent trawl studies of rack waters off SE Queensland have actually exposed many big, noticeably colored Strigopagurus specimens that represent an additional brand-new Australian endemic types.”

The brand-new types, Strigopagurus fragarchelacan be discovered in reasonably deep water (120-260 m) off south-eastern Queensland.

“The brand-new types has a number of extremely distinguishing characteristics,” Dr. McNamara stated.

“Most striking is its brilliant red claws, however it likewise has actually progressed its own special technique of producing undersea noise (stridulation), similar to cicadas carry out in the air.”

“We understood quickly this was an unique hermit crab, and rapidly provided it the label strawberry claws.”

“The recognition of Strigopagurus fragarchela is an amazing addition to the genus, for which Australia seems the fortress.”

“We now have 4 endemic types, 2 of which are just discovered in Queensland.”

“The brand-new hermit crab has actually just been gathered by trawler catches, so little is yet understood of its ecology, however they lack doubt crucial members of the abundant biological neighborhoods of the continental rack off southeastern Queensland.”

“The work of the researchers and scientists at Queensland Museum assists in offering a record of our state’s biodiversity for future generations,” stated Queensland Museum CEO Dr. Jim Thompson.

“Our nature collections are more than simply maintained specimens– they are important tools for clinical discovery, preservation and public education.”

The discovery is explained in a paper in the Memoirs of Queensland Museum– Nature

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P.J.F. Davie & & M.K.A. McNamara. 2024. A brand-new types of hermit crab in the genus Strigopagurus Forest, 1995 (Crustacea: Anomura: Diogenidae) from the continental rack off south-east Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum– Nature 65: 110-123; doi: 10.17082/ j.2204-1478.65.2024.2024 -04